“Don’t worry.  It always works out in performance.”  Nope.  Even as a child I knew that wasn’t true when a well-meaning adult would pat me on the head and offer up those comforting words. What I have learned through the passage of time is how to deal with situations that come up that are unexpected.  It can be distilled into 2 rules.  1) Always be prepared.  Know your music inside out so when Murphy’s Law pulls you over, you can deal with it.

So a Baptist church in the American state of Kentucky is giving away guns as door prizes in hopes of attracting more converts to Jesus Christ.

Can someone tell me what’s wrong with that?

Over the years I have seen many inducements used by churches to bring people into their buildings. I have seen magicians, balloon and aeroplane rides. I have seen food used as attractant. And I have seen giveaways of all kinds from pens to iPods. But I have never heard or seen of guns used in this way.

This was posted on a UU Facebook page I follow (I Am UU) and I thought that while the piece and the subsequent discussion are UU, the issue of how to be a missional church in a theological diverse environment is one that the UCCan may increasingly confront. Not expecting much discussion on this, but thought it might be enlightening to some of you.

http://peterboullata.com/2011/12/29/the-liberal-church-finding-its-missi...

Mendalla

Brand is the personality that identifies a product, service or company (name, term, sign, symbol, or design, or combination of them) and how it relates to key constituencies: customers, staff, partners, investors etc.

We have different expectations for church than our grandmothers and mothers had. Then we wore our best clothes, women never wore pants, and men sometimes wore suits. Now, it is come as you are. Are there other things you remember?

I know some have talked in the past about running "Wondercafe Live" discussion groups or similar events in their churches. One thing I rather miss is having face-to-face discussion (though we do have it after church occasionally). I am eyeing joining the local Socrates Cafe but that is more oriented to secular philosophy than spirituality/religion. I am starting to contemplate offering to start something along these lines at my UU fellowship or at least using the fellowship as a meeting place.

What's going on with the adult group younger than the targeted demographic for the emerging spirit campaign?

Are there things going on for adult students?

Are there events that appeal to this age group?

Are they included with other groups, or is there an age segregation?

How far (or close) is the nearest UCCan church?

If you go to a different one, how far away is it?

Since I know there are some here who are interested in Unitarian Universalism, I thought I would throw out a couple links that are quite helpful in seeing some of the breadth and diversity of "The Chosen Faith" (as it was termed in a book many years back).

Martha mentioned that she went to a High Anglican church. What is this?I wonder if it is like High United Church. tee hee