Graduating Church? (6/15/2011)

Weekly Pulpit -- Warren Sentinel  -- June 15, 2011

High school graduation is a bittersweet rite of passage. Academic achievement is celebrated. Futures are anticipated. Family and friends prepare to say good-bye to graduates. Parties are held. Plans are made. Bags are packed. Jobs are started (or at least sought). And most churches begin to see a mass exodus of their youngest adults.

Studies indicate that between sixty and seventy percent of high school graduates who regularly attend church will stop doing so in the years following graduation. Around a quarter of them may eventually return when they marry and have children. Still others may return in moments of crisis. But many will never return.

These same studies indicate that most graduates don't plan on leaving church. But every year the exodus begins again. This doesn't mean that they have abandoned their faith, their churches, or their families. But I do believe that it means that they have lost an important point of connection in their lives. Or maybe it reflects that this point of connection wasn't all that important after all. It certainly means that churches have lost one of their greatest assets.

Some blame the exodus from churches on colleges or universities. But the church dropout rate isn't statistically higher for those who attend college. Others blame the media's coverage of the scandals of prominent church leaders. But relatively few of those who leave churches report that they did so because of this either.

Sam Rainer, co-author of Essential Church, writes the following: “This age group gives a variety of reasons for the departure: They wanted a break from church. They didn’t connect with the people in the church. They perceived existing church members as out of touch with current reality. The results boiled down to one simple reason: Church was not essential to them.”

What a tragedy! The reality is that many people – not just graduating seniors – no longer see church as an essential part of their lives. And who's to blame? I am. How have I helped others see that being an active part of a community of faith is essential? How have I shown that it is essential to me? And so I must ask myself, how will I live and parent and pastor in ways that will communicate that being part of a church is essential? And how will I seek to help engage youth – even my own children – in the life of a church so that they will come to see it as essential?

I am struck by Ecclesiastes 12:1, which reads, “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, 'I find no pleasure in them'” The sad reality is that churches seem increasingly composed of the youngest and oldest among us and are less vital as a result.

My plea to our graduates is that you stick with your church or join another church if you move away. You are essential to your church. Its very future depends in great part on you! May God bless you as you celebrate this important milestone in your life and may God guide you as set forth on the next part of your journey.

Holy Week In What Was Once Called Hell Town (4/14/2011)

Weekly Pulpit -- Warren Sentinel -- April 14, 2011

The Psalmist wrote, “This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!” (Psalm 118:24) I believe that we should consider every day to be Holy because it is a day that God has made. But I also believe that it is appropriate for us to pause at special times during the year (and indeed each week) to reflect in special ways on all that should cause us to to rejoice and be glad.

The verses immediately preceding the one above read, “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” While at Christmas Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus the Christ, during Holy Week we reflect on the rejection that our savior experienced from so many during his day …. and even in ours. In particular, we remember the events leading up to his death upon the cross.

While we don't forget that on the third day he rose again, for many Christians the Season of Lent, in general, and Holy Week, in particular, is a time of sacred remembrance and repentance as we prepare ourselves for the glorious celebration of Jesus' resurrection and the eternal newness of life we are offered in and through him.

Many churches throughout our county will have special gatherings in the coming days that provide opportunities for us to do this communally. I encourage you to visit the website of the church you attend or a church near you to learn what they are doing in the lead up to Resurrection Sunday. You can find many local church websites at www.frwcma.org.

In addition, I would encourage you to participate in the following events that are being sponsored by the Front Royal / Warren County Ministerial Association: On Palm Sunday, April 17^th, we will gather at the parking lot next door to the First Baptist Church on Royal Avenue at 12:30 pm to observe a dramatic reenactment of Jesus' “triumphal entry” into Jerusalem. From there we will walk to the Gazebo with stops along the way for other dramatic reenactments of events in the life of Jesus during the week leading up to his crucifixion.

On Good Friday, April 22^nd, we will return to the Gazebo at noon for a brief service of scripture readings, prayer, song, and reflection. If you work locally, we encourage you to join us over your lunch break.

Then on Easter Sunday, we invite you to attend the spectacular production of “Echoes of His Love,” a musical program that is being held at Riverton United Methodist Church and co-sponsored by a number of churches in our area. This musical program is a free, family friendly event. From what we have heard, it is also quite exceptional. The program begins promptly at 6:00 pm and we encourage you to arrive early as we expect this event will be very well attended.

And finally, we encourage you to worship at a local church on Easter Sunday. Many churches offer multiple worship services and a number of churches, including Rockland Community Church, also offer special Sunrise Services in case you want to get an extra early start at celebrating the Resurrection.