So!
Obviously summer's taken me away from the blog. I just posted two new churches that I've been neglecting for months, which you'll find below. And I have come to the end of my year of visiting churches.
This coming year I'll be embarking on a program with Winnipeg's Canadian Mennonite University, entitled "Outtatown," which will take me from Winnipeg to Vancouver to South Africa and back. Needless to say, my updates will continue to be pretty spotty.
However, I must conclude that I haven't yet satisfied my need to experience new churches, and certainly haven't found a place to settle down. I fully intend to keep visiting new churches both when I'm back for the Christmas holidays and when I'm back for good in April. So naturally, the blog will stay alive.
I'm tempted to try to draw conclusions from this year, but my experiences were so myriad and often confusing that it's certainly difficult. I will say that beyond a shadow of a doubt, the vast majority of Winnipeg churches are having a terrible time attracting and keeping youth. I will also say that the vast majority of Winnipeg churches probably don't have stellar youth programs; I can't, however, comment on whether this is a cause or an effect. Probably both. Finally, I strongly believe that in order to make church accessible for youth and young adults, churches on the whole need to start mixing things up. When I don't even need a program to figure out exactly what's up next, there is a problem. Experimenting needs to be done; the status quo needs to be seriously messed with.
Thanks for reading,
-Brock
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Oasis Community Church
June 28, 2009 10:30 am
Oasis Community Church, 505 Oakdale Dr. Winnipeg
Pastor Dustin Funk
I'd been meaning to get to Oasis for a while, intrigued because the website proudly advertises that they meet in the gymnasium of Charleswood School. I figured this would be a small gathering, a few dozen cash-strapped congregants who wanted to meet quietly together in the gym.
I was really, really wrong.
There were parking attendants. There were free information CDs for all first-time visitors. The gymnasium was transformed, rows of chairs facing a giant stage with two jumbotrons and a full light show. Without comparison, this church had the highest ratio of youth:everyone else that I've ever witnessed in a Winnipeg church.
Impressive, I thought. The service started off with music from the band, which was really solid. Both the male and female singers had a good set of pipes, and neither was trying to be particularly "pop-y," which is excellent. There was a baptism which was actually held outside and televised on the screens, preceded by taped confessions of faith from all those being baptised.
Pastor Funk then continued a series of sermons entitled "Reveal," in which he interprets the meaning behind scripture passages. Today he tackled The Lord's Prayer. I've personally heard a lot of interpretation of The Lord's Prayer, and I can't say Pastor Funk really said anything I haven't heard before, with a couple of exceptions. He noted that the final section, "for yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever, amen," was historically not actually taught by Jesus but added in later because someone didn't like to end the prayer with "and deliver us from evil." Interesting stuff.
Pastor Funk was a good, approachable speaker and I got the chance to shake his hand on the way out. The service ended with more music and a prayer. I would be at all surprised to find myself back at Oasis in the future, if for no other reason than to make some connections with the overwhelming number of youth.
http://www.oasiscc.ca/
Oasis Community Church, 505 Oakdale Dr. Winnipeg
Pastor Dustin Funk
I'd been meaning to get to Oasis for a while, intrigued because the website proudly advertises that they meet in the gymnasium of Charleswood School. I figured this would be a small gathering, a few dozen cash-strapped congregants who wanted to meet quietly together in the gym.
I was really, really wrong.
There were parking attendants. There were free information CDs for all first-time visitors. The gymnasium was transformed, rows of chairs facing a giant stage with two jumbotrons and a full light show. Without comparison, this church had the highest ratio of youth:everyone else that I've ever witnessed in a Winnipeg church.
Impressive, I thought. The service started off with music from the band, which was really solid. Both the male and female singers had a good set of pipes, and neither was trying to be particularly "pop-y," which is excellent. There was a baptism which was actually held outside and televised on the screens, preceded by taped confessions of faith from all those being baptised.
Pastor Funk then continued a series of sermons entitled "Reveal," in which he interprets the meaning behind scripture passages. Today he tackled The Lord's Prayer. I've personally heard a lot of interpretation of The Lord's Prayer, and I can't say Pastor Funk really said anything I haven't heard before, with a couple of exceptions. He noted that the final section, "for yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever, amen," was historically not actually taught by Jesus but added in later because someone didn't like to end the prayer with "and deliver us from evil." Interesting stuff.
Pastor Funk was a good, approachable speaker and I got the chance to shake his hand on the way out. The service ended with more music and a prayer. I would be at all surprised to find myself back at Oasis in the future, if for no other reason than to make some connections with the overwhelming number of youth.
http://www.oasiscc.ca/
Crescent Fort Rouge United Church
May 3, 2009 10:30 am
Crescent Fort Rouge United Church, 525 Wardlaw Ave. Winnipeg
Rev. Barb Janes, Rev. Irene Greenwood
I realize it seems like I'm going backwards in time. Truth is, I misplaced the order of service for this one and completely forgot to blog it. So excuse me if my details are sketchy, but it's been four months.
Anyhow, once again I felt the need for something familiar, and so I headed off to Crescent Fort Rouge. I've attended concerts in the building before, but never a service. It's a pretty classical stone church design, picture Westminster United but smaller, hidden away at the end of Wellington Crescent.
I was a bit surprised to see that the congregation, about 100 present or so, was actually fairly varied in terms of age. Naturally the grey-haired folk were out in force, but there were also some very young families and a handful of teens.
If I detailed the service I would feel very much like I was repeating myself; it followed closely the United Church format that I'm oh-so-familiar with. The service was highlighted with lots of music, and being the first Sunday of the month there was communion. I must admit I really don't remember what the sermon was about. I do remember being impressed, as it was a treatise on the works of God in the world today.
Crescent Fort Rouge United was a nice, safe (for me) experience.
http://www.crescentfortrouge.ca/
Crescent Fort Rouge United Church, 525 Wardlaw Ave. Winnipeg
Rev. Barb Janes, Rev. Irene Greenwood
I realize it seems like I'm going backwards in time. Truth is, I misplaced the order of service for this one and completely forgot to blog it. So excuse me if my details are sketchy, but it's been four months.
Anyhow, once again I felt the need for something familiar, and so I headed off to Crescent Fort Rouge. I've attended concerts in the building before, but never a service. It's a pretty classical stone church design, picture Westminster United but smaller, hidden away at the end of Wellington Crescent.
I was a bit surprised to see that the congregation, about 100 present or so, was actually fairly varied in terms of age. Naturally the grey-haired folk were out in force, but there were also some very young families and a handful of teens.
If I detailed the service I would feel very much like I was repeating myself; it followed closely the United Church format that I'm oh-so-familiar with. The service was highlighted with lots of music, and being the first Sunday of the month there was communion. I must admit I really don't remember what the sermon was about. I do remember being impressed, as it was a treatise on the works of God in the world today.
Crescent Fort Rouge United was a nice, safe (for me) experience.
http://www.crescentfortrouge.ca/
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