The Half-Way Point

It is something else -- being at the half-way point.  Probably the most significant half-way point in my recent memory was when I turned fifty years old.  My key phrase then was I was "half-way to one hundred!" (That's how I got through what would have been otherwise a painfully turning point in life.  And for those who are thinking age jokes -- don't go there!)  

The half-way point for this sabbatical is one that now helps me to focus on several things: one is to take the data I have collected so far over the first half, add to it the additional thoughts and ideas that are pertinent, relevant, and thoughtful, and put it all into some format for understanding by others.  Now that is not an easy task!  There is SOOOO much that it has taken a while just to enter it all into my computer; plus, there is more that has been quite relevant from my recent readings of books and periodicals suggested to me along the way.  I have to give a lot of credit to several people: Rodger Nishioka, a professor at Columbia Seminary, and to Forrest Palmer -- an associate executive Presbyter in Atlanta.  Both have inspired my thinking a great deal.  There have been others, too.  Lib Caldwell, professor of education at McCormick Seminary, and to the myriad of DCEs and pastors + members of the 29 churches I have visited thus far. so the writing moves on.  

As for some relaxation, the other point of this time away: this is the week of a yard sale coming up at our house.  Now I know that sounds strange and how in the world that could be at all relaxing, but seeing the idea of a cleaner basement as the result of said yard sale makes me feel real good; plus, the funds accrued will be added to what Erin needs to finish her final year in seminary.  We are still a ways away from what is actually needed, so every dollar will help!   Most things for the yard sale have been priced; now it is just a matter of finishing up, having the sale, getting rid of the rest, and see my way clear to create some space -- just in time for the annual cookie bake-off!  Speaking of which, I have begun gathering non-perishable items for the baking process.  I thought I heard a quiet sigh from Barb -- seeing that I will be taking over the kitchen in the evenings in the not-too-distant future.  For those who were worried that the sabbatical would interrupt or derail the Christmas cookie deluge, no fear.  It will happen, Lord be willing.

The changing of the season and the falling temperatures means I either bundle up when I want to read in a park, or find an inside location that won't put me to sleep.  I have so enjoyed the time outside reading, and it only enhances my interest in finishing a book plus enjoy a wonderful breeze, listen to nature's music, and take in the quietness that only space like that provides.

For those keeping up on my travels, I will be heading to Colorado later this month.  Loveland, CO -- north of Denver, will provide a few more churches to add to my research; however, several people through Group Publishing are at the top of my list of things to do and people to see.  I am so looking forward to talking to them about what is happening in Christian Education these days, and hopefully gather some new insights and perhaps additional resources in my quest to have a very good grasp on the direction and focus of that area in our church.  I really do hope the church folks at First Presb. will take seriously the challenges that lie ahead of us and would be open to some new things we can do as a church.  I am so excited about the possibilities.  

By the way, the mocha at Cafe Mo-Jo's is pretty good!  And they have free wi-fi, too.

Take care, my friends.

Alan    

Greeneville and Environs

As many would attest, it always feels good to sleep in your own bed.  That certainly is my case. However, what has transpired since I returned is a sense of needing to discipline my time to keep up with the mountain of data and ideas that was gathered in the churches visited, plus the conversations with seminary professors as well as others in the field of Christian Education  On top of that, several seminary professors recommended a couple of books, so I have begun reading in earnest--nice to actually have some daytime reading time!  I also am very glad to have taken photos of the churches I visited -- the ways they have decorated children and youth rooms, sanctuary layouts, plus the myriad of banners and other ways they use to enhance the aliveness of their churches.  As I went through each church, I kept thinking about our church back home in Greeneville, and how much potential we have in making the place even more alive and vibrant just with some of the ideas I saw along my journey.

As I said earlier, I have begun doing some writing and placing some worthy ideas down in hopes that some Plan of Action might take place that would really move us as a congregation in a good direction for the future.  I certainly am convinced that a much larger audience needs to be a part of the hearing of what I have to share -- my hope is that we can discover the time and place for that to happen in order to best utilize the efforts of a thinking and doing congregation such as ours.  There are so many talents -- some of them hidden -- in our congregation that I believe would be of great benefit for our church.  Hopefully, we will find a way to discover these and then work out a way for them to actually be used.  I hope to excite as many people as I can to the things I learned so that they can begin to feel like I do about what our church can be doing.

It was wonderful to see so many people at the church's Block Party this past Saturday.  Dr. Dan told me that the count was 140 people!  Wow - that is so exciting.  It was also good to see a lot of the youth in attendance -- they all looked like they were having lots of fun together.

Thanks to those who reminded me of my birthday yesterday.  Barb and I took a quick trip to the Olive Garden for dinner, and then a look through Barnes and Noble before returning home. I must say that birthdays are becoming quieter and quieter as one gets older and older.... enough of that kind of talk!!!

For the time being, I have a few churches to visit yet - in the Asheville, NC area and west of Knoxville, and perhaps in the Abingdon Presbytery in the western part of Virginia.  Most of my time will be spent working through the materials I have, reading, and continuing to lay out a format of the data with some solid, unique ideas and programs for our church to not only ponder, but hopefully implement some of them.  Rest assured I will try to keep up with my blog as well as e-mails and Facebook notes as they come.  I am heartened to know that there are more people reading my blogs -- there is no way to know if my blog is being read or if anyone is paying any attention.  Nothing earth-shattering being written -- it's just good to know there are those who care.

Take care, my friends.

Alan  

On to Spartanburg, South Carolina

It has been quite a journey!  The churches visited in Atlanta have some rather incredible things going on, and I am certain that the ideas I bring back will be useful for us as we determine some good things that could happen in our own church.

I have begun in earnest some writing of my experience, with some emphasis in how a Proposed Plan of Action might be something not only the Session may consider, but hopefully to open the whole entire thing to as many in the church that are interested.  I will need to talk to the Session regarding this, and I do know that the staff would play a crucial role in it as well.

Taking care of myself: yes .  I have become a coffeehouse junkie (at least in Atlanta.)  The Dancing Goats Coffee establishment saw me as a "regular" as I plugged in my laptop and joined over two dozen others with their cup of "java" and their keyboards either floating on their laps or the treasured tables provided for a few.  Time went by incredibly fast when I was there.  I was so involved in what I was writing, trying to remember what I wanted to say and typing it as fast as I could.

There are some wonderful, eclectic places to eat in Decatur, GA.  It was also interesting to meet old friends at Columbia Seminary; and, Erin and I did a late night run for some hot doughnuts (the hot red light's on at 9:30 pm -- and we made record time from Krispie Kreme and back to the seminary.  Erin's friends were quite thrilled to have some -- there was even one of her friends who said all I had to do was leave some in the hallway and she would be able to detect them in the building!  So, some poor seminary students had a treat!

I am now in Spartanburg, SC.  I had a good visit with a church this morning, and a wonderful lunch meeting with a number of church educators from the Presbtery in Greenville, SC.  Their theme for the meeting was to share what we do to help ourselves - what are we doing to feed our souls, and what resources are working for us.  How eye-opening!  It was also fun to meet some folks who have attended the Church Educators Conferences that I attend -- you just do not realize there are some kindred spirits at that meeting that live that close when there are over 1,000 people attending like me!  I have some faces to remember now, and hope to see them there at the end of January.

I have made the decision to cut this part of my trip a little shorter. I am ready to be home for a little while.  I am also planning to visit some churches in Virginia and over the mountains in North Carolina -- almost all of these will be day trips, and that should round out my fact-gathering experience.  Besides, Barb tells me that the grass needs cut, and there might be a few other things on the "honey-do" list.  AND -- the season of my birthday has approached, and I want to share that time with Barb.

So, before dinner, the outdoor jacuzzi felt good; dinner at a "down-home cookin'" establishment rounded out this day.  I will be spending some time entering the data from today, and then going to bed with a book in my hand....

Take care, my friends,

Alan  

It's Atlanta Now

I could tell I was nearing Atlanta when the traffic began to go speedily down the highway and then there was a choice of multiple lanes to drive in!  There are parts of this city I remember well - having been here numerous times.

I visited a church yesterday that had no idea I was coming. I was a visitor.  They were installing their new associate pastor, so the service was a bit longer than normal.  The highlight for me was the lack of warmth and welcome that came from being in this church -- which is about our size.  They have several entrances into the sanctuary -- however, there really wasn't anyone in place until about 8 minutes before the service started.  As in a previous situation, after the service, several people approach me (those who I was nearest), to compliment me on my singing voice.  One asked me if I could sing in the choir!  I politely told them it would be a long commute!

Erin and I got to spend the afternoon together.  She had never been to the new Coca-Cola exhibit, so that's what we did.  Afterwards, we did some people-watching at Olympic Park. Quite interesting.

This morning I had a pleasant and informative conversation with Forrest Palmer, an associate Executive in the Atlanta Presbytery.  He shared with me some interesting resources as well as we both had opportunity to talk about what is happening in churches these days.  My hope is that the leads he gave me will pan out -- he spoke of several churches that would be interesting to see and talk to their staff.

This afternoon, I am on the Columbia Seminary campus to spend some time with several professors as well as an old friend from seminary days who is Dean of the seminary here: John White.

I am beginning to long for the time to start some writing of the adventures I have been on. There is so much to share and so much that we can be doing as a church -- mostly improvements on what we are currently doing.

Take care, my friends.

Alan

Charlotte Experiences (Part 2)

Charlotte has been quite an experience.  I have to say that the churches I have visited were quite hospitable, and I am convinced that southern hospitality is certainly at play here.  Each church has been quite open and candid about what they do, and sometimes even tell me about things they wish they could do better.  As the conversations continue, though, the folks I interview begin to take pride in what they are doing.  It makes me continue to think about what we do at our church -- and if I interviewed myself (now there's a weird thought!), I probably would be feeling the same thing the people I have interviewed -- and would then also feel that there are some things we are doing that are very good for the life of our church.  There is always room for improvement.  I hope that what I am discovering will help that improvement -- we are a good church, and we have great potential for new and wonderful things. 

I have been so taken by the wonderful banners that these churches use as part of their worship experience.  The people who created them are quite gifted, and have given their churches a great gift for years to come.

I had some time Friday afternoon, so I went to visit the Billy Graham Library.  As you pull up, it's a cross between a Disney-esque event and a simple home and barn.  The tell-tale sign is the incredibly huge glass cross imbedded in the side of the barn, and you enter through that glass (smaller glass doors as part of the larger glass cross) and begin a history tour of the life of Billy Graham.  At first, I thought it was going to be cheesy, but as I continued through, the presentations became quite interesting and inspirational.  Although I know he was never interested in notoriety or fame, he did have (and continues to have) a powerful influence on leaders of this country and others around the world, not to mention a huge number of regular ordinary people. I remembered the several times I heard him speak -- once when I was in my youth group - 7th grade, I believe - and then when I was living in Chicago, where folks from my church went to hear him at his crusade several times.  At the end of the tour of the Library, I was humbled some, and I will remember this experience.

It is time to pack up and make my way to Atlanta.  I am quite sensitive to the use of gas as the hurricane we are experiencing along the gulf has created a panic, of sorts. On top of that, Charlotte has a lot of fog this morning, so I will be careful along the way.  Atlanta has a number of churches to visit, and I also have a number of people to see at Columbia Seminary and at the Atlanta Presbytery.  For the most part, all of those places are close to where I am going to stay. I am also looking forward to eating again at Mary Mac's - a wonderful place we took the youth group from Greeneville while we were there a few years ago on a work camp.

I am also now beginning to think about ways to disseminate all of this material I have gathered, not to mention how it might impact the life, mission, and ministry of our church.  There is SO much information -- however there are some common things discovered along the way, and those things, for me, are most likely the important areas I believe our church needs to concentrate on.  Also, some new ideas for programming and other things that will benefit our church.  And for those who are asking -- are you relaxing?  Yes ... I am.  I don't forget to take care of myself. So thanks for asking (I can hear some of you!) 

Take care, my friends.

Alan 

Charlotte Churches and Stuff (Part 1)

Today has been a wonderful chance to see some "southern" churches in action, and I was not disappointed. The churches I visited today have been most hospitable, and as I look back at them, there are definitely different styles of ministry happening.  Catching my eye were loads of artwork, posters, etc. that seem to cover the right places in the churches I visited.  I plan to research some of the sources of the banners and posters and see if there is something we can use to help our walls, stairwells, etc.  The color and message of these posters and banners add so much light and life to otherwise drab spaces.  One of the things I noted at one church is that there is someone who actually changes out the posters and banners periodically -- that way, there is something fresh to catch your eye as well as give you a thought to think about.

Of course, the weather here has been a bit fickle - can't decide whether it wants to rain our not ... pretty foggy and gloomy in parts of the city.  The accommodations are very nice -- and I feel like I am being pampered some; no, I won't get too used to it ... it's just nice to sleep in a comfortable bed with all sorts of pillows!

I brought several books that I have started to read, and for one reason or another, I never finished. Figured some of these evenings will be a good time to finish them up.  

Tomorrow brings more churches and several places to tour.  Hope all is well with everyone back home.

Take care, my friends.

Alan

The Southern Trip Begins

The Southern tour begins with Charlotte.  It was quite an eventful trip here -- beautiful ride through Tennessee; however, as I was traveling in North Carolina - perhaps about 60 miles from Charlotte, it began to pour!  I mean -- downpour like there was no end.  I immediately put my flashers on (like many others), slowed down, and proceeded with caution.  Thank goodness for road signs and many drivers heeding the weather and slowing down.  As you would guess it, my destination took me through some areas as rush hour came, and so that added to the melee.  As I pulled into the hotel, not a drop of rain (of course!)  However, as I left the hotel for dinner, the rain caught up with me again! Oh, well.

I am looking forward to visiting a number of churches here in Charlotte -- given the fact that I am in the south, in the "Queen City", and as Dr. Dan put it, "There's a Presbyterian Church just about everywhere you turn."

I so appreciate knowing there are people reading my blog.  If you know how to comment, please do.  This circle of the tour does not afford me as much contact with people I know, and so my contacts will largely depend on the blog, e-mails, and Facebook.  Keep in touch.  I'll do the same.

Take care, my friends.

Alan

The Bluegrass of Kentucky, then Home...

Leaving Dayton, and on to the beautiful area surrounding Lexington.  So many times I have past the Kentucky Horse Farm, so I made a point while I was staying in Lexington to visit the farm itself.  Quite the place (especially if you have any love for horses!)  The last time I visited a horse farm in Kentucky was with a senior high group from Chicago in 1968.  We had just completed a work camp experience about a hundred miles away, and stopped at Spendthrift Farm.  The owner met with our youth group and toured us around.  They certainly did not live up to their name, for the owner shared with us that it took $100,000 a year just to paint the fences white! Having spent a week in mission about a hundred miles away, it caused such a stir with our group that they were compelled to come back to Kentucky at another site altogether and do some work.

My tour at Kentucky Horse Farm was concentrated and now gives quite a history of ALL horses and an opportunity to note that several famous ones are either buried there or have a statue in their honor.  It is a peaceful place and lots of shade to enjoy.  The horses are absolutely beautiful ... again, you have to appreciate horses to understand.

The churches in Lexington varied in size and style.  Lots was picked up in the way of ideas -- some of what not to do, and that was O.K.  My final stop was at a church in Danville, KY, south of Lexington.  This church has some similarities with our church.  They, too, have struggled with some of their programming needs, even being a downtown church in a small town and right smack in the middle of a beautiful college campus (Presbyterian). 

Now I am at home, enjoying getting caught up on yard duties, seeing my wife and a few friends, and of course - doing laundry!  Congrats to the youth on a successful car wash/bake sale + having a good number attending the S.A.L.T. Project.  Hope everyone else at the church is doing well and excited about all the fall plans and activities.

Leaving Wednesday for Charlotte and the southern circle of places.

Take care, my friends.

Alan

Dayton, Part 2

I am so glad for the time in Dayton, Ohio.  I had the opportunity to spend a little of that time with my great nephew, Micah!  (He's a cutie!)  I am overwhelmed by his vocabulary and thinking process.  Hopefully his parents will survive the "terrible twos" which they are about to embark through.

Columbus, Ohio brought a wonderful opportunity to share ideas and thoughts about Christian Education with people who care about Christian Education.  Again, I have been affirmed by the ideas from others that our church IS doing wonderful stuff.  Perhaps it is just that some things need tweaking, and there is definitely room for new things to occur that will stimulate more to become involved more in their church.  There are some new resources to look at in the area of talents and skills of people in our church.  I do hope we might engage in not only a conversation, but some type of action towards having a better understanding of the various "gifts" people have, but to also tap those gifts in the attempt to have lots more people involved in the life of the church.  The resources are now on order.  Hopefully, I will have the time to scan these and bring some positive suggestions to the Session and the committees affected.

Now the time has come to travel on to Lexington and other points in Kentucky.  I am also ready to be home for a few days and to see Barb again.  There is a lot to be said about home, not to mention being in your own bed!

Needless to say, I am really enjoying the people I am meeting, the ideas and resources gathered, and beginning to understand how some of these things can be put into place in our church.

Hope everyone is doing well back in Greeneville.

Take care, my friends.

Alan   

Dayton, Part 2