Did you hear about that poor pastor who wanted to start a basketball league for the churches in his small town? His intentions were good. Too bad it didn’t turn out quite the way he hoped.
He told his congregation that anyone could play on the team. He advertised in the church newsletter, talked about it during the announcement time on Sunday morning, had the secretary run a blurb about it in the bulletin right under the order of service, put a sign-up sheet in the foyer.
But no names appeared on the list. No one volunteered. Finally, the pastor pleaded enough that eight people reluctantly agreed to play basketball. Gleefully, the pastor scheduled the first practice, and that’s when the real problems began.
One man told him, “Well, pastor, I don’t really care about wasting all my time on these midweek practice sessions. But if you want to put me down in the starting five on game days, I’ll be glad to help out.”
The only woman on the team said, “It’s not personal, pastor, but it’s really hard for me to be enthusiastic about much of anything since the last pastor left. We loved him so, and things just aren’t the same since he left. No offense.”
One of the younger players refused to run after the ball. He knew that someone else would surely go after it sooner or later, and if God (or the pastor) wanted him to make a play, then they would make sure the ball came to him.
Still another player complained that the games were going to last too long. “We can’t be playing all this time, pastor. If we do, the concession stand is going to close before we get there, and then where would we eat?”
Worst of all, the best player on the team refused to show up for either a practice or a game unless the pastor personally called him, each week, to invite him to show up. Once, when the pastor was too busy to call, the player told him, “I would have been there, but no one called to tell me what was going on. I would have come if you had asked.”
The pastor gave up, so discouraged with the state of his “team” that he decided to move on to another town. Last anyone heard, he was forming another church basketball league in another town. We really hope things are going better for him there.
But wait — is this really basketball we’re talking about?
Do we volunteer for things at our church only after we have been begged? Are we waiting on a personal phone call or visit from someone in order to do something we know how to do? Do we feel that our presence on Sunday morning is all that’s needed from us? Do we get upset with things go too long? Are our excuses as ridiculous as those of the pastor’s basketball players? Are we really lacking that much commitment to our churches?
Hmmmm …
Verna Davis, speaker and writer, may be reached at
VrdSpeaks@yahoo.com.
Religion
THE JOY LADY: Do we feel our presence on Sunday morning is all that’s needed?
- Religion
-
-
The Joy Lady: What kind of promises does a God like ours deserve?
I should have known better. I did everything I could to make sure it didn’t happen, but it did anyway. I trusted someone — and when that someone didn’t do as promised, I was disappointed. I felt betrayed. How dare they not do what they said they would do?
- Church briefs: June 15, 2013
-
Sister Jeanne Knoerle, former president of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, has died
Sister Jeanne Knoerle, former president of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, died early this morning at her home in Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, it is being reported on the Sisters of Providence Facebook site.
-
A night of prayer
The Sisters of Providence invite the public to another Taizé prayer event at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods to reflect on the joys and wonders of the river through prayer at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in the Church of the Immaculate Conception.
- CHURCH BRIEFS: June 8, 2013
-
THE JOY LADY: Pull your wheels out of the Sunday morning rut
Go about five miles west of Guernsey, Wy., and you might fall into some ruts. During the Oregon Trail years, so many wagons traveled through the soft sandstone there that deep ruts were formed—some as deep as four to six feet.
-
‘Prayer Warrior Mom’ author at Open Door Bookstore June 3
Author and speaker Marla Alupoaicei will sign copies of her new book “Prayer Warrior Mom” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, June 3, in The Open Door Christian Bookstore at 3125 S. Third Place, behind Honey Creek Mall.
-
THE JOY LADY: Because Vacation Bible School is that important!
It’s that time of year again — Vacation Bible School time. Frazzled VBS directors are begging for teachers, song leaders and kitchen helpers. For VBS directors everywhere, let me offer some words of truth and encouragement.
-
‘The Conscience Monologues’ at St. Mary-of-the-Woods
There is something moving and powerful in hearing a woman recount her story of faith and courage in today’s world. Plan now to attend a dramatic telling of more than 10 such stories during “The Conscience Monologues: Women’s Stories of Conscience within the Catholic Church” from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. June 22 in Reilly Auditorium, Owens Hall, at St. Mary-of-the-Woods.
- CHURCH BRIEFS: June 1, 2013
-
South Vigo Congregational Christian plans memorial service
The South Vigo Congregational Christian Church and the South Vigo Cemetery will stage an annual memorial service at 2 p.m. on June 2 in the church at 6499 Darwin Road, West Terre Haute.
The public is invited to attend and share a poem, song or other sentiment. - RELIGION BRIEFS: May 24, 2013
-
Get in touch with prayer at Body Prayer workshop
Could your prayer life use some invigorating? If so, the Body Prayer workshop offered by White Violet Center for Eco-Justice at St. Mary-of-the-Woods, a ministry of the Sisters of Providence, may be for you.
-
THE JOY LADY: We are not in charge. God is. Get over it, already.
If I were in charge of the world, I would run things a bit differently.
- CHURCH BRIEFS: May 25, 2013
-
Cross Lane Church accepting shoe donations
Terre Haute residents are invited to donate their shoes to help millions of peopleworldwide with a shoe drive at Cross Lane Community Church on June 2.
- Church briefs: May 18, 2013
-
The Joy Lady: A good morning: everything that rises must converge
Last Monday, I had a good morning.
-
Unity Presbyterian plans retirement open house
The congregation of Unity Presbyterian Church will stage a retirement celebration open house to honor the church’s pastor, Linda Jo Peters, from 2 to 4 p.m. on May 19 at 1207 E. Springhill Drive.
-
Organist will be the featured guest at church
Organist Benjamin Kolodziej will be the featured guest at an organ recital at 4 p.m. on May 19 at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, 645 Poplar St.
-
THE JOY LADY: Call your mom; tell her you love her, that you miss her
In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a resolution proclaiming “the second Sunday in May to be hereafter known as ‘Mother’s Day.’”
- CHURCH BRIEFS: May 11, 2013
-
Celebrate the women in your life with The Living Rosary
On Friday, May 10, join the Sisters of Providence of St. Mary-of-the-Woods for The Living Rosary and experience the grace and power many people have discovered by “praying by hand.”
-
THE JOY LADY: When awe leaves us, we leave room for doubt
In any given gathering of grade-schoolers or even a gaggle of teenagers, in all likelihood, you will hear certain words over and over:
- CHURCH BRIEFS: May 4, 2013
- RELIGION BRIEFS: May 4, 2013
-
Good Friday service today at St. George Orthodox
St. George Orthodox Church at 1900 S. Fourth St., Terre Haute, will celebrate its Good Friday service at 7 p.m. today (May 3) and its Easter service at 9 p.m. Saturday. The Agape (Love) service will be conducted at noon on Sunday.
-
Organist’s concert May 5
Organist Jonathan Rudy will be in concert performing works from the 1600’s to the present day at 4 p.m. on Sunday at Central Presbyterian Church, 125 N. Seventh St.
The concert is free and open to the public. -
THE JOY LADY: Christ is coming again. Are you ready for that?
An older couple had a grandfather clock that announced each hour with the ringing of chimes.
- CHURCH BRIEFS: April 27, 2013
- More Religion Headlines
-
The Joy Lady: What kind of promises does a God like ours deserve?
Tiger on Sergio: 'It's Time to Move On'
Obama: US Has Helped Syrian Rebels
Robot Action Connected to Human Thought
California Cops Cruise on Stand-up Paddle Patrol
Obama: NSA Secret Data Gathering 'Transparent'
Man Who Disrupted Flight Ranted About CIA
Feds: 7-Eleven Stores Exploited Immigrants
Transgender Candidate Running in NYC
Rain Damages Brazil Soccer Stadium
Raw: 100K Protesters Flood Brazilian Streets
Afghan Forces Take Afghanistan Security Lead
Falling Cable Hurts 10 NASCAR Fans
Ex-NFL Star Chad Johnson Out of Jail
Iran's Rowhani Urges 'Path of Moderation'
Raw: First Lady, Daughters Enjoy Irish Sights
Today in History June 18
Raw: NASCAR Driver Jason Leffler Dies in Wreck
Raw: Prince Philip Leaves Hospital After Surgery
Daughter: Mandela Doing 'Very Well'
Oklahoma City Thunder Players Tour Moore
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled
Paige Butcher Scorches on Hawaii Beach
Video: worst way to load cargo onto a plane
Never-before-seen footage of '08 Times Square bomber
WATCH IT: Lil Wayne tramples American flag
Mariah Carey Looks Beautiful in a Tiny Cut-Out Swimsuit
Out of Control Boat Throws Passengers Overboard
See Lindsay Lohan in Rehab
Sofia Vergara Posts Perky Backside Pic in Thong
Gaga Ditches Her Crazy Couture
Caught on Tape: Teacher Accused of Beating Autistic Child
"Stay Classy" Campaign Aims to Curb Binge Drinking
Sesame Street Tackling Tough Topic Parents in Jail
Miss Utah Fumbles Interview Question
Deranged man claims Newark-bound flight was poisoned
Cameron Diaz and Kate Upton Show Off Their Amazing Bikini Bodies
NBA FINALS: Spurs Win Game 5, Lead Series
Exclusive Clip: Jodi Arias: 'Dirty Little Secret'
Amphibious bus filled with tourists sinks
