CPR and Church Revitalization – part one
By Teri Ong The current big deal in our national church association is “planned giving.” I think that term might fit G. K. Chesterton’s profile of an “evil euphemism.” It amounts to giving to a financial institution now what you might have planned to still have left at the end of retirement (which is a euphemism for “when you die”). The program is being touted as a great boon to the church over the next decade as we oldsters leave the vale of tears, and leave behind what we can’t take with us. Money, especially lots of money, is a […]
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HSN* and Church Revitalization
By Teri Ong Something very unexpected came in the mail this week– a Montgomery Ward mail order catalog. The brick-and-mortar Montgomery Ward store at the Greeley Mall closed its doors about 20 years ago. I didn’t know the company was still in existence. Back in the day, Wards, Sears, and Penney’s sent out two enormous seasonal catalogs, plus the famous Christmas “wish books.” The only one of the “big three” left at our mall is J.C. Penney. Sears shut down a year or two ago. Every week it seems that some retail icon is down-sizing, re-organizing, consolidating, or quitting. But […]
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HGTV and Church Revitalization
By Teri Ong I admit it; I am a fan of several of the series on HGTV. On rare occasions when I have access to cable TV, I sometimes binge on Fixer Uppers and Love It or List It. What always amazes me is that the list of “must haves” from family to family is pretty much the same. Everyone has to have “open concept,” or “clear line of sight,” some kind of stone counter tops, “on trend” paint colors, hardwood flooring, and whatever type of “bling” is being advertised this month in lighting, accessories, hardware, etc. Everyone needs more […]
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Generation Gaps and the Best $7 I Ever Spent
by Teri Ong We have had several serious-minded discussions this summer with our millennial son about how “millennials” think and analyze the pop culture of the moment. This has been in the context of churches making choices to use certain styles and genres in the arts in order to “connect” with the millennial generation. This has been a topic of discussion because the association of churches that our church is part of has been grappling with the issue of “conservative” versus “contemporary” worship recently. Grappling with the issue now, however, feels likes swinging late at a ball that is already […]
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