Comments on: Church of the Servant http://erikanderica.org/erica/2007/02/08/church-of-the-servant/ A blog by Erica Schemper Mon, 08 Sep 2008 07:11:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Lauren http://erikanderica.org/erica/2007/02/08/church-of-the-servant/#comment-321 Lauren Tue, 27 Feb 2007 17:49:18 +0000 http://erikanderica.org/erica/2007/02/08/church-of-the-servant/#comment-321 Erica, I just happened upon your blog, and this post stuck out at me. My grandma attends COS (Madeline Van Goor), but the only time I have been there was for my Grandpa's funeral last November. What a strange feeling to scroll down your blog to be struck by the picture of that sanctuary which holds such mixed emotions for me! I don't know anything about the church itself, but it was the place I said goobye to gramps so thanks for the glimpse of it again and for the moment of reflection it enabled me to linger in, if only for a moment. Erica,

I just happened upon your blog, and this post stuck out at me. My grandma attends COS (Madeline Van Goor), but the only time I have been there was for my Grandpa’s funeral last November. What a strange feeling to scroll down your blog to be struck by the picture of that sanctuary which holds such mixed emotions for me! I don’t know anything about the church itself, but it was the place I said goobye to gramps so thanks for the glimpse of it again and for the moment of reflection it enabled me to linger in, if only for a moment.

]]> By: ppb http://erikanderica.org/erica/2007/02/08/church-of-the-servant/#comment-320 ppb Fri, 09 Feb 2007 13:11:28 +0000 http://erikanderica.org/erica/2007/02/08/church-of-the-servant/#comment-320 I remember worshipping at Ghost Ranch one time when a toddler sprang loose. There was nothing to break or anything like that, but it in a big outdoor space, i'm sure mom and dad were worried about losing him. Anyway, the preacher scooped him up, and passed him off to someone, who passed hime to someone who passed him to someone----the kid thought it was the greatest game in the world--pass the toddler. Eventually the person he was passed to claimed him. I loved it. I remember worshipping at Ghost Ranch one time when a toddler sprang loose. There was nothing to break or anything like that, but it in a big outdoor space, i’m sure mom and dad were worried about losing him.
Anyway, the preacher scooped him up, and passed him off to someone, who passed hime to someone who passed him to someone—-the kid thought it was the greatest game in the world–pass the toddler. Eventually the person he was passed to claimed him. I loved it.

]]> By: Mary Beth http://erikanderica.org/erica/2007/02/08/church-of-the-servant/#comment-319 Mary Beth Fri, 09 Feb 2007 04:17:19 +0000 http://erikanderica.org/erica/2007/02/08/church-of-the-servant/#comment-319 I never did it, although as I was getting ready for the Ash Wednesday service he fell fast asleep while attached to me via Mobywrap. I seriously considered keeping him there and knew the congregation wouldn't mind if he woke up and needed to be passed off to dad, but I decided against it. He is definitely not of the temperament to be anything but squirmy and distracting. The congregation that I served loved babies, but didn't do so well with toddlers/children. As long as they were cute to look at it was fine. Once they started acting like beings with free will then they weren't so welcome. My congregation actually wanted to post "rules of conduct" outside the sanctuary because they were so angry with one young family who had difficulty keeping their toddler still and quiet. He was known to make his way to the altar at times and they were scared to death he might touch the creche! Gasp! One time he made his dash to the front during our final hymn. I scooped him up, sang with him in my arms, gave the benediction with him, and carried him back down the aisle for the recessional. I hoped that would model appropriate behavior and attitudes towards children in worship. It didn't. And the congregation is surprised it can't attract young families! I never did it, although as I was getting ready for the Ash Wednesday service he fell fast asleep while attached to me via Mobywrap. I seriously considered keeping him there and knew the congregation wouldn’t mind if he woke up and needed to be passed off to dad, but I decided against it. He is definitely not of the temperament to be anything but squirmy and distracting.

The congregation that I served loved babies, but didn’t do so well with toddlers/children. As long as they were cute to look at it was fine. Once they started acting like beings with free will then they weren’t so welcome. My congregation actually wanted to post “rules of conduct” outside the sanctuary because they were so angry with one young family who had difficulty keeping their toddler still and quiet. He was known to make his way to the altar at times and they were scared to death he might touch the creche! Gasp! One time he made his dash to the front during our final hymn. I scooped him up, sang with him in my arms, gave the benediction with him, and carried him back down the aisle for the recessional. I hoped that would model appropriate behavior and attitudes towards children in worship. It didn’t. And the congregation is surprised it can’t attract young families!

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