Have you taken the time yet to listen to our "Family Ministry" Life Together Conversation?
(See the little audio player embedded on this page in the upper right corner? Couldn't be easier!)
So far, we've received this great bit of thoughtful and encouraging feedback from Kathy Chechopoulos. . .
Hi Tim,
I listened to part of the MP3 posting you and Pastor Steve had on your blog. (I only listened to part because I attempted to listen with all 3 kids are home and awake). I just wanted to say how excited we are about the idea of everything being on one night this summer. I think it is also easier for really little ones to be up late once a week rather than several nights in a row. And also easier for those who are working in the daytime to be gone one evening a week rather than several in a row. Our family definitely struggles with balancing too many weeknight commitments and taking advantage of the many great opportunities to both serve and be fed at church.....Mondays Evan meets with Dan, Josh, and or Craig Hughes to work on tech stuff/light bulbs; Tuesdays I serve at Awana and Spero and Maria attend, Wednesdays are the once a month Trustee meetings...usually once or twice a month Evan is needed to do sound for a wedding, outside event held at Grace, or church meeting. Therefore, we still have not done a growth group. We really feel like we need time to all be home together a few nights a week. Thanks for encouraging us to value our family nights at home.... even when it is to "good" things.
So, if you would like my vote to move the AWANA night around to coincide with other ministries, you have my vote! My brother in law is an English ministries pastor at a Chinese church outside of Detroit. They use this model. EVERYTHING is Saturday night there.....potluck dinner, AWANA, Jar high and high school youth group, college, adult Sunday school classes, etc. Most of the families in their church do not have extended family in the US, so the church is very much at the center of their social life as well. They have Chinese lunch take out every Sunday for lunch as well.
Also, Spero has been memorizing John 10:10-18. He commented the other day how this reminded him of your sermon on the sheep and goats! I know that it must have taken quite a bit of coordinating to pull this off, especially for 3 sermons, but it really made a lasting impression! Thanks so much for your ministry. We feel very blessed to a part of Grace Church, especially at this stage for our lives.
Kathy Chechopoulos
If you don't know what Kathy's talking about, it means you haven't listened yet, but aren't you curious? If you have, what are your thoughts and reactions?
