Thoughts from an UMAC newbie

Some people check the water level of the proverbial pool before they jump in. But you all know that I’m not ‘some people.’
I’m a co-chair of my Annual Conference’s Communications team, and frequently contribute to our online and print media communication. This qualifies me to become, as I did this year, a member of the [...]

My Kind of Church

Loving this video: Reasons people don’t go to church.
What are some reasons you don’t go to church (or didn’t)? What are some reasons you do (or might)?
—
HT: Jonathan Brink
(p.s.- I want a video like this for my church…)

I have, like, the best job ever.

I really do enjoy my job.
It amazes me sometimes. Sure, it’s difficult, and draining and chellenging some days. Sure, there are times when it seems like many of my days are filled with finding (and losing) paperwork, looking for prayers to go with a particular theme, and attending marathon meetings. But around that stuff, between [...]

Day Off

Mondays are my sabbath days, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a day of rest. Sometimes, what really rejuvenates me is getting to do projects I love or to dream about ministry (and maybe even do a little of it, which I don’t consider cheating) without being ‘on the clock.’
So for example, today, on my day [...]

Sermon: Fools and Fools for God

“Fools and Fools for God”
(July 12, 2009) David goes all out, dancing his heart out for God. Some thought he looked a little foolish, perhaps, but Paul reminds us that God uses that which is foolish to accomplish divine purposes. Are we ready to go all out, to live our faith out loud without [...]

Warning: Pastor on the Loose!

Maybe a church or two on the loose, too!
I don’t know what it is. Maybe it’s because they ordained me and now I’ve got an extra shot of the Spirit in me or something. Maybe it’s because I took a little time off over the past couple of weeks and got more rejuvenated than I [...]

When life gives you lemons…

… make a giving program out of lemonade!
Stewardship Moment: “Be Peculiar”
I needed to share some information with one of my congregations about some strange letters we’d received, and not make it too scary, and also take an opportunity to teach about tithing and challenge folks to greater giving in a fun way, so I [...]

Design your own church

In the middle of last week, the church Office Manager at Trinity and I were talking about use of space in the church and how we would re-design the building if money was no concern. This quickly became a conversation about how we would design the building if we were starting over from scratch.
So I [...]

Maybe this means the powers that be are listening!

As I posted earlier, the news that the work on a new United Methodist Hymnal has been postponed generated many ideas about what might spring up in the meantime, including a couple of great discussions over on the facebook group for the new hymnal.
This morning, Dean McIntyre from the General Board of Discipleship emailed that [...]

Finding Jesus Update

I did find Jesus today.
First of all, I found my actor to portray Jesus (and a robe for him to wear).
And I went to a slew of meetings, including two back-to-back at the church (worship and Staff-Parish), and ended up feeling really great about the vision and progress and excitement of the members of those [...]