Saturday, September 03, 2005
Straw Poll
I need some sage advice from the land of the unknown. From the mighty minds that roam the wild terrain of the blogging world. The advice I need concerns the age old problem, at least it's a problem in our church, of teaching Sunday school. Not that I am opposed to teaching, in fact, I rather enjoy it. Here is the dilemma. Two little boys, note this, not one but two, ages 3 months and 2 months. Throw into the mix a very enthusiastic two year old. Would we be wise parents to farm our children out amongst the willing hands on the days that I would need to teach. Or should I try to politely tell the powers that be that teaching would cause a major family ruckus which I would have to deal with at a later date, like next Sunday when I don't teach. Now to be sure you have the facts, I may not need to teach but three or four times a year. Should we decide to farm out our children or just have my wife stay home with them OR should I say, "sorry but this is a bad idea and is not conducive to our family at the present time." I believe it would be hard to teach and hold a baby at the same time. The question is: What would be best for our children?
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17 comments:
I'm opposed to farming...
My wife will be staying home...
If you say "sorry"...I'll say it too.
-Ben
Opposed to farming? what does that mean, exactly.....
I got it....
Sorry I'm so dense at times
Hello Glen,
Nice to see your blog!
In response to your question, I am a firm believer that the church is only as strong as our families are. We need to put the needs of our own families first and our "ministry" second. Does this mean your off the hook? Not necesarily. I know that we in our Mennonite churches like to put everyone in their own little class and 'help us if bring a 2 year old into the junior or youth class! Ok, maybe I'm being a little sarcastic.
My point is that we need to be willing to serve, but we must also set the standards for our family and stick to them.
This is one of the reasons we did away with age specific SS classes. Instead all the children and as many parents or youth who want too, meet for a Bible and sometimes object, lesson. The adults meanwhile, meet in the sancuary and discuss the sermon. (S.S. is held after the preaching service) Thus when it is my turn to teach, my wife joins me downstairs and watches the children while I teach.
You have your hands full brother!! I am rejoicing with you in your recent additions. We have four, four and under, and sometimes it is easy to forget that they are my first priority and that some of the other things I used to be able to do to serve others, I am now limited in my ability.
God Bless you in your family!!
well this isnt necessarily a response to your problem. there are times when people just have enough to do. but i get sick of how so many people in our church say "i'm too busy". most everybody says it, which means nobody wants to do anything. bet they have time to play golf or go hunting. this is NOT a personal criticism, i hear it all the time from lots of people. i probly do it myself sometimes.
anyway, in my opionion, since teaching is only 3-4 times/year, maybe it would be possible to do it. i dunno, i dont got any kids to worry about. i think the kids wouldnt be traumatized by a rare hour with somebody else. shoot, you might leave em with a babysitter occasionally.
okay i need to get to work. i have too much to do to be ranting on here. ha.
i meant you might leave em with a babysitter for a trip to town or whatever, longer than a SS class.
Obviously, it is a bunch of work to prepare for a Sunday School lesson. Nobody seems to want to teach. Why do we have S.S. then?
Maybe that will generate some thought provoking discussion.
As for Jeremy's comments...
#1 Babysitting and "Sunday School babysitting" are two entirely different realms. For instance, at home children can be cared for and guided without distracting an entire Sunday School lesson. If you have ever tried to keep a child who is still learning to sit under control through a church service ...try it sometime...couple that with the child not being used to having to listen to you (ie. someone elses child)... it can soon turn a very fine Sunday School lesson into a circus. It is amazing the things a child can find to do sitting on the lap of someone other than their parent.
There are other reasons (of which I will not even go into) that we have decided to keep our own children during church. People can question our decision all they want but this is what we have decided at least until they are a bit older. Also, we have neither set of Grandparents to conveniently toss our children off to.
Yes, I could teach Sunday School and have...but under the current family situation, my wife will just have to stay home.
So as you see... it's not being too busy, per se, it's just not enough parental laps.
-Ben
it would seem to me that it would be consistant to handle it like you would a sunday morning vop program. personally i would hate to see my wife have to miss too many services.
behind the times, lyndon
Very true, Unfortunately that is what has been happening, missing services because I am not there. Whether or not that is the correct way to handle it is for each person to decide I reckon......
We basically have been handling it like a VOP program. Poor wife has to stay home. Although, there is once again a slight difference...there are numerous Sunday School teachers that could fill the rotation ...but alas...only one bass singer for VOP so I can't be wriggling out of that. Hmmm, maybe they are about to fire me?!?!
That last post was me....
-Ben
i guess to me it would seem a bit inconsistant to say that it is no problem for the wife to handle the kids alone in whatever way for ten or twelve sundays for vop but you couln't work in three or four for teaching. not relating to you in any way, but i do agree with jeremy that the "i'm too busy" thing is overused as anyone who has been in charge of trying to get something together would know.
lyndon
Yes, but Lyndon your missing the point. They HAVE NOT been going to church when we are away singing.
One other thing I would like to make clear, I have never said I was to busy. Oh it can be an time consuming and inconvienient but I don't think I have said I don't have time. I get tired of that also. It is funny that some peoples names are strangely missing from the schedule.
As far as the VOP programs Sunday morning...it is a bit of a problem. This is why our Sunday Morning programs have been cut way back.
Hey, I'm all for taking my part in the teacher rotation, if people don't have a problem with my wife having to stay at home from church. I would have hoped the brothers in the church would have seen it as a legitimate "excuse" and been willing to fill in those Sundays. (To be fair, I haven't formally asked to be removed...so maybe they would. Although I did inform them I was "unavailable".)
And since we are on the topic of consistency...
if we are going to have a no excuse policy and rotate the men. How come there are several men mysteriously absent from the rotation list? I guess their excuses were more convincing than mine.
I hope that didn't sound like a rant...I'm not mad or anything...really... I'm not.
I better go study...I'm supposed to teach tomorrow.
-Ben
Oh, and Glen, you need to do a post on "too busy" and see if you can get some discussion on there. Particularly related to church activities and responsibilities.
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