Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself. It is as if they are showing you the way. I used to not like God because God didn’t resolve.
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Posts Tagged ‘Christianity’
Blue Like Jazz
Posted by Sharon Pearson on April 6th, 2012
Posted in Community, Featured, Ministry |
Tags: Christianity, God, movies, resources, young adults, youth ministry 
Comments OffWhat is Resurrection?
Posted by Sharon Pearson on April 5th, 2012
What does “resurrection” mean? The creeds speak of a “resurrection of the body.” Many Christians repeat the Nicene Creed every week without noticing what it says, and assume that the gospel has to do with the immortality of the soul. That, however, is a Greek idea and not what the apostles proclaimed.
| Posted in Featured, Spirituality |
Tags: adults, Christianity, Easter, Jesus, resources, resurrection Comments OffWho Do You Say That I Am?
Posted by Sharon Pearson on March 12th, 2012
The youth I have in our confirmation program don’t use the name Jesus very much. God? Sure, seems safe. Holy Spirit. Maybe, but what is it anyway? But Jesus? Jesus was a person. A person means a relationship – conversation, working together, being together. A little more intimidating.
| Posted in Featured, Ministry, Spirituality |
Tags: Christian formation, Christianity, Jesus, youth ministry Comments OffThe Roots of Baptism (and Confirmation)
Posted by Sharon Pearson on March 11th, 2012
Baptism has its roots in ancient practices that preceded Christianity. Jewish rituals of purification were centered on the cleansing of the body with water. Many Jewish customs found their way into the initiation rites of the Early Church.
| Posted in Community, Featured, Spirituality |
Tags: Baptism, Christian formation, Christianity, confirmation, Holy Week, traditions, worship Comments OffEaster Wheat
Posted by Sharon Pearson on March 4th, 2012
The European custom of growing wheat at Easter, as a symbol of Jesus’ death and resurrection, is finding new popularity in our own times. It is a simple activity that can be done at home or with children in Church School during the waning days of Lent.
| Posted in Community, Featured, Ministry |
Tags: children's ministry, Christianity, Easter, hymn, Lent Comments OffDo You Genuflect?
Posted by Sharon Pearson on March 3rd, 2012
As a child, I recall watching my father (also brought up “low church”) enter “our pew” in church with a bow to the cross as he also bent with one knee to the floor. A puzzlement to me of which I never asked. Only my Catholic friends did those weird body gestures, including moving their hands all over their foreheads and chest when praying.
| Posted in Featured, Spirituality |
Tags: adults, children's ministry, Christian formation, Christianity, genuflecting, prayer, traditions, worship Comments OffThe Roots of Lent
Posted by Sharon Pearson on February 18th, 2012
In the early centuries of the Church, Lent was dedicated in particular not only to the preparation of catechumens for Baptism, but also to the preparation of penitents for reconciliation and re-admittance to the eucharistic assembly of the Church.
| Posted in Community, Featured, Spirituality |
Tags: catechumenate, Christian formation, Christianity, Easter, God, Holy Week, Lent 1 Comment »Being Wrong
Posted by Sharon Pearson on February 15th, 2012
For many, Lent and guilt are synonymous. Lent is the yearly opportunity to reflect on our “wrongness,” purge guilty consciences and practice self-denial, so one might live unfettered by these weighty topics the rest of the year.
| Posted in Community, Featured, Ministry, Spirituality |
Tags: adults, Ash Wednesday, children's ministry, Christianity, discernment, Lent, meditation, wrongness Comments OffCelebrate Black History Month
Posted by Sharon Pearson on February 12th, 2012
The month of February is a time of reflection of history; a tribute to those who have overcome suffering and injustice; and praise for a powerful and sustaining God.
| Posted in Community, Featured, Ministry, Service, Spirituality |
Tags: Black History month, Christian formation, Christianity, resources, social justice Comments OffA Paschal Candle Tells “The Story”
Posted by Sharon Pearson on February 11th, 2012
I recall my daughter saying, “We wanted to do something that was fun to do and look at. And no offense, but as a kid, the Paschal candles just seemed so ugly and drab to me, so I wanted to make something that kids would want to look at and maybe even spark their interest and learn more about.”
| Posted in Featured, Ministry |
Tags: arts & crafts, Christian formation, Christianity, Easter, Holy Week, Lent, Paschal Candle Comments OffWhat is meant by “growth”?
Posted by Sharon Pearson on February 8th, 2012
If I read the Great Commission correctly, it is to make “disciples” and not “converts.” It seems to me that “conversion” is seed in shallow soil, while “discipleship” is a lifelong process of increasing commitment both to God and to each other.
| Posted in Community, Featured, Ministry |
Tags: Christian formation, Christianity, evangelism, future, Jesus Comments OffA 2010 Prediction Revisited
Posted by Sharon Pearson on January 6th, 2012
As a response to the financial bruising on the Western church system (church, seminary, publishing, para-church, conference – all of which are co-dependent and therefore suffering together), new forms of Christian-based co-operative structures will emerge.
| Posted in Featured, Ministry, Spirituality |
Tags: Christian formation, Christianity, emerging church, future, spirituality 2 Comments »
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