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Judith Gotwald

Practicing Happiness Techniques in Worship: Part 4 of 5

he meditates day and nightMeditation

But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

— Psalm 1

Meditation doesn’t come easily to me, but a few years ago I took a course in yoga.

I went to class and was politely dubious. The teachers were enthusiastic and likable. They had created a beautiful studio. But I felt so sorry for them. Next door there seemed to be a factory or a workshop and the noise of the machines was terribly distracting. I wondered why they had chosen such a loud location for their lovely studio.

It was a few sessions before I realized there was no factory or workshop next door. The noise was an “oooohhm” machine. The noise was intentional and it was meant to help us meditate. 

Mediation can be unsettling. A church leader routinely called for a moment of silence at meetings when someone in the congregation died. All heads would bow. After only a few seconds he would end the meditation with a brusk, “That’s enough!”

But apparently there is something to it. Here is a link to an ABC news report and video from about a year ago.

Shawn Acher claims that just a few minutes of meditation will increase happiness, by diverting attention from our tendency to multitask. Studies show that, as proud as we are of our ability to do many things at once, it isn’t really a good idea.

Meditation is used in some denominations more than others. Lutherans tend to abhor a vacuum in worship. We fill every moment with words or music. There is nothing more awkward than an organist losing the page in the hymnal and fumbling for endless moments of nothing.

Redeemer’s experience was tempered a bit. East Falls has a fine Quaker School, which many of our children attended. They experienced the meditative ways of the Quakers—a few minutes in  kindergarten to a full hour in high school. The children claimed to like it. It influenced our members’ tolerance for meditation. There is nothing wrong with a little empty space in a liturgy.

On a few of our Ambassador visits, there was time for mediation built into the service, usually after the sermon. Communion is also a time when members can meditate while waiting for others. Some people develop the habit of arriving early at church to enjoy a quiet moment.

While many churches open Easter worship with trumpet heralds or the organ equivalent, one small country church played a nature CD with the bird calls and gurgling brook garden sounds. It was very effective!

Like every other step in the Happiness Advantage. It’s a matter of creating a habit.

How can we encourage meditation. Here are some ideas.

  • Orthodox Christians use icons to focus their meditation. Use interesting art on your bulletins as a meditation tool. There is a wealth of images available on the internet. Many simply require a credit line as permission to use.
  • Find an inspirational quote. In worship, we focus naturally on scripture. There is a wealth of Christian thought expressed by theologians and poets that can fuel meditation.
  • Open the church for meditation during the week.
  • Teach simple meditation techniques. Concentrating on breathing is key. Here are some links that might help:http://www.yogajournal.com/for_teachers/1856

    http://www.artofliving.org/teach-meditation

  • Slow the pace of worship. Build some quiet in between sections of the liturgy.
  • Use a meditation CD.

However you decide to introduce meditation into your worship, remember to give it three months before evaluating.

22 Aug 2012

Tuesdays Are Object Lesson Days

abc's of object lessonsWe never set out to be experts in object lessons, although we were major contributors to a site specializing in children’s sermons before we (and our children) were evicted from our church.

Strange things can happen on the internet. Last November we visited a small church in Fort Washington, Pa. We wrote about the pastor delivering an object lesson in a church where there were no children present. It seemed to be more popular with adults than such sermons are with children.

That post, now about nine months old, still gets daily search engine traffic. In response to this interest, we have started to post an object lesson corresponding to the lectionary readings for the upcoming Sunday. We’ve posted about six so far and aim to try to add a new post featuring Adult Object Lessons each Tuesday.

Although we use an object (most of the time) sometimes we just present ideas for interactive lessons with adults. Many can be adapted for use with both children and adults—sometimes encouraging the age extremes to engage with one another.

We leave most of the theological interpretation to theologians. We just make some suggestions on how the topic might be handled.

We’re not quite sure what we are getting into or how much discipline it will take, but we’ll make the effort. Hope it helps!

photo credit: nettsu via photo pin cc

21 Aug 2012

Prayer Request for Preaching Convention in Pakistan

A 2×2 member church, New Life Ministries, is participating in a two-day Preaching Convention in Faisalabad, Pakistan. This is a very active ministry in a part of the world where Christians are in the minority. Please pray for their special convention. I’ve asked them to send a report and pictures, so we’ll try to follow up!

21 Aug 2012

Practicing Happiness Techniques in Worship: Part 3 of 5

Cat is stretching. Exercise!Exercise for Happiness

The third suggestion from Shawn Achor’s Happiness Advantage is EXERCISE.

That’s a tough one to apply to congregational life, but let’s not dismiss it too quickly.

We Lutherans are known for standing up and sitting down. Many churches kneel and there is meaning in the physical acts. We stand to address God and honor the Gospel. We kneel in penitence and contrition. But this hardly qualifies as exercise!

At summer church camp we recognize the importance of exercise, sort of! We gather in the morning at the flagpole or cross, greet one another with a joke, read a short scripture and say a prayer. But included in the mix we do a bit of calisthenics. They are silly versions of standard exercises. My favorite is “doing squat.” As effortless at these “exercises” are, they serve a purpose. They help the camp wake up, laugh together and bond for the day’s activities. There is power in just having fun together. Exercise is a good option for making that happen.

So how can congregations exercise? In the olden days (within memory), most congregations had group exercise — bowling, baseball or basketball. Churches banded together to form leagues, creating interdenominational fellowship. This idea could be revived. Redeemer sponsored a community morning walk which catered to the less able. It was held at the community park which covers the area of two or three blocks. Those who have difficulty getting outdoor exercise on their own, met, enjoyed one another’s company and did a few laps around the park with safety and support of numbers. Playground playdates for young families are another exercise option. Yoga classes might be popular. Or teach liturgical dance! What if your liturgical dancers invited the congregation to join them!? Assign them some movements they could do in place to add to the praise of dance.

Think of what exercise options might be helpful to your congregation. Your worship experience might change if people gather having been energized during the week through social and physical benefits of exercise.

If nothing else, you can always invite the congregation to give you one or two stretches before worship!

photo credit: Kong SG via photo pin cc
21 Aug 2012

Adult Object Lesson: August 26, 2012

Joshua 24:1-2a, 14-18, Psalm 34:15-22,  Ephesians 6:10-20, John 6:56-69

It is time to make a choice.

This Sunday’s scripture readings are the climax to a series of readings centered on the sixth chapter of John. For several weeks, we have followed the gospel writer’s narrative as the tension builds.

A lot has happened. Sick have been healed. Multitudes have been fed. Much preaching and teaching has taken place.

Jesus has returned to the city from the Galilean “suburbs” and is now speaking from the temple in Capernaum. He, like Joshua, is asking his followers to make a choice.

The end of Chapter 6 is paired with the reading from Joshua where the successor to Moses stands on the ground made holy by the patriarch Abram and defines the choice before them. Worship the Gods of their pagan neighbors or worship the God of Israel who led them out of captivity.

Write the word “BELIEVE” on two pieces of paper. Fold the papers so that they fit in your closed hand. Put one in each of your hands and hold them out. Ask a member of your congregation to choose one.

Of course, as the paper is unfolded, the word BELIEVE will appear. Talk about what it means to believe. It is an order, in one sense. Or it can be interpreted as a creed or statement of fact.

Point to Peter’s creed at the end of the Gospel. Point out that Peter’s statement of faith is made as many were beginning to desert the cause!

At the end of your talk. Reveal that the other hand holds the same message. The point is that we all choose to BELIEVE something. We can’t avoid making a choice. We will face repeated temptations to stray. We can stand with Peter and believe in God or we can flee with the others and believe in a god of convenience.

What we believe and who we follow is our decision. It’s a life-changing decision that we will be tempted to abandon.

Close with Joshua’s quote. “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

photo credit: chris runoff via photo pin cc
20 Aug 2012

Practicing Happiness Techniques in Worship: Part 2 of 5

Write A Daily Journal Entry

An unexamined life is not worth living.

—Socrates

Shawn Acher’s second recommendation in The Happiness Advantage is to write a daily journal entry addressing in depth something that added joy or happiness to your life.

Writing things down has a power. Motivational experts often give advice to commit hopes, goals, or intentions to paper to increase the prospects of making them reality. “Post your goal on the whiteboard. Make a “to do” list.” The act of writing changes the brain’s priorities. It will help you solve problems and determine direction. Acher adds, it will also help you be happy.

There is something to the discipline of doing something daily. Blogging experts always advise posting two or three times a week. Daily if possible.

Some of the most faithful Redeemer members are dedicated daily readers of devotional books. Even in our exile we have kept up Redeemer’s subscription to the ELCA devotional book, Word in Season. Our members purchase multiple copies.

Enthusiasm for daily devotional readings doesn’t stop there. Redeemer members still stop by other East Falls churches, share extra books and pick up copies of other denomination’s devotional booklets. They often come to worship eager to compare readings from the different publications.

One recent Sunday morning we met at a local bar/restaurant. (Our eviction from God’s house leads us to the strangest places!)

We hadn’t planned an Ambassador visit that morning, but we like to get together regardless. While we awaited breakfast one member said, “Let’s read from our devotional booklets and have a prayer.” She reached for her purse and tapped her arsenal of dog-eared booklets, leafed through them, and chose some readings. We sat in that bar and had our morning worship!

Daily devotions is a discipline which has contributed to our ongoing happiness even under persecution.

But Achor is advising writing! That’s a bit different! How can this enhance congregational life?

IDEA 1:

Try asking your members to write happiness experiences in the form of devotional illustrations. Each week list the daily lectionary scripture readings in your worship bulletin. You can find them online. Invite members to share some of their thoughts based on the readings.

IDEA 2:

Here is where your web site can be put to work. Create  a “happiness” page. You might label it “Blessings.” With permission, post your members’ writings. Compile them into a weekly newsletter and email them to your followers.

Use one or two of the best in worship.

IDEA 3:

Actually mail some writings to shut ins, students, or new members — anyone that might need a word of encouragement. You can use greeting cards or letters. Physical mail can be powerful, a meaningful departure from the digital age.

Your members will be boosting their happiness quotient and sharing the joy!

__________

Remember Acher’s advice: Give it at least 21 days! Our advice, as a group give it three months.

What ideas to you have that might make happiness journaling part of your worship life?

20 Aug 2012

Practicing Happiness Techniques in Worship: Part 1 of 5

Shawn Achor, author of The Happiness Advantage recommends five practices to help foster happiness.

  1. Start each day with “praise and thanksgiving.” Recognize three unique things for which you are grateful.
  2. Write a journal entry daily about something that brought you happiness.
  3. Exercise. 10 minutes per day.
  4. Meditate. 2 minutes per day.
  5. Practice random acts of kindness.

To start, choose just one and practice it religiously for 21 days, he says. It will make a difference.

Applying these ideas to church life may be a key to the “transformation” process which church leaders find so elusive! 

The daily part is hard to manage since Church people rarely gather daily. Find a way to make it a congregational habit. Use your web site to encourage members to take daily initiative personally.

Let’s start with Number 1:
Praise and thanksgiving.

Achor’s advice is start each day identifying three things worthy of praise and thanksgiving.

This should be a cinch for church people.

Redeemer, totally unaware of Achor’s research, began worship with a Praise section, which typically included a nonbiblical but religious reading, some art and the singing of a couple of praise hymns (old and new) before launching the liturgy.

Try this. Start your worship service by asking the congregation to name things for which they are thankful. You might even write them on a flip chart. Follow their list with a prayer and praise hymn (or two). (Beats a lengthy list of announcements!) Try singing hymns a capella or use minimal accompaniment. It is more intimate and develops a congregation’s “ear.” Lay people can lead this section of worship, developing congregational leadership skills.

Liturgies often begin with the confession and absolution, but there shouldn’t be anything innately wrong with a praise prelude performed by the entire congregation. If it won’t work in your tradition, insert the praise section after the absolution.

Use repetition.

Short hymns of praise can be repeated. Most modern praise hymns lend themselves to repetition as they typically have few verses.

Repetition goes against the short attention span of Americans, but it can be meaningful if practiced with enthusiasm. Repetition in worship has a long tradition (chanting, mantras).

Little children love repetition. Songs bring them joy! They haven’t yet learned stoic restraint! Redeemer practiced repetition during our children’s section of worship. If the children enjoyed a song. We sang it two or three times and the children returned to their seats pumped! Soon the adults were repeating hymns in Bible study!

Take requests!

Involve people in their own praise experience. Leaders will learn something about their congregations!

Give it time!

Try this for three months before evaluating.

According to Achor, implementing this one habit will be transformational, improving optimism and increasing success rates.

Please share any ideas you have for how to regularly offer praise and thanksgiving as a congregational transformational tool.

Here’s a quick recap.

  1. Begin every worship service with a praise section.
  2. Ask for praise “offerings” from the congregation. List them.
  3. Use hymns, poetry, prose, and art to enhance praise.
  4. Make the worship as organic as possible, coming from the people.
  5. Use minimal accompaniment.
  6. Don’t be afraid to repeat parts of worship that seem to be especially meaningful at the moment.
  7. Involve people in worship. Take requests.
19 Aug 2012

The Science of Happiness (or JOY!)

I’ve been writing for a few days about the importance of joy in the church. The ideas were based solely on experience.

Today, I sat down in front of the TV, grabbed the remote and flipped through some channels. Saturday afternoon. Blah TV. Sports. Ancient reruns. Try PBS. Great! Fundraiser time! But wait a minute. This guy is talking about happiness. I’ve been writing about joy!

I stumbled across a presentation by Harvard researcher, Shawn Achor, who has studied the science behind the human emotion, happiness. It makes me happy to know that there is science behind what 2×2 has been advising! Joy!

I listened to the last half of his talk and when it came time for the ten-minute pitch, I went online to find out more. Here is a 12-minute video from his talk at a TED conference. Watch it and pay attention to his list of five action steps near the end.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXy__kBVq1M&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3]

He has some interesting ideas.

Tomorrow, we’ll look at ways to apply some his thinking and research to Church life.

Shawn Achor is the author of The Happiness Advantage.

18 Aug 2012

Creating A Culture of Joy in the Church

Joy is unfettered.
Early Christians moved the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday as a reminder that the joy of Easter is central to worship. Accordingly, the 40 days of Lent exclude Sundays. Every Sunday is a celebration of Easter.

Joy, in worship, is often overlooked. How can we restore joy to worship and congregational life?

An atmosphere of joy is more than choosing joyful hymns or planning occasional festivities.

A joyful congregation is one whose members

  • look forward to attending — at every age level.
  • know they are safe from ridicule and criticism.
  • feel their voices raised in praise will be heard.
  • are excited to contribute in many and different ways.
  • are proud to talk about their church during the week.
  • feel comfortable inviting friends.

A joyful church is one in which visitors

  • leave knowing that they are welcome.
  • can visualize being part of.
  • are eager to share their experiences with friends and family.
  • look forward to returning.

Church people have a tendency to create rules for one another and dwell on human shortcomings, making joy difficult.

One unnecessary “rule” is the “sealing of Alleluias,” where members are discouraged from repeating the biblical word of praise during Lent, forgetting that every Sunday is a celebration of Easter.

The leader of a traveling American boychoir of professional quality talked about his experience touring with 65 boys in other countries.

A director of a host boychoir walked into a rehearsal where boys were energetically gabbing between numbers they were rehearsing.

The host director was taken aback. “I would never allow that lack of discipline in my choir,” he commented.

The American director was ready with a response. “We want our boys to give joyful performances. If you want joyful performances, rehearsals must also be joyful. The boys concentrate when they need to.” To illustrate his point he picked up his baton and the boys refocused with ease.

Joy cannot survive constraint. It must be expressed.

The 1984 Olympics were held in Los Angeles. During the opening ceremony, 200 countries marched into the Colosseum, following their countries’ flags in tight, almost military, formation. The USA team as hosts were the last to enter the Colosseum. They spilled into the arena to the roar of the crowd with unfettered joy. Years later athletes from other countries commented on how that joyful moment, which broke with all convention, inspired them. That’s the power of joy.

One of the churches Redeemer Ambassadors visited had an unusually large choir for its attendance. About 20% of those present were robed and singing. (Most churches we visit have no choir at all.) One choir member spoke to us after church. She talked about how much fun they have at rehearsals.  It showed on Sunday morning.

That’s the kind of atmosphere churches need to foster. Church work doesn’t have to be martyrdom. It should be a pleasure. Find leaders who can lead with joy. Let the “alleluias” flow!

photo credit: Pensiero via photo pin cc
18 Aug 2012

The Dangers of the Corporate Church

How the Internet Can Force Us to Take A Good Look at Ourselves

A young man has been ranting online about the death of his sister in a car accident and her insurance company’s maneuverings to avoid paying the benefit included in her policy. They have probably spent more than the $75,000 the policy promised.

Considering the tragic circumstances, Mike Fisher’s writing is civil. His arguments make sense and are presented graciously. The battle that his parents have had to wage reveals the failing of corporate thinking. Money and litigation experience allows the Corporation to abuse its customers.

There was a time when victims of bad corporate behavior had little recourse.

Today, the internet can make a dent in corporate thinking. Matt Fisher’s writings got the attention of Seth Godin and his massive corporate following.

Seth writes:

They bet on short memories and the healing power of marketing dollars, commercials and discounts. Employees are pushed to focus on bureaucratic policies and quarterly numbers, not a realization that individuals, not corporations, are responsible for what they do.

The Corporate Church is no better than Progressive. They are mired in “corporate think.”  It’s handling of its members has strayed far from biblical teachings. Dollars rule. People: too bad.

In Redeemer’s conflict with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the same thinking is evident. The Church turned on its own “policy holders.” The conflict was vicious from the opening bell. The bishop attempts to make it look as if great efforts were made otherwise. They weren’t. In all the rhetoric explaining how hard they worked with Redeemer, they never give examples. There aren’t any.

The Church, from the start, used corporate power and pooled assets of 160 congregations to go after individuals in one small church.

The people of Redeemer always thought we were on the same side.

The lives of 82 lay volunteer church members have been turned upside down for four years with no end in sight. The Church is oblivious that their actions are against their own members— old people, children, immigrants, disabled people, students—faithful, hard-working people—the people the Church advertises that it cares for.

To SEPA, we are the enemy.

This enemy has been fighting for one thing—that SEPA and the ELCA keep the promises made to member churches.

The courts don’t want any part of church disputes. Unfortunately neither do other congregations, clergy, Presiding Bishop Hanson, or the national church.

Progressive Insurance creates enticing advertisements. Get the dollars flowing.

The Corporate Church preaches that it cares about bullying and social justice, love, reconciliation and compassion. When put to the test, it is just as self-protective of power and money as the Corporate Insurance Agency.

They are both in the “people business.” It’s time they both act like it.

People could stop the abuse. Will they?

We won’t buy Progressive Insurance. We still call ourselves Lutheran.

17 Aug 2012