Sermon: Daily in the Temple

"Rethink Church, Reboot Church: Daily in the Temple" (September 27, 2009) We continue the sermon series examining the practices of the early church in Acts 2:42-47, using their example as a starting point for ways we might not only rethink church but “reboot” it by going back to the beginning. This week, we discover that…

Book rec and priority check

Our congregation decided this year to use the stewardship program "Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity" by Adam Hamilton. I ordered one study guide and the program book, and I have been thrilled with what I've seen so far.If you're looking for a program for your church, whatever the size,I highly recommend this one.…

Communications Corner: Rethink Communications

(wearing my hat as the co-convener for the Troy Annual Conference Communications Team) I like to talk back to my books. Anyone who has borrowed a non-fiction book from me after I’ve read it can attest to the fact that I underline, asterisk, and write comments in the margins of nearly every page of text…

Sermon: Everything In Common

"Rethink Church, Reboot Church: Everything in Common" (September 20, 2009) We begin a sermon series examining the practices of the early church in Acts 2:42-47, using their example as a starting point for ways we might not only rethink church but "reboot" it by going back to the beginning. We learn in Acts 2 that…

Addendum

My husband and I received a sympathy card on Friday. It was sent by a colleague in my Annual Conference, and she thought she had sent it out back in March. In an enclosed note, she described how she found the card while moving over the summer and went back and forth about sending it,…

Guessing at what I need.

On the personal horizon for me this week is a day I can't avoid. September 25 was the day I was due to have a baby. On March 11, when I thought I was nearing the 12-week 'safe' mark of my pregnancy, we experienced a miscarriage, and that pregnancy-- one for which we'd been trying…

Another comment about race

President Carter came out and said it: some of the noise around President Obama is because of race. Some of the people who attack him personally-- not politically, mind you, not those who have a legitimate debate about his policies-- but those who rant and yell and make outrageous and erroneous claims about his nationality…

Sometimes God speaks by slapping you upside the head.

When I wrote earlier about hearing the call to ministry, a few people asked about the specific moment itself. I tend not to talk about it too much, not only because people look at you funny if you say you hear voices in your head, but because sometimes it's discouraging to people who don't have…

Sermon: Crumbs of Grace

"Crumbs of Grace" (September 6, 2009) We discover in this passage--one of my favorites!-- something wonderful about God's grace: that it is poured out even and especially on those most broken, most desperate, most in need of blessing. We also discover something true about ourselves and who we are to be as a church: we…

Where’s Waldo? – Becca edition

A very eagle-eyed food pantry volunteer asked if that was in fact me she saw in the paper at the demonstration. In fact it is. I'm bringing such a powerful witness that you can hardly see it... Need some help? I'm between the S in "God hates Obama" and the top left corner of the…