tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post1195846150332709376..comments2023-11-03T11:37:04.473+00:00Comments on nothing new under the sun: How local is a local church?byron smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17938334606675769903noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-55198137768635568612010-11-24T08:37:46.112+00:002010-11-24T08:37:46.112+00:00No doubt the Head is prepared for any contingency;...No doubt the Head is prepared for any contingency; on that basis alone I've got a good deal of confidence in the Body to pull through ... maybe not the 'visible' body though....<br /><br />And I spoke of a transportation crisis simply because I fear that maturity is unlikely to arrive at any point before then. Hopefully both our fears are unfounded!besideourselveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18434192984017773791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-41230503481333908022010-11-23T18:33:44.228+00:002010-11-23T18:33:44.228+00:00Joel (jm) - Some interesting stats. What was the g...Joel (jm) - Some interesting stats. What was the goal of the "ride your bike to work day"? How (using what concepts or referents) was it promoted to congregation members?<br /><br />Besideourselves - A transportation crisis <i>could</i> be a boon were we in the right mindset to accept it and grow through it, though it is likely to be accompanied by crises of other kinds that could make byron smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17938334606675769903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-74360792913485458592010-11-23T08:46:10.494+00:002010-11-23T08:46:10.494+00:00I'm inclined to think that proximity should pl...I'm inclined to think that proximity should play <i>something</i> of a normative role.<br /><br />I rather think that we would do more to define ourselves as Christians both existentially and communally by how we deal with genuine differences - incorporating and turning them to the advantage of The Body than by continued partisan churchianity. <br /><br />I would sooner run the risk that a besideourselveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18434192984017773791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-29389058125527234712010-11-22T23:46:29.354+00:002010-11-22T23:46:29.354+00:00on a quick count, i think we had 28 adults at our ...on a quick count, i think we had 28 adults at our service last week (plus one child and two dogs). i think eight people came by car (in a total of five cars), one by bike, one by electric wheelchair and one by stroller. I'm not sure about the other congregations of our church, but i would hazard a guess that about half would walk or ride a bike. the morning service has had a couple of 'Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-69849583991299518672010-11-21T22:11:50.762+00:002010-11-21T22:11:50.762+00:00At my church, we recently lost a disgruntled membe...At my church, we recently lost a disgruntled member. He didn't like the music and the children's talks. He'd come to this church from the one (literally) 3 doors down from his home. He hadn't liked the music and the kids songs there. So, he thought he'd drive the hour to our church because he thought he'd get something different. <br /><br />After a few years, he's Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-17034822936872119332010-11-21T15:32:18.769+00:002010-11-21T15:32:18.769+00:00Donna - Glad you like them. :-) Shows how long it ...Donna - Glad you like them. :-) Shows how long it can often be between taking a photo and having it appear on the blog. I had a suspicion that there might have been a couple of bikes at the church, but wasn't sure.<br /><br />Stuart - Excellent reflections. I entirely agree that one's ecclesiology is crucial here. My own is heavily influenced by the concept of family, which I think is thebyron smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17938334606675769903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-17733614177469396062010-11-21T13:53:34.992+00:002010-11-21T13:53:34.992+00:00I'll just fly my red flag about the question. ...I'll just fly my red flag about the question. <br /><br />The local church is comprised of everyone who is there. There is no distance involved, because they're in the same space!<br /><br />There's a real danger in allowing proximity a normative role, because all too soon you find yourself speaking about the local church but meaning the locale church, and then you've got no Anthony Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16277745466192451883noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-53516915512184886942010-11-21T10:52:12.071+00:002010-11-21T10:52:12.071+00:00I think if your four year old asks every time you ...I think if your four year old asks every time you are only half way to church "When are we going to get there mum?!" you are going too far. I think when your husband is away and you feel very prayed for but no one can come and look after your kids while you duck up to the shops you are commuting too far. I think when you don't bother asking your children's peers to come to Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-26832602360672247932010-11-21T10:11:49.577+00:002010-11-21T10:11:49.577+00:00I think it depends how you define your church. If...I think it depends how you define your church. If your church is almost entirely defined by attendance at a weekly event (with whatever your tradition holds dearest — singing, sacraments, sermon), then people can live a long way away and still commute to that event. But if it consists in a community to belong to, not just an event to attend — if it's a network of loving relationships (whereStuart Heathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11521016471352016046noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-52031417996574301212010-11-20T18:19:53.496+00:002010-11-20T18:19:53.496+00:00I'm loving your Indian photos :-)
By the way...I'm loving your Indian photos :-) <br /><br />By the way, there is one motorcycle ridden to that church these days, and a few bicycles...Donnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14703064533223990944noreply@blogger.com