Pastors should avoid the urge to curate the event with lots of their own words. Start the sharing. Then let the people work. Add your own object along the way. As one of the working people.

The good news didn’t chase a crib and credentials. It made do with a manger and some bumbling fishermen. It’s one of God’s favorite patterns.

And it’s your pattern.

Here’s how it works. Pick a week. Like the first week of November—right after All Saints Day, perhaps. Or Thanksgiving week. To give thanks for a loved one. Then offer your church’s sacred space and hospitality to anyone needing a better opportunity to grieve and celebrate this life.

Here are some ideas to get started:

So, the challenge for you is to lead the joys and agonies so that they both honor the particular realities of worshipers AND point them beyond themselves. To the mystery of God-with-us.

And this leads to the final takeaway. Stanton is confident: You are uniquely positioned to be important agents of change. Right where you are.

One of your strengths is innovating. Doing things differently.

Participation is more forming than watching a performance. Even a really excellent one led with teams of experts and the latest technology.

But here’s the good news. Because there is always good news. There are strengths for small congregations. Gifts that are not available to big settings. Advantages! 

At first, I noticed 4 distinctive advantages for small setting worship. Then 5. Now it’s up to seven. I suspect you’ll find more. You’re great at innovating. You have to be.

I’ve been asked to write a blog. Just for small congregations. That’s you.