In the spirit of Halloween, I thought I would share this anecdote with you.
During Sunday school around Easter:
Teacher: So when they went to Jesus' grave, he wasn't there.
Little kid (raises his hand): So... Jesus rose from the dead?
Teacher: Yup
Kid: So is he a vampire or a zombie?
I think he had a good point. Some people believe (not me) that in communion, the bread and wine are literally his body and blood. I think its figurative but this little kid had a point. We "drink blood" and "eat body" so... was Jesus a vampire or zombie? Whichever it is or both... so are we- if you believe in literal communion! :p
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Tis the season?
As we near the beginning of October, I am excited for my favorite holiday: Halloween. Many people tell me that I must worship Satan because I like Halloween and my church regularly gets angry phone messages banishing us to hell for having a pumpkin patch on the property. Really people? I just like dressing up... and candy... so much yummy candy. :) Like every year, I will be going to Disneyland's Halloween party, dressed up and excited to experience my favorite holiday. I have thought long and hard as to why Halloween is my favorite holiday, it must be because Halloween is the gateway holiday.
Halloween reminds me that we are heading into the veritable barrage of holidays (quick grab your pith helmet - it's the advertising companies!). The holidays always held a special place in my heart, not just for the quality family time that it provides but because it is the time of my favorite church season. How many people can say that they have a favorite church season? *two thumbs to the chest* This girls right here. How many people even know that there are church seasons? Probably not many. For those who don't know, the 4 sundays leading up to christmas are the season of Advent -my favoritest church season. It is the time when we talk about the angel's message to Mary about being pregnant, the mandated registration (a biblical census if you will) and journey on donkey and of course the ever full inn and manger birth. It is a time to remember the miraculous and celebrate the coming of christ. It is one of two times a year when people feel obligated to go to church (the other being Easter).
To me, though, Advent represents the garlands, christmas trees, and christmas lights all coming out of church storage. In fact, the Sunday after Thanksgiving is called the Hanging of the Greens and it is when we see the church decorated for the first time and we go over what the historical significance for all the decorations. (By the way, the greenery fairies don't decorate... that would be me and my family, sitting for hours fluffing the fake greenery - we call ourselves professional fluffers *tongue in cheek of course* - and dusting off baby jesus' face). Advent represents the candles that we light every sunday counting up to the candle for Christmas Eve. It also represents the two church services that I attend on Christmas eve. Most families will go to one or the other services. No, I go to both. Thankfully, my dad has a different sermon and focus for each so it is not too tiresome, but still... two services on Christmas eve? Yeah, and that's the way I like it. I get to appreciate both the message and the behind-the-scenes goings on during the greatest time of the year.
Halloween reminds me that we are heading into the veritable barrage of holidays (quick grab your pith helmet - it's the advertising companies!). The holidays always held a special place in my heart, not just for the quality family time that it provides but because it is the time of my favorite church season. How many people can say that they have a favorite church season? *two thumbs to the chest* This girls right here. How many people even know that there are church seasons? Probably not many. For those who don't know, the 4 sundays leading up to christmas are the season of Advent -my favoritest church season. It is the time when we talk about the angel's message to Mary about being pregnant, the mandated registration (a biblical census if you will) and journey on donkey and of course the ever full inn and manger birth. It is a time to remember the miraculous and celebrate the coming of christ. It is one of two times a year when people feel obligated to go to church (the other being Easter).
To me, though, Advent represents the garlands, christmas trees, and christmas lights all coming out of church storage. In fact, the Sunday after Thanksgiving is called the Hanging of the Greens and it is when we see the church decorated for the first time and we go over what the historical significance for all the decorations. (By the way, the greenery fairies don't decorate... that would be me and my family, sitting for hours fluffing the fake greenery - we call ourselves professional fluffers *tongue in cheek of course* - and dusting off baby jesus' face). Advent represents the candles that we light every sunday counting up to the candle for Christmas Eve. It also represents the two church services that I attend on Christmas eve. Most families will go to one or the other services. No, I go to both. Thankfully, my dad has a different sermon and focus for each so it is not too tiresome, but still... two services on Christmas eve? Yeah, and that's the way I like it. I get to appreciate both the message and the behind-the-scenes goings on during the greatest time of the year.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Brush Twice a Day
At my church, there is a time in the service set aside for the grade school age children to come up to the front, sit on the stairs, and listen to a little lesson. My dad presents some random token or another and ties in some grand lesson about God, our relationships with God, or how to be good people. One of my personal favorites involves a jar, walnuts, and rice (but that is for another time). This particular nugget is about toothpaste. Back in the day, toothpaste came in these heavy metal tubes. Once you squeezed the toothpaste out, there was no way to get it back in – this tied into a lesson about thinking before acting or something like that.
So, there is my dad holding a paper plate with gobs of minty fresh white toothpaste covering the surface. He could have built a mighty gingerbread fortress if he had only had the graham crackers. Anyways, he starts to show us kids, I must have been 4 years old, how he just couldn’t get the toothpaste back into the tube. He was talking about consequences and “for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction” <-- maybe that wasn’t him.
Was I learning while my dad did this elaborate messy show? No, I was telling the entire congregation that I hadn’t unpacked my toothbrush yet…
We had moved in 2 weeks before… (chuckles and stifled laughter followed as people tried to be polite but were struggling with their amusement)
Needless to say, my mom was not amused, my toothbrush was found, and my dad has not been subjected to this type of confession from any other present or future youth since toothpaste manufacturers switched to plastic tubes (you can put the toothpaste back now), thankfully. And I guess if I can recall the lesson this much later, it must have stuck with me anyway. :)
PKs 101
Hello everyone. I am a PK. *first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem -- just kidding*
For those of you who don't know, PK stands for preacher's kid... ya know, I'm related to the guy (or gal) who stands in front of you on Sunday and talks about God and stuff... or maybe you don't know and that's okay too.
Welcome to my world. A world where family works for the church, the church is family, and there is always food... so much food. My family is usually the first to arrive and the last leave, setting up and taking down. We are among the first to hear both good and bad news. We go to more than our share of weddings and unfortunately, funerals too.
As you can see, my life (the life of a PK) has both its benefits and its drawbacks. That is why you are here; to read about the good and the bad of 24 years of being a PK. So pull up a pew and try not to fall asleep until the sermon is over... or the pastor's not looking. :)
For those of you who don't know, PK stands for preacher's kid... ya know, I'm related to the guy (or gal) who stands in front of you on Sunday and talks about God and stuff... or maybe you don't know and that's okay too.
Welcome to my world. A world where family works for the church, the church is family, and there is always food... so much food. My family is usually the first to arrive and the last leave, setting up and taking down. We are among the first to hear both good and bad news. We go to more than our share of weddings and unfortunately, funerals too.
As you can see, my life (the life of a PK) has both its benefits and its drawbacks. That is why you are here; to read about the good and the bad of 24 years of being a PK. So pull up a pew and try not to fall asleep until the sermon is over... or the pastor's not looking. :)
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