Time for dreaming a vision from our favorite GIFT FINK, Debbie Streicher:
What if we didn’t even use the word “Sunday School” with GIFT.
What if GIFT were only seen as a “Family Edu-Worship” model?
On the FINK website, it looks really good to have “family ministry” under FSS. It would compliment that to have “Family edu-worship” under GIFT.
Why?
1. Because most clergy and majority of staff appear to have little interest in anything that says “Sunday school”, but a vested interest in anything that has the word “worship” attached. (guess it’s the word and sacrament thing J)
2. Because parents and other adults are the challenge we have in changing to a family ministry model, not the kids…..you put the word worship and make it a devotional worship to attend together and all of a sudden it’s okay with parents and adults to be mixed with kids ‘cause that’s already what is done in worship. (sneaky way to get the adults equipped…even the “traditionals”)
3. Because most churches using H2H have clergy and staff that are familiar with FINK.
4. Because several churches in the past week have called about this…..Gloria Dei outside of Phila. will be introducing an alternative
1 and ½ hour family worship in the fall and want to use the FINK system…..also spoke with a church in MN that wants to do the same. (They both love the idea of a service around tables for sharing thoughts and the eucharist!)
Adaptations to enhance:
Bookmarks for take-home devotions or put them on a website.
Combination of art and FINKlopedia for closing meditation.
Extra slides for offering and eucharist.
Everything else lends itself to a service design J.
Hmmmm…….dreamin’ about it! ……been a looooooooong couple of monthsL.
If you read this far…thanks a bunchJ!
See you soon.
Blessings,
Debbie Streicher
(On her way to lead the GIFT University May 17 - 19 - there's still lots of room. Send us someone!)
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