Ever since I read this article on Fidelia’s Sisters, I have dreamed of worship planning with my congregation in this very prayerful manner. Last month, we began the experiment at The United Churches. The first worship planning group met. Eight… Continue reading

It is Ash Wednesday. I’ve been busy getting ready for this day. I gathered ashes, readings and prayers. I purchased flash paper for a really awesome moment to release our sins in worship. I made handouts for those that will… Continue reading

On Saturday morning, I got to participate in my first truly Northwest funeral. Er… memorial service. There is a strong leaning in the congregation I serve not to ever have the body present in this last farewell. So, it’s always… Continue reading

In worship this morning, there was no pageant. We didn’t tell the Christmas story. Not really. We talked about John the Baptizer and an angry shepherd who couldn’t believe the good news. And on this Sunday of joy, we didn’t… Continue reading

My TYCWP friend Mihee kindly featured my words on her blog First Day Walking today in a post entitled Layers of Paint. These words appear as part of a series entitled Merely Beloved exploring the various dimensions of spiritual practice.… Continue reading

Yesterday, I wrote a wedding liturgy for the couple in our church that got their wedding license at midnight last night. I will officiate their wedding on Sunday night on the steps of the capital building just across the street… Continue reading

Yesterday, we celebrated the Reign of Christ with a a celebration of the new year in the church. We offered our prayers in the midst of these seasons — in the midst of Lent. We brought rocks forward as symbols… Continue reading

I’m preparing for a very special worship service on Sunday with all sorts of elements included to celebrate the church year. It should be fantastically fun but my very favorite part of this worship service is that it’s for little… Continue reading

On the 25th Sunday of Pentecost, nearly three months into my call at The United Churches of Olympia, it was time to shake up our prayers a little bit. I wanted to do something different this week — partly because… Continue reading

I’m still a little shocked about what happened on Tuesday. I’ll admit it. I was really nervous. I wasn’t sure what would happen. This cautionary hope is still so embedded in my flesh that it seeped into my sermon this… Continue reading