tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677866446660565018.post1164498923239888340..comments2023-07-07T01:36:26.448-07:00Comments on Mountain Home Quilts: The Family Integrated ChurchMountain Home Quiltshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14307105463600660439noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677866446660565018.post-79640503910914971772012-02-18T15:02:58.606-08:002012-02-18T15:02:58.606-08:00We do a family type thing for Sunday School at our...We do a family type thing for Sunday School at our church. Different dads take turns teaching a lesson on whatever they choose and do it for the whole group, all ages. They usually gear it toward the younger children and often include a skit or a coloring sheet for them or sing a children's song. It works great and even the adults can learn from a children's lesson - maybe more than a deeper lesson! We have about 100 on an average Sunday and are an independant church probably most similar to the independant baptists. All the families homeschool so it just makes sence to keep the families together.The K. Familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14675796170138967108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677866446660565018.post-41308435909387150852012-02-18T15:02:42.725-08:002012-02-18T15:02:42.725-08:00We do a family type thing for Sunday School at our...We do a family type thing for Sunday School at our church. Different dads take turns teaching a lesson on whatever they choose and do it for the whole group, all ages. They usually gear it toward the younger children and often include a skit or a coloring sheet for them or sing a children's song. It works great and even the adults can learn from a children's lesson - maybe more than a deeper lesson! We have about 100 on an average Sunday and are an independant church probably most similar to the independant baptists. All the families homeschool so it just makes sence to keep the families together.The K. Familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14675796170138967108noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677866446660565018.post-56882837379635979212012-01-11T19:24:01.083-08:002012-01-11T19:24:01.083-08:00so,
I had to re-read this when I had a full momen...so, <br />I had to re-read this when I had a full moment to myself. I love it.<br /><br />I will tell you that we are not members of an "organized" church right now. We left 3 years ago for much of the same reasons that you are talking about.<br /><br />We are PRAYERFULLY searching...<br />We have been involved with home church since then and when we don't get together with other families, we worship here as a family.<br /><br />I like the idea of fic, however, when I think of "church" I think more along the lines of the body of christ in a whole. I'm not sure traditional church is the answer nor fic? does that make sense?<br />I like what tonya says about letting her children be involved with activities at a certain age. In my mind...thats more like it.<br />But, I'm conviced. conviced, that the "organized" church as waaaaay too many "activities" for all ages and this is a problem. <br /><br />It's important to define what "church" is to you and your family {i think} and make a decision from there.<br /><br />so good of you to blog about this and open the comment box up for discussion.Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16310718367078901030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677866446660565018.post-6743828613038697822011-12-31T12:49:21.154-08:002011-12-31T12:49:21.154-08:00Rachelle,
Absolutely. You pointed out something th...Rachelle,<br />Absolutely. You pointed out something that I had thought about but failed to include in this post...Christians vs. Christians. It is terribly sad that this magazine would attack other believers. And satan sits back and smiles..........Mountain Home Quiltshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14307105463600660439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677866446660565018.post-83710488254669586322011-12-29T12:58:05.185-08:002011-12-29T12:58:05.185-08:00I agree 100%. We don't let our children atten...I agree 100%. We don't let our children attend regular youth group until they are 12 and all of the children stay with us during church.<br />Too many churches are pulling the family apart.<br />Warm wishes,<br />TonyaTonya Gunnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09140984106118247860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677866446660565018.post-66733236215176647392011-12-26T11:36:01.971-08:002011-12-26T11:36:01.971-08:00Loved the post. I was very upset with the article ...Loved the post. I was very upset with the article in their magazine (which I currently get). I have the Divided DVD and Scott Brown's book a Weed in the Church. Many good points are made about our current "traditional" church model. I was sad and upset after reading the artilce you mentioned. And that other "christians" are attacking fellow Christians. The book is very good and everything he says is in love. The article in the magazine was not spoken in love. I don't understand the bashing of the FIC movement. If it isn't your style then so be it you don't have to put down others, if it is then it is a wonderful opportunity. Just like many who have commented our family has chosen not to send our kids to a separate class or the youth group. We have not yet tried to visit a FIC church. <br />Thank you for your post and it is nice to see there really are others out there who are likeminded.Rachellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13886075256067679722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677866446660565018.post-1588655446084180662011-12-25T13:17:25.898-08:002011-12-25T13:17:25.898-08:00WOW. Thank you everyone for all of your thoughtful...WOW. Thank you everyone for all of your thoughtful comments- they have been wonderful to read!<br />I have replied to some of you personally, where I can, if your email was provided with your identity. <br />I wanted to comment on JennyM's recent comment....<br />I mentioned in the post that I hadn't yet subscribed to this magazine and wasn't sure how I got the free copy. Maybe they saw all my "tries" and thought, let's see if we can get this ball rolling with this lady!! I don't know. If that was the case, all they have done is actually made me not want to subscribe to their magazine. This is the first of theirs that I have read so I was unaware that they had previously argued against the FIC.<br />I find it funny that the magazine ended their article on the review of "Divided" with, "...the church would do well to ignore it." <br /><br />Thanks. I believe that I'll be doing the same with your magazine.Mountain Home Quiltshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14307105463600660439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677866446660565018.post-40888476647163224012011-12-23T20:16:04.112-08:002011-12-23T20:16:04.112-08:00Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I was interes...Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I was interested in finding out if anyone else was also disturbed by the magazine's rather divisive stance on the FIC. I don't attend one, but honestly, I would if I could find one. I felt that the article misrepresented the movement, as you so clearly explained. I am also wondering why a magazine that I trying to appeal to a broad cross section of Christian homeschoolers would want to alienate one particular group? Not only that, but are you aware that this is the second issue in a row that has featured articles attacking the FIC? I was offended that a magazine would presume to pass judgements about churches and theology for me. I will soon write to them expressing my opinion, and that it means that I will not be renewing my subscription. I'm back to subscribing to The Old Schoolhouse, which has Bible based devotionals that aren't so judgmental. Thanks again and God Bless.JennyMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02250209343797302903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677866446660565018.post-68227406968368710582011-12-23T10:24:54.040-08:002011-12-23T10:24:54.040-08:00Heather,
I love your blog and have been reading i...Heather, <br />I love your blog and have been reading it for the last several months but have never commented before today. I love your discussion about FIC model of worship. My husband and I grew up in a traditional Southern Baptist Church with everyone doing their own thing in their own way. However, over the last few years, the Lord has been speaking to us about this very thing. We have felt that worship should be cooperately shared with our daughter, not passing her off to someone else and not know if what they taught lined up with how we were raising her.<br />About 14 months ago, He moved us to a FIC church, and we LOVE IT. As we struggled with not know if we were making the right move or not, God showed us what we needed to be certain. She has grown by leaps and bounds in her relationship with Him.<br />She not only sees us worshipping together, modeling this for her, but she doesn't see just us, she sees everyone worship together. We have families with just a few children and some with 10. She sees older couples, and young couples just starting out their lives together and singles, all worshipping together, just like we are one big happy family. We all seek to serve God and I think that this is one of the best attributes of this type of worship. We love it and are so thankful that God has joined us with others who have this same desire.<br />Thank you for this excellent discussion starter.<br />Praying that you and your family have a very, very Merry CHRISTmas and a wonderful new year ahead.Tracihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14615065044939914536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677866446660565018.post-63207652275640465652011-12-21T19:18:03.159-08:002011-12-21T19:18:03.159-08:00We attend a 'typical' model church, but ha...We attend a 'typical' model church, but have kept our 17, 15, & 12 year-old with us during the entire service. At times we've felt like we've made a stir, but whenever asked we just say that our family enjoys worshipping together. The leadership has respected our decision. Our kids may not 'fit' the typical teen-youth scene, but we get together with other families with kids of all ages that they connect with.<br />We're familiar with the FIC model but there isn't anything like that where we live. I haven't seen the documentary...but have heard a lot from some other families who are intrigued by this model. <br />Great discussion~Jenniferhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09082832564998022109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677866446660565018.post-40512070091095059402011-12-21T12:18:13.761-08:002011-12-21T12:18:13.761-08:00We watched Divided when it was available over the ...We watched Divided when it was available over the internet for free a couple months ago, loved it so much, and my husband ended up sending the link to our pastor who showed it to the whole church during Sunday School one morning! How exciting!<br /><br />We've never sent our children away to children's programs, even when it was expected of us by leadership, and they really can handle it much better than most parents might think. It's amazing how much they can learn from the "adult" services and what they didn't quite understand we parents can fill in the gaps at home. And really, what they are learning in SS is "twaddle", isn't it? <br /><br />We've moved a lot in our early married life and as a result did a lot of church shopping, if you will, and as I reflect over some of the tension we've experienced trying to keep our children with us I can make two observations- <br /><br />1.) A church with programs for the children prefers to have those programs showing high attendance and participation and it's hard to fit in and fellowship when you're a problem causer. <br /><br />And 2.) In some cases, the leaders of those churches were militant about getting our children away from us and swept in at the slightest rustle in our aisle encouraging (pressuring) us to remove the children for the benefit of the congregation. And it seems to me to be an adoption of the very wordly attitude that children are a burden rather than a blessing!<br /><br />We're finishing our first year in our first FIC church and are so happy with the model as well as the freedom from the pressure of involving the children in programs when we'd rather spend our time worshipping the Lord together! We love that we can walk right alongside our children training them <i>how</i> to worship and we leave each Sunday with happy light hearts!<br /><br />Excellent, intelligent post Heather!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04180289951777672150noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677866446660565018.post-24147909763525861052011-12-21T10:33:37.191-08:002011-12-21T10:33:37.191-08:00Great write-up Heather! I think this may be why ho...Great write-up Heather! I think this may be why home church is becoming more popular too. If you are a homeschool family, in particular, I can not see why you would send your child off (away from the parent) to "learn" about THE most important thing in their life.Erin @ Why Not Sew? Quiltshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06051609822751482541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677866446660565018.post-57308741001435805872011-12-21T03:34:14.320-08:002011-12-21T03:34:14.320-08:00Oh my, wish you could come over for some coffee or...Oh my, wish you could come over for some coffee or tea and a long talk. I have lived this debate for the last several years. Please feel free to email me for a private conversation. <br /><br />In prayer,<br /><br />KTktquiltshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02934371770831330403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677866446660565018.post-47272107830971049682011-12-20T07:29:27.954-08:002011-12-20T07:29:27.954-08:00Like most "ways" of doing things...FIC w...Like most "ways" of doing things...FIC will work for some and not for others.... and at different times in the family life yes and others no..... So to have both options in place at church would be the way to serve needs of all.<br /><br />Now that you have brought this to my attention, I can see our church has a modified family in church set up. My kids are out of the house so I did not consider attending..... <br /><br />As a single mother three decades ago church was free baby sitting by some of the most loving people I have ever known. And it was adult teaching and conversation for an HOUR...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677866446660565018.post-73097290170786613972011-12-20T03:03:18.243-08:002011-12-20T03:03:18.243-08:00I have not seen the video or read the articles, bu...I have not seen the video or read the articles, but I agree that everyone should be together at least through the singing and prayer portion of the service. I don't mind the younger children going off for a teaching and craft at their level for awhile. Our church does have occasional whole church services too.FabricFascinationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15519022643309007832noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677866446660565018.post-1321514754812308362011-12-19T21:16:48.663-08:002011-12-19T21:16:48.663-08:00This is one reason I have become more accepting of...This is one reason I have become more accepting of Jakes decision to not attend church as often. I HATE sending our kids off to their own classes! Mostlly because of what they are being taught (ie: I picked up Silas and Lauren from thier Sunday School class the day before Halloween and walked in on their teacher lowering a candle into the jack-o-lantern and saying "Jesus calls us his little pumpkin") I can understand the sentiment, but it still made me upset and more importantly, got me thinking about what else I was missing. It was the ultimate pagan and most evil holiday turned acceptable and "christian" -making it Sunday school worthy?<br />Also, I love having the kids next to me. I love teaching them to obey, holding them while we sing, and watching them doodle. They are such a delight to me in church!Hollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08190570062376407690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677866446660565018.post-11670466952058418002011-12-19T10:06:40.227-08:002011-12-19T10:06:40.227-08:00Yeah! I have not read or seen the movie or article...Yeah! I have not read or seen the movie or article you talk about but our small church has been struggling with this issue. We now have a Children's lesson every Sunday which comes just after the first Bible lesson the kids leave as a group to have an active lesson as one group (takes three teachers) and then return as a group just after the sermon for the final hymn. All they miss is the sermon and the offering. And sometimes we come back in during the offering. We have an active youth population and they help teach the kids so it only takes one adult.<br /><br />We also once a month have the kids stay in the sanctuary with quiet activities at tables and picnic blankets in the sanctuary. Usually on communion Sunday.Crafty Maine Momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00628773754733034018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5677866446660565018.post-89073017236485910082011-12-19T09:46:35.894-08:002011-12-19T09:46:35.894-08:00Wow. You just spoke what's been on our hearts ...Wow. You just spoke what's been on our hearts for some time. We just recently left a large church (that we really enjoyed) for this same reason. All of our kids were going in different directions and instead of seeing spiritual growth, we saw a couple of them moving toward a more "worldly view" of life. I'm not sure how a FIC church should look, but I know for us, dividing families into different groups (5 for us!), isn't working. <br /><br />Thank you for confirming that we're not totally crazy! And thanks for the link to Puritan's Picks! <br /><br />Blessings~KimKimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05741321309330513890noreply@blogger.com