It got me to thinking....

So I had occasion recently to attend my first-ever Catholic funeral. It was an interesting and moving experience. Having been in worship ministry most of my adult life, I was pleasantly surprised at how much of what I experienced wasn't totally new to me. Some of the congregational responses, etc. were things I'd heard in ecumenical services over the years. And two or three of the congregational songs could have come straight out of the Baptist Hymnal!

There was a printed service order for the occasion, and I found it relatively easy to follow. Despite all the detail contained in it, though, it was very obvious who in the congregation was Catholic and who was not. There were several times when the Catholic members of our group responded, and very naturally I might add, with something not contained in the program.

So, it got me to thinking....

What do we include in our services that makes some people feel like outsiders? What "ritual" do we follow automatically that, while at least at some point was meaningful to us, makes guests or new believers or those new to our congregation feel lost or out of place?

The knee-jerk response, of course, is "Nothing!" But asking that question of those of us who have been there long-term is rather akin to asking a skunk what that odor is. He doesn't smell it any more!

So, how intentional are we willing to be about discovering and resolving those things? Or would we rather stay comfortable and undisturbed--and maybe lonely, too, if it keeps others from joining us?

I don't know, it just got me to thinking....

Time Warp

So I'm in the grocery store the other evening, going through the self-serve checkout, when the irritatingly smooth artificial voice informs me that I've purchased an "age-restricted item." Quick study that I am, I came to the realization that it wasn't likely either of the two candy bars I was purchasing. That left the cough syrup that had occasioned my trip--though it had no alcohol or decongestant in it.

According to the voice, "an associate" was on the way to assist me in completing my purchase, and, sure enough, up walks a young lady barely more than 1/3 my age. (I started to say "half my age," but then I did the math. Math can hurt.) I asked her if I was being carded for cough syrup, and she said I was, but she, sadly, didn't have to look at my driver's license (or any other card) to recognize that I was more than old enough to buy it. She quickly swiped her employee ID and punched-in a few numbers. Then she was on her way and I on mine.

Is it just me, or does it strike anyone else as odd that a teenaged store clerk had to approve this cool, but middle-aged, pastor's purchase of a simple cough syrup? Maybe I'll eventually be able to prove myself as responsible as that clerk...