Christmas Comes Alive was the title of a book Geneva wrote while she was pastor at Old First. It was a recollection of stories about the live animal creche. When Stormy, the cow, escaped twice two Christmases ago, Geneva teased me, “Now you can also write a book.” I got enough news and...
Read more
On Sunday in the sermon, I talked about how we Americans risk being like the 9 lepers who were healed, but didn’t ever think to say thanks (Luke 17:11-19). I suggested that perhaps we need to notice — like a newly arrived, maybe undocumented immigrant — the blessings we...
Read more I have realized for some time that I and my whole cohort of clergy colleagues — both those older and younger than me… for us, our whole careers will be carried out in a time of church decline. Of course, church participation in the post-war 50’s was at an all-time high, so our...
Read more
Do you know Alicia, Bob and Paula, Corlis, Jan and Steve, Max? We had the conversation we call ‘the new members’ class,’ and they are ready, if they Spirit moves them, to join on December 15. Even if any of them decide not to go ahead at this point, we should know them; they are
Read more
Because I work in the church, I am hyper-aware of the changes people fear and hate. For example: ~ updating the words to traditional hymns (I hear this every Christmas!) ~ not having the animals at the Creche. ~ doing communion differently, particularly on Easter (even different in...
Read more
As you will hear me say in the sermon on Sunday, I don’t think a day to remember the negative spirits is a bad thing, or in any way dangerous. In fact, I think it is realistic. Of course, I am reacting to churches that fear that childhood’s practice of Halloween is somehow the...
Read more
I have been thinking a lot about the span of our lives. Not fretting or regretting. But considering… Sort of wondering at the mystery and the uncertainty of it all. We are born and in time, die. And even though we may not know the number, there will end up to be an exact number...
Read more
We have 3 current Old Firsters that I know who were baptized as adults— Adam, Liz and Jillian. Trixie was baptized as a confirmation age person, I think as a 12 year old. So were Prince, Aiden, McKenna. When people are old enough — or cognizant enough! — to make their own promises at...
Read more Ok, this is clearly a clergy fantasy. Or at least mine as a minister. What am I fantasizing about? That one Sunday when EVERYONE shows up for church. I mean everyone from this community. The regulars. And the everyone-once-in-a-whiles. And the C and Es. And so and so’s sister or...
Read more
So on Sunday, August 4, we re-purposed the silence with which we begin each worship service. Usually, it’s a moment to stop, center ourselves, and take stock as we prepare to worship. I asked, instead, that it serve as a moment of respectful silence before the loss of life in El...
Read more