jodiemcneill.com » Organisations

When a two-year apprenticeship is too short

Jodie — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 22:09:36 +0000

The rhythms of the calendar are quite different for an outdoor ministry than a parish ministry. In NSW especially, the lion share of the ministry happens in the warmer months, leaving the winter months ideally suited for more intense training and preparation.

From this challenge came a solution that we believe will work to see people well-trained and thoroughly-equipped for a lifetime of ministry, whether in the outdoor context or otherwise.

Instead of adopting the ‘normal’ academic year, we will now be offering apprentices the opportunity to spend most days in the warmer months bringing the Word to children and youth, and spend the winter months of their second and four years being taught subjects in the Diploma of Theology. To complement this theological training, apprentices will train for a Certificate III in Outdoor Recreation in first year, and then a Certificate IV in their third year.

Four years of ministry experience, coupled with training in the hard skills of outdoor recreation, and the soft skills of theology.

Check out the whole article at sydneyanglicans.net

PS: I’m looking for ten new MTS Outdoor Ministry Apprentices to start in September. Applications close in two weeks. Visit outdoorministry.youthworks.net for details.

We should mix it up

Jodie — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 07:00:10 +0000

I have found, especially through my youth ministry experience, that it is well worth the investment in time to help a group get to know each other at the start of a session or event. Whether it’s a youth group evening, or a leader’s training event, it’s worth making the time to have a ‘mixer’.

Read my latest sydneyanglicans.net article to see three mixers I’ve done to death, but still work just fine.

Church music is a team sport

Jodie — Fri, 28 May 2010 03:34:00 +0000

It has become apparent to me that many church music teams play in a similar way to an under-eight soccer team.

All of the melody instruments (such as flutes and violins) usually play every verse, and they often play the same melody line as the congregation is singing. The rhythm instruments (such as acoustic guitar and bass) play with the same intensity throughout the entire song.

A better music team will play like a high-school soccer team. The melody instruments will sit back in some verses and be silent, whilst at other times they will feature strongly. Sometimes they’ll play the same tune as the congregation, but sometimes they’ll compliment the tune by playing basic harmonies. The rhythm instruments will feel happy to be ‘subbed off’ for a verse or two, and then warm up as they reach the intensity of the final stages before the final siren blows (so to speak!)

This mindset shift makes a powerful impact on a church band. It’s not impossibly difficult to achieve, but it does take a commitment by all members to not all just run around the paddock, chasing the ball.

Read my full article at sydneyanglicans.net and leave a comment!

Acts 1:1-11 Sermon – Waiting for the Kingdom

Jodie — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 22:05:01 +0000

As the disciples were joined by Jesus after his resurrection, they waited impatiently for the coming of the Kingdom of God.

As they waited, they asked a question that showed they didn’t really understand what the Kingdom of God was to be like.

Jesus gently corrects them, and in turn us, about just where the Kingdom is, what people will be in that kingdom, and when it will come.

Listen to this sermon on Acts 1:1-11 preached 9am 24th January 2010 at Sylvania Anglican Church.

Luke 23 Sermon – The Great Injustice

Jodie — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 22:31:34 +0000

As I spoke on Luke 23, I realised afresh the enormous injustice of the sentencing of Jesus to death.

It was clear that Pontius Pilate was convinced of the innocence of Jesus, and yet he willingly sent him to be crucified.

Listen to this Bible talk on the crucifixion of Jesus, as preached on 22nd November 2009 at Sylvania Anglican Church.

Listen to my Christmas Eve 2009 all-age Bible talk at Sylvania Anglican

Jodie — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 07:19:21 +0000

Have a listen to the Bible talk I gave at Sylvania Anglican on 24th December 2009 at our 6pm all-age (kiddies included) service.

I spoke on Matthew 2:1-12 and invited the congregation to consider the two reactions to the birth of Jesus. Some followed the star to him and worshipped him (i.e. the star gazers) but others followed the star to try and kill him (i.e. Herod).

Near the end of the talk you’ll hear a badly-distorted recording of an original song I performed. Please adjust your headphones accordingly!

Please let me know if you have any technical difficulties with this, as it’s my first attempt at a podcast!

Professional v relational?

Jodie — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 05:58:26 +0000

Anyone who knows me well will be aware that I like things to be both relational and to be professional. However, it can often be difficult to achieve both of these goals at the same time…

Read my thoughts in my blog at sydneyanglicans.net.

Are you a Gospel worker?

Jodie — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 05:46:09 +0000

Mark Driscoll’s ‘Prophet, Priest and King’ allegory has helpfully pushed us to recognise that God has not made a one-size-fits-all role for people passionate about Word ministry in Sydney.

Read my comments in my article at sydneyanglicans.net.

Nothing’s better than the real thing

Jodie — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 05:44:13 +0000

There was a time when ‘artificial’ was the buzz. We loved artificial grass, artificial light, artificial sweeteners, and even artificial intelligence. In the last few years our society has been bombarded with artificial community. But, like everything artificial, there is nothing like the real thing!

Read my thoughts on ‘getting away’ in my article published at sydneyanglicans.net, as well as in Christian Venues Association’s ‘Somewhere to Go’ directory.

A ‘Naked Church’ is best

Jodie — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 05:37:06 +0000

As a result of market-driven ministry models, many churches have tried to work out how to make church more tasty (i.e. entertaining).

Read my thoughts in my article at sydneyanglicans.net.