Posted on 12/01/2023 10:17:31 AM PST by allen592
There are way too many immigrants for that. There are two large parishes in Charlotte and a small one in Monroe and several small ones in the mountains that are almost entirely Hispanic, as well as many with 25-35% Hispanic attendees. There's also a Vietnamese parish, a Polish community, a Ukrainian community, and they've just found a French-speaking African priest to start organizing French-speaking African and Caribbean people.
But yes, in terms of the whole worldwide (or Europe-and-Americas) Church, it's misleading to look at the growth here or in Atlanta and think that things are going well. Moving people around doesn't mean there are more people.
Indeed so.
There are several Scandanavian-speaking churches across Central Utah as well as some German and Polish communities up north, but the emphasis now is for new members to stay where they are and build churches in their own communities, whereas, before WWII, they were encouraged to "Come to Zion," as the hymn says.
I grew up with kids who spoke "funny English," but as I grew more aware of their origins, I understood it was more "Spanglish," or whatever language of origin their parents spoke mixed with English.
I know that can't happen in a lot of the Spanish/Portuguese speaking countries because of political and religious repression so they flee to America.
A lot of American Catholics don’t realize that there’s a whole history of religion in the rest of the Americas that is usually very different from the United States. Latin American Catholics aren’t “just like us” only speaking Spanish (or Brazilian Portuguese). They have a whole different concept of the church and their relationship with it, positive and negative, that affects how they interact with the church here.
The first step toward making good decisions is to have good information. As a nationwide institution, we’re doing making good progress, but what has been learned often doesn’t make it to the level of individual pastors or congregants.
I’m afraid your statement is such a true “blanket” statement that it covers most of the larger churches in America.
Too many people are just “going to church” and not really getting involved in being IN the church as a real participant. I figure that’s one of the major reasons that the churches are losing members. They all need a shake-up, but what that’s to be is anyone’s guess.
They need to be passionate and compassionate in order for any growth to take place.
I’m about half-way through swapping out the clothes. I’d be done except I had to take a break and let my back rest. So now, I’m going to have lunch, then get back to work because everything is on the bed and I need to be able to sleep in it tonight!
I want to go to bed early as I’m tired again. I also have an appointment with the bishop tomorrow, so I’ll eat quick and get back to work!
Jake has gone to bed in a snit because the juvenile mockingbirds are really screamy.
A lot of churchgoers, “surveys say,” aren’t disciples of Jesus Christ in a meaningful way. And they’re not going to become disciples if the church keeps acting as if they already are.
I agree with that whole heartedly. We need to all become passionate about being disciples of Christ, not just on Sundays. We all need to love Jesus with our whole hearts, minds and souls or we'll never get to where we want to be -- with Him.
The swapping out is done, but it was a little difficult to close the lid on the trunk.
Next time, I'll go through it again and put things in a storage tub -- things I want to keep, but not that will take up so much space. Some things, I'll never wear, but keep them because of their sentimental value. Or monetary value, like the velvet embroidered with silver thread...
Now I'm going to get Chip's food ready, and then my own.
BBS
I went over to church this evening because we had a Stewardship event. In spite of everything, it was nice: pleasant weather, got to visit with my old friend Tom, who was there to recruit for the church softball league. I had a chance to talk to the education director and sorted out a situation that needed sorting for the Hispanic Ministry. And then, I saw a man standing by himself and walked up with my Southern Hostess Smile, “Hi, I’m Cynthia!” and he ended up volunteering for the Parish Council (and best of luck to him, but I didn’t say that, because it wasn’t my Murderer Smile).
Tom and Vlad were back from Magic, and we played Wingspan, and I lost this time after winning last weekend. Oh, well. The good thing about Wingspan is that there’s a lot going on, many different ways to score points for the end, so you don’t feel like you’re losing while the game is going on. You only find out when the scores are totted up at the end.
Cradled in the arms of love....
Good morning. It sounds like your evening was pleasant, and for that, I’m glad!
I was as tired as I thought I was, and went to sleep almost immediately, waking up around 2100. It took about an hour to go back to sleep but that’s OK because I did, and no more sleep was lost. But I’m sure it has to do with my kidney. Still nothing from my doctor about it.
We’ll only get up to 68° today, but by Thursday, we’ll be back up to 85°.
It was hard work swapping out the clothes yesterday, but with luck, I won’t have to do it again for eight or nine months. I’ll try to get rid of more things between now and then, though.
I have to see the bishop after church today, but it should only take about 15 minutes at the most, so I won’t be home too late. Noon is pushing the stamina wall.
Good morning. Kitten has his mom.
I’m off to Walmart in a few minutes. I need to get some poster board.
Just got out of the shower, and I’ll have to sit for a few minutes, as the lifting and schlepping I did yesterday was really too much for my lower back.
It’s hard to stand and do the things I need to do for prolonged periods.
But the water was hot and felt good on my back, so I’ll deal with it!
Good luck at Walmart!
Success, and now I’m back home for a little while.
And I have a little while before I have to leave — about 20 minutes.
I’ve been getting up at 0400 on Sundays, because of my hair being so long. It’s fine and mats together when it’s wet, so it takes forever to dry. I took a chance today and found some damp spots, but ohwell.
It will be sunny until we get out of church, but that’s OK. I can deal with it! Summer and heat are on their way!
I hope you have a great Sunday!
I hope you do as well!
Now, I’m outta here!
Later!
It may get up to 70° today, but for now, it’s 50. It will also be only 48° when I head out to do laundry.
Then I need to call Walmart and make an appointment to have the tire replaced, and then I’ll have to wait until tomorrow to call AAA to have The Raisin towed to Walmart. *sheesh* I don’t think Walmart can fit me in this morning, so I’ll have to plan on tomorrow, as I have an appointment at the pain clinic on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, I’ll go get dressed, then strip the bed and if I’m lucky, I’ll take a nap when the laundry is done.
Good morning. Good luck with the laundry, and I hope you have a successful nap afterward.
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