In this month's issue of Yoga Journal magazine, several articles discussed the importance of practicing yoga with your children. The cover story, entitled "Teach your Children Well," by Shannon Sexton describes how parents should do their yoga practice out in the open so that children can observe it and join in. She also recommends that parents teach them age-appropriate things like postures and breathing to help them not only develop physically, but emotionally and spiritually.

In a short reflection article by Monette Chilson in the same issue, she tells a powerful story about sharing yoga with her daughter and how it's taking root in her now that she is a teenager. She writes, "Though I had been a dedicated yoga practitioner since long before she [her daughter] was born, I knew that didn't ensure that my way of life would rub off on her."

I was struck by how different her comment is from what I hear from parents about passing along their Christian faith. Even people within Iowa Conference United Church of Christ churches tell me things like, "I want them (their children) to come to it on their own." Or, "They'll come back to the church when they're adults." We'd never say the same thing about teaching our children to read, cook or drive a car.

A lot of recent research in the sociology of religion supports the notion posited by Chilson in that Yoga Journal article. In Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers, researchers from the National Study of Youth and Religion write that they found a very strong corollary between the faith lives of parents and that of their children. In other words, if parents practiced their faith and demonstrated that it was important, their children were far more likely to do the same thing. They write, "For better or worse, most parents in fact still do profoundly influence their adolescents -- often more than do their peers -- their children's apparent resistance and lack of appreciation notwithstanding. This influence often also includes parental influence in adolescents' religious and spiritual lives."

Although somewhere in recent history we seem to have given up this important area of parental influence, I'm encouraged by the traction conversations about parents and faith are gaining in the mainstream media. In particular, the national media attention garnered by Kenda Creasy Dean's article in a recent issue of The Christian Century that outlined the vague and somewhat incoherent faith espoused by many young people (and adults) who consider themselves Christian. Programs like Faith Inkubator's FAITH 5TM practices for the home or ideas and resources created by Vibrant Faith Ministries, provide resources for churches to equip parents to teach faith in their household -- not leave it up to the child and their peers to figure it out on their own.

If families pass along faith practices more effectively, we'll have a new generation of young people on fire for the church. Parents and other significant adults will have healthier relationships (spiritual and otherwise) with young people. More of us will have experiences with children like what Chilson describes in her Yoga Journal reflection: "I felt humbled and honored to sit beside my daughter as our voices joined and resonated with the voices of those around us, articulating divinity in this deep and primal way. In that moment, we shared an understanding of reverence for the Divine that simply wouldn't have been easy to access in a casual mother-daughter conversation."

 

Do you love the overseas mission work of the church and like to handle logistical details?  We are blessed to have missionaries Doug and Liz Searles coming to the Midwest in June through September, 2011. 

 

They are currently in Poland and have shared their goal to reach as many congregations as possible with the following highlights:

1.    highlight challenges to the marginalized and minority Evangelical-Reformed Church in Poland (Kosciol Ewangelicko-Reformowany) as it emerges from the post-communist era,

2.    celebrate our denominational partnerships in Poland and how we are walking with congregations,

3.    lift up the plight of the Roma people in Europe, generally, and especially in Central Europe, and

4.  share news about health and education support for the people in Roma (Gipsy) settlements in Central Europe. 

NE Iowa Association meeting... 

 
Date:  Sunday, October 10, 2010
Location:  Congregational United Church of Christ, 209 West Broadway, Decorah
 
Schedule:       2:30 P.M. Registration
                        3:00-5:00 Program
                        5:00-5:30 Worship
                        5:30 Dinner

Please note that all four readings for the meeting are posted at the website http://ucciaconfna.homestead.com/ on the announcements page.

There are four upcoming fall offerings for the Academy for Vital Christianity at United Theological Seminary in New Brighton, MN.    Classes take place in Plymouth, Duluth, Mankato, and Rochester. 

 

Many other classes are also offered through the seminary. Take a look at http://www.unitedseminary.edu/events/index.asp.

Fresh perspective available... 

 

Would you like to introduce a fresh perspective into your congregation that doesn't come straight from you?  May C/L/S Director Dianne Prichard suggest investing a reasonable amount of time and money in a CENTER/LEARN course? Total time invested is 48 hours, and includes eating and sleeping.  Cost is $180 + books.

 

Taking a two weekend course in Mission, Planning, and Governance might be just what your congregation needs to continue its dialogue of discovery.  Don't send the whole congregation--just one or two members will be plenty.

 

Mission, Planning, and Governance  is one of the newly  revised courses from the LEARN curriculum that seeks  to address the  issues and concerns of our churches in 2010 and beyond.  

 

From the course outline: 

Participants will gain an understanding of the Biblical, theological  & denominational foundations of mission; and develop skills for and knowledge of models of planning, governance structures and contextual analysis in order to  assess their current  ministry settings.

 

Objectives:

Understand Biblical and theological foundations of mission--missio dei

Traditional understanding of mission

Develop skills in applying models of planning

Develop skills in applying models of governance

Develop skills in applying contextual analysis

 

The classes will meet on November 5 & 6, 2010 and January 7 & 8, 2011 at Plymouth Congregational UCC in Des Moines.  Total cost of tuition is $180.  Books can be purchased online.

 

More information: email dianne@ucciaconf.org/ or call 563.271.6112.

SE Iowa Association meeting... 

 

Date:  November 7, 2010

Location:  Denmark Congregational UCC on Hwy 16, Denmark

Time:  Registration 2:30, Meeting 3-5:00 pm. A light meal will follow.

 

Program:   Rev. Ron Eslinger will present a workshop on "Appreciative Inquiry".  IA Conference Minister Rich Pleva and Associate Conference Minister/East Jonna Jensen will also be present to meet and greet.

Plymouth Congregational Church in Des Moines, Iowa has an opening for a full time financial secretary/bookkeeper.  The financial secretary is responsible for maintaining the financial records of the church including accounts payable and receivable, general ledger, monthly financial statements, tax reporting and individual contributor's records.  The financial secretary makes weekly bank deposits, processes payroll, reconciles bank statements, prepares quarterly contribution statements and performs other duties as assigned.

 

This position requires knowledge and demonstrated ability in financial accounting, strong attention to detail, organizational and interpersonal skills. Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and accounting software is required and knowledge of Shelby Systems software is preferred. A Christian background is desired as well as the ability to identify closely with the mission, values, vision and priorities of Plymouth Church. Criminal background check is required.

 

To apply, or for more information, please contact Jennifer Hines, Director of Administration at 515.255.3149 ext. 19 or jhines@plymouthchurch.com.