Pentecost Decorations

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May 20, 2018 By Jennifer Leave a Comment

I made an altarscape for our church for Pentecost Sunday.

I bought a fire silk and red flameless candles and sprinkled red silk rose petals on the altar.

I create a fiery hoop to symbolize the Holy Spirit roof holes of older times.

I printed a card to explain the history and symbolism (see below).

I sewed a red ribbon banner.

I bought a red linen fabric remnant and sewed different red and gold ribbons with bells at the bottom corners.

I added a couple other fun elements.

I got red rose floating candles and a glass bowl and propped it in our baptismal to symbolize a baptism of fire.

I got a flameless candle and Tabasco sauce to symbolize “tongues of fire.”

The Projects:

Fiery Hoop

We drained the hula hoop of water and placed bolts in 4 places to attach a chain.

I wrapped the hoop with gold ribbon.

We knotted tulle strips onto the hoop.

We used several glittery reds, one orange, 2 gold, and 1 glittery yellow.

Glitter was everywhere. It’s still everywhere.

We added curling ribbon in just a few places.

Here’s our almost finished fiery hole.

I added seven cardstock doves on clear thread.

We added the yellow and orange and hung it up in the narthex of our church with a cute little windchime in the middle.

The Banner:

I bought a red linen fabric remnant and several red and gold ribbons.

I cut the ribbons into 3 feet long segments and laid it all out to get an idea.

I hemmed three sides and left an opening for the banner pole and pinned the ribbons and tassels on.

I sewed the ribbon and tassels on by hand and hemmed the sides for the pole so it was neat and tidy.

I use my hair flat iron to even out the seams.

I added some extra tassels and little bells to the corners.

The projects were expensive, always more than I originally think, but the kids and I were blessed in the making and had lots of fun together while creating these and we pray it brightens our church and someone’s Sunday.

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We Stopped Going to Church

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May 10, 2017 By Jennifer 130 Comments

We haven’t gone to church in a long time.

We don’t have a lot of choices for English-speaking churches in Germany.

There’s the base chapel, which is pretty vanilla since they have to cater to a broad audience and abide by military rules. There are a few charismatic churches that just don’t appeal to us. There are a few very conservative churches that are just legalistic and cliquish.

I don’t want a rock and roll, laser show kind of church and it’s unfortunate that so many rely on these churchtainment distractions to get people through the doors.

We had attended a small general Lutheran congregation for the past year or so. Service begins at 8:30 in the morning. Do you realize how hard it is to get everyone up, eat breakfast, get dressed, and out the door to drive 20+ minutes to church by 8:30 AM? We did it though. We went to bed early on Saturday nights in order to get up early for church.

We probably won’t attempt to go back to a church until July or later. We’re moving back to the States this summer and I don’t have great hopes of finding a church where we’ll fit in.

Before writing this, I researched “Why Should I Attend Church“? Many of the answers were interesting and even shocking to me. I expect the typical “Because the Bible says so” answer, but “Because you’re single and may meet someone” takes the cake.

I expect more.

I won’t lose my salvation. I still love Jesus.

I realize many will think I’m selfish for not dragging my family to church. I do feel selfish. We missed Easter.

After many years of trying to discover God in church, I’ve just had enough. I need a break. I need a break from Christians.

I can worship God – in the forest, at the beach, in a museum, while reading, while cleaning, while cooking, during meals, at the movies. I am amazed by His creation and by people’s creativity, love, and kindness.

I don’t like church.

I’m a leader. I’m a teacher. I’m a counselor. It’s hard for me to just sit back and be lectured to, read to, talked at…It’s especially hard for me to keep my mouth shut when the pastor, teacher, deacon, elder, leader, board member expresses false doctrine. It’s exhausting holding it all in because it doesn’t matter anyway.

As an introvert, I don’t like fellowship time, potlucks, events, programs, meetings, VBS, AWANA, or Wednesday night service. I shouldn’t have to apologize for my personal preferences.

I think too many churches and church leaders allow and perpetuate abuse – of women, children, people of color, others on the fringe of society and the evangelical system.

It’s very unpopular to love Jesus and not attend church.

But I think faith is a private thing between me and God. I don’t have to explain my reasons to anyone.

We stopped going to church for a variety of reasons:

New leadership. The pastor moved away to another calling. The interim pastor and his wife were less than welcoming. They are micromanagers. They are exclusionists.

Sinful behavior. My young son’s teenage Sunday school teacher was in a sexual relationship with his girlfriend and this was apparently well-known and accepted by his and her parents, the homeschool community, and other church members. I was glad when he and his family moved away so I didn’t have to confront anyone.

Sunday school. Sunday school wasn’t about Scripture or Christian living. It often took 30 minutes or more to corral people from the coffee and cookies into the three classrooms. There was no curricula. My three daughters’ teacher led inappropriate discussions about astrology and pop culture. The adult class often derailed into discussions better suited to the Discovery Channel or a New Age seminar.

I miss the organ music. I miss singing hymns. I miss the Eucharist. I miss the stained glass window behind the altar.

What we do instead of church:

Read the Bible

I read the Bible with my son and middle daughters most mornings and we have a little discussion about the passage. I write Scripture every day from monthly guides.

Evening Devotions

We read selections from Psalms, the Old Testament, and the New Testament, with writings from church fathers every evening with the Pray Now app.

Church History

We have lots of books about church history. We love biographies about missionaries, martyrs, church fathers, and other important people impacted by their faith. We usually coincide our readings to our chronological history studies.

Act Out Our Faith

We look for opportunities to act out our faith. We practice kindness, empathy, and love. We learn about our fallen world. We pray. The church isn’t a building. We are the church.

Experience Creation

We enjoy God’s creation on nature walks. We are fascinated by the creative plants, insects, and animals that God made just for our use and enjoyment.

Church should be more about discipleship and less about programs and opportunities to socialize.

We as a family came to the decision to take a break from church after many weeks of prayer. I am not encouraging anyone to leave church.

We will seek a new fellowship after we settle into our new home. I seldom enjoy church, but I want my children to have that experience growing up that I never had.

I no longer use the word Christian or evangelical. Those words just mean hate these days.

If you feel led to pray for me, be careful that you are not cursing me nor my decision in your heart. Maybe look at yourself and your church and ask why people like me don’t feel welcome. You may not agree but you should not judge what you don’t understand. You don’t know my history. You don’t know the long and difficult road it took for me. You do not not know the blood-like drops of sweat as I prayed over this difficult decision. Do not take Scripture out of context. Do not spew your hate and call it loving admonition.

If you still feel led to pray, then pray this:

Pray for church leaders that they may be more including and welcoming. That they not be vanilla and safe but speak boldly the Truth and social justice.

Pray for pastors, Sunday school teachers, elders, deacons, lay leaders, ushers, music directors, worship leaders, pastoral counselors…and whatever other titles of a church leader I may have missed. Pray that they have discernment. Pray they preach and teach Biblical Truth. Pray they are not swayed by the world. Pray they are not tempted by money, fame, media, or other people.

Pray for church fellowships to be loving, kind, welcoming, and careful with their words to newcomers and seasoned parishioners.

Pray for the parents who are raising children in this fallen world, trying desperately to navigate these tumultuous waters of postmodernism, sexual and gender revolutions, social media, integrity issues, and political scandals.

Pray for the children who are growing up in this 50 Shades of Grey kind of world, confusing sex and social media likes for Love and Truth. Pray they find godly role models to guide them to Truth and they become world-changers for His Kingdom.

Pray for the people of color and indigenous people who are excluded from white evangelical church.

You might also want to read my statement of faith post.

A Quiet Exodus: Why Black Worshipers Are Leaving White Evangelical Churches

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Reasons Why People Become Loyal to a Place of Worship

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January 13, 2015 By Jennifer Leave a Comment

Generally, someone who is a regular attendee of a particular church has several reasons why he or she returns to the same place of worship each week. One of the most common reasons is that the person feels comfortable. He or she feels welcome there and that makes it a pleasant place to worship. The church or other place of worship may not be large or have a lot of elaborate decorations, but it possesses an inviting atmosphere. Whether it’s a simple chapel, an annex building or an expansive auditorium, it’s the tone of the atmosphere that matters. Take a look at some other typical reasons why a person returns to the same place of worship each week.

Worshippers Who Share Beliefs

Many people are loyal to one place of worship because they like spending time with others who share their own beliefs. It’s not likely that everyone in a place of worship shares exactly the same thinking, but they share the same fundamental beliefs. This can be very appealing to those who like to have discussions about faith and ask questions about the experiences of others.

A Relaxed Atmosphere

Most people return to a place of worship because they feel at ease there. For instance, they don’t feel like they are being pressured to think a certain way. Instead, they are invited to listen to the sermon or the lesson to make their own decisions about it. They freely believe what they want to. One example of a person who creates a relaxed atmosphere for attendees is Ed Young, Jr.

Friendly Worshippers

People who encounter friendly people at a place of worship are likely to return each week. They may be unsure about attending a service, but find that they feel at ease due to the greetings they get from fellow attendees. Sometimes churches put volunteers at the entrances so every person will receive a greeting as they enter. This helps people who are uncertain about the place to know they are always welcome.

The Choice to Give Money

Another reason why people attend a particular place of worship is because they don’t feel pressured to make a financial offering every week. They can make one if they’d like to support a certain undertaking or project, but they don’t feel that they will be looked down upon if they don’t contribute an offering each week. In fact, many people attend a place of worship for several weeks before they decide to make a financial offering on a regular basis. They want to see the sort of work that is done by the place of worship before they put aside a portion of their income to donate.

Finally, most people stick with a place of worship that offers activities that are appealing to them. For instance, they may love the weekly dinners hosted by their church or perhaps there is a particular discussion group they like to attend. Some churches arrange for bus tours to historical places or host vacation Bible school for young children. Many people look at the activities offered by a church to get a feel for what they can get involved in.

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Learning to Worship

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July 14, 2014 By Jennifer 2 Comments

I don’t like church.

I didn’t grow up in church.

Some people have expressed to me that they didn’t know I didn’t grow up in church. Does that point to my complacency like many other born-into-church Christians I know? If so, I want to stand out differently.

Most churches make me uncomfortable and I don’t understand all the Christianese and acceptable appearance and behavior. Lots of churches say they accept sinners of all sorts but they really don’t. They stare at the newcomers who don’t have on the suit and tie or a dress that covers well.

I have friends from all sorts of religious backgrounds: Orthodox Jewish, Messianic, Catholic, Pentecostal, Baptist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, LDS, Islam, and all over the spectrum.

Each denomination has its prescribed recommendations of what is acceptable for its members.

Liz has attended so many different kinds of churches, she doesn’t know which doctrine to subscribe to. I have dragged her to numerous churches: non-denominational, Church of God, Assembly of God, Lutheran, fundamental independent Baptist, Presbyterian. I even attended a Church of Christ once, but it was confusing to me that it traveled to a new venue each week. Too stressful to have to remember where to go.

I attended a church for years that had brochures in the lobby that listed Scripture to define appropriate clothing choices for Christians. I was anxious and stressed every time I stepped foot in that place. Were my shirt sleeves covering my shoulders completely? Was my skirt hem well below my knees even when I sat down? And were Liz and my toddler girls dressed that “right” way too? It was exhausting.

Church shouldn’t cause unnecessary anxiety and stress. We should feel convicted from the Holy Spirit, not other Christians.

I just want to love Jesus and my neighbor. I don’t particularly want to throw my hands in the air like I just don’t care or holler unintelligible phrases in front of people. I don’t want to fall asleep from a worship order that never changes or leaves room for the Spirit either. I just want to sing pretty music and pray and see people who smile with their eyes and their lips.

I don’t just want an emotional experience or entertainment each week. I want solid Biblical teaching without bigotry or prejudice. I’ve been to churches that didn’t accept brown people or men with long hair or jewelry.

One fundamentalist mom I knew years ago almost strangled her young son yanking a toy from around his neck when he called it a “necklace.” She informed me after I witnessed this horrific scene that males don’t wear jewelry and she homeschooled every other year so he wouldn’t turn gay from being home with his sister.

Jesus.

I don’t rely on a church to educate my children. It’s not a school’s job to teach my kids; it’s also not a church’s job to instill character and spiritual development. Ultimately, I am responsible to teach my kids all that and more.

Lately, I’ve noticed people commenting that they yearn for Jesus to return soon. Rather than sit on our hands, feigning helplessness, It’s a nice sentiment. Sure, the world can be ugly, but we can shine a little beauty. Why can’t we love others more? Help others more?

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31 Days of Servant Leadership: The Purpose of Church

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October 22, 2013 By Jennifer 1 Comment

Why should we go to church? Can’t we worship God just as well while admiring His creation?

Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don’t see things the way you do. Romans 14:1a The Message

Honor God. Be gracious to others. We’re only accountable to God.

Be grateful in all things.

Lately, we’ve struggled at our church over programs. We haven’t had a youth group for over a year. Many members of our congregation feel like they need to advise me regarding Elizabeth, since she’s the only child who attends our church regularly who would be youth age.

I am not concerned. Remember that whole adolescent myth?

Many have left our church over doctrinal differences, lack of activities and programs, and church decisions.

The Bible states the only reason to cause a break in the church is if there is false teaching. Yet we’ve had several members who have verbally attacked members of leadership and staff. And I don’t think it was about anything other than personal differences. And then they got real mature and unfriended each other on Facebook.

I’ve always longed to belong, but after years of searching and yearning and crying over loneliness, I realize that I am transient. We are all transient. We are meant to be temporary, visitors, strangers in a strange land. Some of us are nomads in this life, waiting to go home. Others, less fortunate by far, feel at home in their stifling, breath-less togetherness, not realizing there is something better to hope for.

My parents won’t and my husband’s parents didn’t attend church. They say things like “I can talk to God easier and better in my own house, in the woods, in the fields, (insert your own place here) than in a cold building with hypocrites.

We’ve all been hurt by people. Some of us have even been spiritually abused. But we are commanded to gather together in Jesus’ name and worship and fellowship together.

Assemble the people—men, women and children, and the foreigners residing in your towns—so they can listen and learn to fear the Lord your God and follow carefully all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 31:12

If you’re not involved in a church congregation, you’re a crippled Christian. You’re practicing spiritual masturbation. {Tweet this!}

The word ecclesia is in the Bible: 20 times in Acts and 60 times in the epistles. It means “church.” Don’t you think church is important?

The church has five purposes:

1. Edify – discipleship

2. Encourage – fellowship

3. Equip – service

4. Evangelize – outreach

5. Exalt – worship

In too many American churches, the pastor does all five of these. Jesus is the only man who was capable of doing these five jobs well.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25

We as an individual must step up and become the Body of Christ. Teach your children what it means to be a Christian in a church congregation and go into all the world.

I recommend the book Church Zero to learn more about the Acts church and how we can bring it back.

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Confirmation

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June 4, 2012 By Jennifer Leave a Comment

Elizabeth got confirmed last Sunday and I wanted to share! This is in the tradition of a Bat Mitzvah. But, she’s only 11! Elizabeth is now an adult in the eyes of the church, and a voting member. I am so proud.

It was a busy weekend: Pentecost Sunday, Memorial Day, and Dad had to work the air show at base so he wasn’t available! And it rained all weekend. I was in charge of our church brunch. Stress!

Look how grow-up she looks! We had to get a new dress since she has recently outgrown EVERYTHING! She had no red!

Her lovely mentors. Pastor joked that Liz is such a handful she needed TWO mentors. haha

The confirmation ceremony. Pastor recommended her for youth elder. Awesome. I loved hearing Pastor and her mentors praise her accomplishments and intelligence. Proud mama!