Frequently Asked Questions

monday videopost: piano and birthdays

sermon: the world needs a church (part three)
So, last week I asked you all to give some thought to the question: Does the World Need a Church? I invited you to come up with your own answers. I imagine that you may need one or two moments to get your thoughts together. Feel free to use the cards that are in the pew in front of you to help out. In fact, go ahead and write down your thoughts. Put them on the card...or put them on your pledge card. At the end of the sermon, we will all come forward in the Walk of Faith. Bring your answers with you. Place them in the basket. You have just heard read one of my favorite passages of Christian scripture. Do not worry for your life...I often rely on this passage to comfort myself. Anxiety is so

reconciliation
Okay...I am working on my sermon, you see, and it's about apologia and then this shows up in my inbox. Thank you, Sojourners, for helping me feel just a little like I am on the right track. We'll see what takes, but this was lovely.Thus says the Lord: Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way lies; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. - Jeremiah 6:16 Although it is not always socially acceptable, not always popular, we are called to the ministry of reconciliation. We have been entrusted with a specific message -- that Jesus Christ died to reconcile us to God and to each other. The two things were accomplished at the same time, in the same

are you saying your prayers?
Margaret Marcuson posts on leadership and clergy self-care. Here's a handy reminder about one thing you would think we would not need to be reminded about.What sustains you? Leadership can be difficult, draining and exhausting. It's simply not possible to keep going forever without resources. For faith leaders, that includes having a spiritual life. In his book Rest in the Storm, my December 3 teleconference guest Kirk Byron Jones talks about the gospel story where Jesus fell asleep in a boat: "Jesus gave up, at least for the moment, being responsible for what did and did not happen. (Give this up, and your ministry will be transformed for the better almost overnight.)" One of the

sermonating for november 29
We have been hard at work here in the office of the Community Church. Yessir. We have. We are piling two weeks of preparation into one because we have more than our usual level of business on top of people (like this here pastor) trying to travel. So, in the spirit of planning ahead, I have been working through my sermon for the Sunday after Turkey Day. The following poem has nothing to do with next week. It has a lot to do with this week. I have more to do than I care to think about and it all collides into some ecclesial mash up in my head. Thanks be to God. Jesus Christ the Apple Tree The tree of life my soul hath seen Laden with fruit and always green The tree of life my soul hath seen