church
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Prayers for Abundant Life
Though it has been a month since I’ve been in the pulpit, and I’ve even said no to a possibility for ministry, I will be preaching again this Sunday at Gower Christian Church. It is their church that is the… Continue reading
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Prayer for the Election Season
Like so many others, I watched the Presidential Debate on Sunday night. I gritted my teeth and joined others in lamentation and dismay on Twitter. When the debate was nearly over, one of my friends confessed via group text that she’d… Continue reading
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The No Plan Plan
I don’t get to my home church very much. In fact, I’ve only been for worship twice in the past year. Once was my first official visit. The next Sunday I joined as a member. Since then, I’ve been busy… Continue reading
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How We Write Clergy
I am a character in a book. I learned of this news from a Facebook message. A member of the community had written a book and he wanted to know if it was alright to name the church in the book.… Continue reading
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The Only Hope for America
Most everything I know about democracy I’ve learned in church. It is in my particular tradition of being church that I’ve had the chance to practice all of the values and ideals that democracy claims. Mine is the tradition that birthed… Continue reading
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Recipe for the Worrying Church
Sometimes it is the Lectionary that sparks an idea or sometimes it is a story that you have held close over these many years. This recipe is a little bit of both. On Sunday, we will hear the story of… Continue reading
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Recipe for the Future Church
Every time we dare to talk about what the future of the church will be it feels like cooking. It feels like we are trying to divine a recipe — wondering if a dash of this or a pinch of… Continue reading
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Talking in Church
After my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, she dragged us to church. It felt like she was pulling us by our ears with one hand and spitting in the palm of the other to smooth out my brother’s hair. That’s… Continue reading
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Interview Questions for the Searching Pastor
Spring is in the air and change seems to be sprouting in every which direction. Colleagues are quietly talking about their discernment. Questions are being asked about how to leave a ministry well and I admit I don’t have solid… Continue reading
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Lessons from the Past
After worship was over, in the middle of the Annual Meeting of this tiny church I’m serving as interim pastor, we shared in the work of memory. Earlier that week, I had taped a blue line upon the wall of… Continue reading
Cooking with Elsa 