I was visited this week by two leaders from the American Bible Society. The ABS, known most commonly these days for the “Good News translation” of the Bible, relocated to the neighborhood in 2015; they transplanted to Philly from NYC, they explain, “choosing to reclaim the city of...
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The vote at the congregational meeting affirming the Joint Venture Ministry Team (JVMT) and the design direction for the new building was unanimous. It is a sign of strong support as we move ahead in a complicated project of many different, interconnecting steps. The JVMT will continue...
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I have been a pastor for 30 years now. And some combination of the specific calls to ministry I have had (being UCC) and my personality, together have translated into my having often found myself in ministry in deliberately public settings, in close contact with people of other...
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“Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness, And his upper rooms without justice, Who uses his neighbor’s services without pay, And does not give him his wages, Who says, “I will build myself a roomy house, With spacious upper rooms, And cut out its windows, Paneling...
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I am part of the restructuring team for POWER. (Actually, I’d say “reorganizing” but perhaps more about that later, in another E-pistle, as the effort proceeds). We’re figuring out how to get 100 people to spread out in all our congregations and do 1000 one-on-ones as we figure out how...
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In her recent workshop on well-being (a really interesting conversation for those who missed it!), Fay said, “You really need to practice something for at least 6 weeks if you want to have any hope that it will stick, become a habit; six months would be better.” Lent is the...
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Among my friends and colleagues this week, all the news has been about the Methodists’ troubles in St. Louis. They have been way-laid and laid low for over 20 years by the disagreements within their church over homosexuality. They didn’t get past the impasse this time either. Trump and...
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I begin by admitting this E-pistle is derivative. It’s a reworking or reapplication of David Brooks’ recent column “Weavers,” which sort of surprises me. I mostly avoid reading Brooks as I find him usually muddled, and often infuriating. Actually, I often read him only when I want to...
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Last Sunday afternoon, I got a message from one of our members who had been in church: “…Unsure if it came out of the lectionary or if you picked it yourself, but I really appreciated the reading from Corinthians today. ‘But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and his...
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“If we can’t as a congregation bear disagreement and tension — handle some discomfort — we’ll never do anything. Ok, maybe that’s an exaggeration. But if we cannot risk ruffling any feathers or upsetting any apple carts, our range is going to be awfully restricted...
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