You know, there are times that I really get into a funk and I think yesterday was one that put me into one right now.
As of right now, I have a dull pain coming from one of my teeth, but that is pretty normal so it is easy to ignore. Then I learned last night that the budget for the church has been cut in every single department, including $1000 off the budget for VBS, bringing it from $1,500 to $500. I order more than $500 in curriculum so I don't know how this is going to work.
Right now, the idea is that there will be a series of fundraisers in the church limited to once a month. Now on the calendar, the Youth department already has a chicken wing bake sale set for Super Bowl Sunday (and they are good wings.) AWANA has one set for the end of February on the calendar already - the AWANA Art Auction. Kids come and make art, as well as some donated by the rest of the church, that is bid on in a silent auction. I need to start some sculpy scultures soon. So we are talking in the following 10 months needing fundraisers for Youth Camp, Children's Camp, VBS and possibly a Car Show. I talked to Shawn last night and mentioned that we need to start fundraising outside of the church because our people are tapped out. Candy sells. Those stupid little sticker books that get you discounts all over the place. Door-to-door viagra sales. Things like that. I hate turning our kids into little Am-Way Salesmen though -- especially with how much fundraising they do with school.
And then, as of late, it seems that I don't seem to do much right. Apparently, I'm not that good of a kids pastor. I've been a pretty lousy husband lately. I am not much of a housekeeper. I don't have enough time for the kids. Of course, hearing this over and over again has put me into a nice funk that I have to fight now to stay out of.
Some ideas floating in my head right now:
1) Wednesday Night at church: Mission emphasis is not really working right now. Perhaps we need something more practical like free homework tutoring with a Bible story in the middle (short.) Kind of a Bible Homework club.
2) Advent conspiracy is still floating around. Pastor didn't like the idea, but was ok with the idea of not buying one gift and making something instead and donating the price of the one gift to Lottie Moon. That may be something to think about for next year.
3) New Years Around the World is looming - December 31st. We will be celebrating New Years as it happens in India, Kabul, the U.A.E., Tanzania, and Spain. I need craft ideas, snack ideas (Lunch for either Kabul or Dubai), and missionary stories (Kabul will be a military chaplain. Dubai cannot be specific since that is in the red zone and missionaries there are undercover. Tanzania will be Richard and Karen Lee, who just spoke at our church on Sunday. Anyone know any chaplains in Afghanistan right now?)
4) What kind of fundraisers can the kids do that do not tax the congregation but can bring in outside dollars?
Ok, so I'll be fighting the funk today. Pray for me.
2 comments:
First of all, I am praying for you. I understand what it's like to be trapped in a funk and struggling to get out. Here are some suggestions:
1. See a dentist soon! Dental pain can turn into other, more serious, issues if ignored. You don't need to be dealing with that in the midst of everything else.
2. If the people telling you that your are doing things wrong, or not well, or whatever are people that are just looking for a reason to gripe, then let them gripe and don't worry about it. If, however, they are people that love you and are genuinely concerned about something they see in your life, then thank them, examine yourself, and make Spirit-led changes.
3. Is it time that we start charging a registration fee to help defer the cost of VBS? I know you aren't a fan of this and neither am I, but with these limited resources, it will be nearly impossible to offer the quality we have had in the past.
Just something to think about. Hang in there.
Hey Tony, I tagged you on my blog today. Sam
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