New Ways of Doing Church

For several years now we have heard the nay-sayers deplore the state of main line churches across America.  The buildings are crumbling; the pews are empty; the coffers need replenishing; the cupboards are bare, and the sky is falling...not necessarily in that order.  Not that there are not problems and issues that need to be addressed: aging structures and congregations present challenges to tightly stretched budgets; neighborhoods and demographics change, especially in urban settings where populations are in constant flux due to changing economic opportunities.





But all is not lost, and perhaps those of us for whom organized religion holds value need to think of new ways of doing church.  I know this is not a thought I alone came up with. I understand folks of many faith traditions have been thinking and talking about this for several years.  But it may be time to seriously consider looking at other models of how church can be done in different ways.




A large city Episcopal Church had been offering a Sunday type service on a weekday for people whose schedules might not be conducive to traditional Sunday worship. In addition, a Sunday evening Eucharist was offered in a more relaxed atmosphere. Closer to home, a rather traditional Episcopal parish began and continues to offer, a low key Sunday evening Eucharist that at first appealed to the LGBT community, but also makes sense for the Sunday morning athletes among us. A local Lutheran church offered a Taize-style Saturday evening worship that had a good following for a while, but disappeared when the pastor retired.

Theology on Tap

Several churches, both in the city and the 'burbs are offering what is referred to as "Theology on Tap" where smaller groups of Christians join together to talk about their faith in local taverns while consuming some adult beverages and pub grub.  These were originally designed to attract younger folks, but each one is different, and some seem to attract a loyal cadre of parishioners who just like to hang together and eat good pizza....by the way...nothing wrong with good pizza under any circumstances.



Hip Hop Mass at St Paul's Chapel

Several years ago, a deacon friend was involved in ministering to large numbers of gang members in the South Bronx.  He and the rector baptized children, officiated at weddings, and began to integrate the local "hip-hop" culture into a well attended Thursday evening service.  It was successful in attracting a cadre of traditionally unchurched people to the church, but unfortunately for them, it was held up by others as a model to be replicated across the city.  Well, it quickly became a piece that was taken "on-the-road" and brought into neighborhoods for an "event" that quickly turned it into a cultural sideshow and it soon died on the vine.  The deacon and priest moved on to other ministries, and the young men and women of that community drifted apart.

So, it was with much trepidation that I began following a "Dinner Church" in Brooklyn on the internet about two years ago.  St. Lydia's is a mission of the Evangelical Lutheran Church/New York Synod and the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island.  Emily Scott, an ordained Lutheran Minister is the pastor, if you can use that term , of this interesting group of people in Christian community.

Emily Scott

Last Sunday I attended their Open House as they gathered to celebrate the opening of their new store front space on Bond Street in Brooklyn on the edge of Gowanas, Carroll Gardens and Park Slope. I have never felt so welcomed in another congregation in a very long time.  Everyone was happy to talk about their experiences there and how they got to that place. Most of the folks there were in their early thirties to mid forties, with a healthy sprinkling of greying boomers. Their worship on Sunday or Monday evening...which ever you can make, consists of preparing a shared meal; setting the tables gathering together in silence, offering intercessions, doing a Eucharist ritual, breaking the bread and sharing a meal.  Once the meal is done, the worship leader, usually the minister/pastor delivers a sermon/homily/reflection and the gathered community reacts and prayers and petitions are offered.  The table is cleared, dishes are cleaned, the floor is swept, and folks go on their way.



Co Share space at St Lydia's B'klyn

During the week, the well-lit and airy storefront offers its table space, wi-fi, printer and leftovers (which are squirreled away in the refrigerator) to folks who would be doing their work at a coffee shop or at home.  A suggested offering for the space is used to off-set some of the costs of running the church.  They "crowd sourced" the money they needed to do the renovations, and set up a "wish list" on Amazon to stock the place with all the kitchen items they needed, and with books and craft items for the youngsters who come with parents.  They have a ten year lease and a bold plan to expand and move forward with their worshiping community. 

The gathered group at St Lydia's has a vision and a plan.  They have used new ways of raising money, outfitting the space and reaching possible new members.  They have shown real stewardship of their property by using it in a smart way to generate income for them when they are NOT using it as worship space. Perhaps those of us who are struggling to work within our personally created parameters of church can learn from them, not by imitating them, but by rethinking what it means to be church. 
Want to learn more about St Lydia's?  Look here: http://stlydias.org/about.php

Soup Kitchen Volunteers

Fourth Saturday Kitchen Crew

For a very long time now, so long that I am not going to hazard a guess about how long , but I think that Kirstin was in High School when we started, and she is going to her 20th High School Reunion this weekend, so is has been some time now that I have spent most Saturdays at a local Soup Kitchen.  The cast of characters that show up for lunch has changed somewhat, although there is a pretty consistent flow of "regulars" whose trials and tribulations have ebbed and flowed over the past years. There are several volunteers who have also been around for quite a while whose experience I value highly.      

Several of our volunteers came to us from the local high schools that require a "community service" component for graduation.  Many of these young folk often stayed on after their 25 hours of service were over, and have written about their time with us in college application essays.  A valiant few often return to help out during college breaks and summer vacation time.  We are always happy to see them.

St john's University SVdeP

We have been getting other workers from colleges near by.  The Soup Kitchen is within a reasonable walk from two colleges on Staten Island: St. John's University and Wagner College. These young people are often away from home for the first time, and develop a feeling of community when they come to work with us. They form lasting friendships across campus lines, and we get great volunteers who can follow instructions well.

There are also  interns working on hurricane relief who live in a church-owned house down the street from the Soup Kitchen.  One of them has become a regular at the Soup Kitchen when he isn't working.  He has also made good connections with other volunteers and our college friends, and if we have left overs....which we occasionally do, he brings it home to the five other interns who live on a tight budget. 

Our cooking crews often bring volunteers with them. Some of these folks prefer to stay in the kitchen, but others like to venture out to the front of the house to meet and serve our guests.  We try to accommodate all workers to serve within their comfort zones, but are happy when one or two wish to step outside of theirs to experience something different.

Second Saturday meal

And finally, we have a local organization that matches volunteers with projects which comes twice a month (the third and fifth Saturdays) to serve the meal.  At first I was not sure how this would work out, but we have begun to get a regular rota of volunteers who have become invaluable to the running of both the kitchen the dining area.

As the holiday season fast approaches us, I will be hearing from others who want to be "Volunteer for a Day" for Thanksgiving or Christmas.  I have a difficult time dealing with "one day wonders" who want me to provide them with a stellar experience on two of the busiest days in my year.  Well, truth be told, we don't serve on the holidays, unless Christmas falls on a Saturday.  We usually serve a holiday meal the Saturday prior to the holidays.  So this year that means we'll have our traditional Thanksgiving meal on the 22nd of November and Christmas dinner on the 19th of December. On those days I need my most experienced serving crew.  I don't have the time, nor the patience, to deal with rookies.  But, mark my words, at least five to ten will show up.  Pray for me.

Roof top gardening

Gazanias

As the days get shorter and the nights get cooler, it is now time to put the summer container garden to rest.  The basil plants have grown elongated and woody, and the final batch of summer pesto ( a combination of basil, mint, parsley, sunflower seeds, grated parmesan cheese and extra virgin olive oil) has been made and consumed.  The annual gazanias have gone to seed, the tomatoes and eggplant have yielded their final fruit, and the coleus looks ready to come inside for a winter over rest.




It is also time to reflect on what worked and what didn't, and how to make the whole thing better.  There are the perennials that have to be winterized for their survival.  I lost two fir trees and a hibiscus to the last brutal winter, and don't wish to have to go through that again.  I have learned that  it is not necessarily the lack of a good hydration system, but also the wind factor that takes its toll on perennial plants.  And the semi-salty air of the New York harbor does have an effect on the plants on my roof top deck/balcony.


Rosemary and oregano



The chocolate rose bush continues to bloom in its second season of summer, and the hearty rose bush I purchased with the gardener's  blessing at my local nursery is still thriving.  It is the same variety that grows along that overused and oftimes fume filled West Street in Manhattan, and so I expect it will winter over well here.  When I pull up the soon spent basil and tomato plants, I will plant some newly purchased tulip and daff bulbs.  I have been assured that these will do well in the large containers I have.  The hostas wintered over with some TLC, and that will be my routine with them again.  The blade grass will also winter over, I have heard, with some gentle TLC...sheltering it from too strong winter winds.                                                               

Hostas



Live Forever

My major concern is my new Mallow hibiscus; I was told it is winter hardy, but I still think I will wrap it to be on the safe side. I have been assured that plastic bubble wrap will suffice.  I also have a plant sometimes referred to as "Live-Forever", a tall green succulent with purplish tiny blossoms. That will also be wrapped. And after losing my tall rosemary bush last winder, I am bringing the newer one along with the mint, lavender and oregano inside to sit in a nice sunny spot until the spring when they will again go outside.

My next garden project is learning more about capturing rainwater for irrigating on roof tops...any suggestions out there?