Hi Graeme,

I am curious.  What do you mean by "church life"?

I mean a church whose members do volunteer work, or learn, or discuss all week on a social basis, a church concious of the community around it, and one which offers something more than the Sunday service.

The idea was in my childhood. I belonged to church groups that met weekly from the age of 6 to 20 or so. I belonged to a very active Young People's Union in my late teens. It was wonderful for social development.

We had church plays. We had movie nights - enjoying while leaning and talking about film. My first dances were at the church. We had teenagers discussion groups. We had a chance to take responsibility for events, organizing them, learning how to MC, and how to thank people in public.

At my last church in Montreal, I was able to organize large meetings with, say, Catholic priests and laymen who were active in trying the understand the world and its affairs from a Christian perspective. We had Warren Allmand in, a Catholic and a good friend who has been very active in questioning our international behaviour.

I had a current events groups which dicussed current events in Christian terms, something that nobody else is doing. Certainly, our leaders aren't.

My even stronger model came from the many synagogues I was invited to. There were regular and very serious discussion groups, book clubs, Sunday breakfasts which had speakers (I was the speaker at least a hundred times, probably far more) on every imaginable subject. There was adult discussion, socializing. There were occasions for both adults and children. The synagogues I knew were real social centres - intellectual, informative, developmental, friendly, for the elderly, for parents....  I miss them very much.

Christian churches, for the most part, aren't at all like that. They're quite detached from the world - which is why, I guess, Christian Moncton is about to spend 84 million on the city's most urgent need, the most expensive hockey rink per capita in the world. Nobody says boo. There is a dreadful, lying and immoral scam on to damage children's education in order to make more profits for multibillionaires. Most of the news media and politicians in New Brunswick are in on it. Our newpaper, The Moncton Times and Transcript is doing obvious propganda on the subject.  Christian churches should be leading the way in discussion of an issue like that. They should be discussing what Moncton's most serious needs are. But the haven't done any of them.

They have somehow separated the worship of Christ from learning how to think and behave as a Christian.

Jesus went to the temple to discuss, to encourage people to think. We keep it largely for ritual.

That church is long gone. 

Who owns the Times Transcript? Andwer that question and you have answered the rest. 

Sounds very much like the United Church in many parts of the Maritimes. Some things haven't changed in 25 years since I was there.  BTW, it really helps to be bilingual in Moncton.  

Graeme,

If you're ever out west, I would invite to join me at my church. You'll find weekly movie/discussion nights, children preparing a Christmas Pageant, youth packing supplies to be sent off to Haiti, book clubs, Bible study groups, concerts by prominent United Church musicians, a healing touch group, the Mother Goose program for new parents, people organizing a city-wide christmas gift campaign for the homeless, etc. Add to that the myriad of community groups who rent our building, and you have a vibrant church indeed. If you walk through the doors of my church on any given day at any time, you are likely to find a minimum of two groups using it - often more.

When I was a student at Fairview United in Halifax, there was a weekly Moms and Tots group that was aimed at mothers living in or close to poverty -- church volunteers looked after the tots while other volunteers worked with the moms on various things -- my wife was a volunteer tutor for women working on getting their GED.  There was also a meal group that did group meals and a variety of other programs were also offered.

Most United Churches in Calgary have a variety of programs from Spiritual development to mid-week groups for several ages to social action programs.

I am sorry the churches in Moncton don't seem to be like that.  Would you guess disinterest, fear, fatigue or feeling powerless to make a difference?

New Brunswick is a strange province, almost like a village. People are afraid, really afraid, to take public stands on public issues - unless it's something meaningless and trivial like - will you vote Liberal or Conservative?

It might be a hangover from the old, village days (and  half of NB is still rural) There are no big cities, and not much of a cultural mix.  ( yes, I noted the comment on the importance of speaking French - and i have noticed the Acadian communities seem much more active than the anglo ones.)

Then, there's the power of private corporations which hangs like a sword over everyone's head. I've never seen a province to compare with that sort of medieval fiefdom atmosphere. Everything, from the legislature to Home and School is heavily political - though all are political not in the sense of having ideas so much as in making it clear they would not dream of offending corporate power by having an idea.

Is this just a New Brunswick problem or is it the same in other rural areas of the country?  Maybe some other rural residents could chip in with some observations as they read along.  I have friends in rural AB and they gave up on breathing some life into there local UC. 

Yes I miss the church life. When I was a teenager monday night was the visitng meeting. Tuesday and thurs am was prayer meeting. Wednesday evening was Bible study. Thursday was music practice. Friday was youth group and saturday evening was prayer meeting. I miss those days.

Hi There

I am blessed to play in a Christian band called The Message. We are based in the Maritimes, and play 10-15 churches per year, as well as a bunch of other gigs. I sympathise with the OP, for sure. We have seen a bunch of beautiful, empty buildings. (for worship, not just for our shows :-) )

However, we have seen JUST (capatilized on purpose) as many alive faith communities. Churches that are living and giving to their communities.  I became a member of the United Church in a little, rural Church in Milford, NS. Active, vibrant, spiritually challenging. Great preacher! I think there are the communities you are looking for out there. If your Church is not, what would it take to make it so?

There is a great church that many of my high school students go to called Bedford United that is a wonderful example of a faith community at work. keep looking, keep creating....where two or three are gathered....

Nathan Beeler

Serena

Unfortunately times have changed.

Monday night is choir practice (not church), Tuesday is hockey, Wednesday is Lost, or Hell's Kitchen, Thursday.......

Days have 24 hours and between TV, Internet, email, Tweets, Chirps, Bleeps and Burps, the youth have no time for home grown church life-fun.  I can' t DRAG my two near the place except for perhaps Christmas Eve.

IT

Russ

After ten years at one rural congregation I have switched to another- and it was a good move. I think there are several factors in allowing a church to be alive-

people: -our church leaders are open to suggestions and actually invite younger ones to be on committees.

- We have a good sense of humour (besides being good at potlucks)

- There is a core of leaders who are aware that change is neccessary and support this in discussions

Programs: -we had a UC grant to fund several workshops, to which other congregations were invited- this opens up the horizon and brings others in.

If a congregation is only in survival mode and all that happens is fundraising to pay the bills, and everytime you go there the only conversation is when you get asked to donate /sign up for the next turkey dinner, then it's time to think about changing the congregation or looking for a better one.

If you want to have a vibrant congregation, you have to be prepared to contribute. Be creative. I just suggested to the Official Board to turn coffee time into having some wondercafe tables- because in todays time, there are so many questions we need to talk about. They will meet tomorrow, so we will see.

If you have a need- find a congregation that is open to suggestions and go for it...

PS: Have you ever been to Berwick Church Camp? www.berwickcamp.org/

thank you. It looks very impressive - and not that far away for us.

Graeme,

When I was going to that rural congregation for ten years and nothing happened there, Berwick Camp was my spiritual food for the year.

we had Evangelists like Anthony Bailey (one of my favorite) and ex moderator Peter Short. we had the "Message" leading the music and we sing a lot od New Voices songs. It gets booked very quickly. I live within 10km and never stayed on site, though I would love to. Once you go, you will be hooked.

I can well believe you.