RMN Convocation- What I Loved

Earlier this month, I attended Reconciling Ministries Network's biennial Convocation. This year's event, Churchquake!, was held over Labor Day Weekend (hey, I'm trying to fit my thoughts in within the statute of limitations window!) in Chevy Chase, MD, and despite my long love affair with RMN, this was my first time attending Convo. I loved…

Resetting an Open Holiday Table

as posted on the Reconciling Ministries Network blog Family legend tells that the year after my parents separated, my mom faced the prospect of her first Thanksgiving alone. She accepted an invitation to the home of a friend, and my family and I have been spending alternating Thanksgiving holidays with them ever since, adding spouses…

Reflections on “Pastor’s 24”

Yesterday I joined 71 other pastors in a twitter project called Pastor's 24. It was a project suggested by my friend, colleague in ministry, and cohort in online Methodist geekdom (as of this writing, we are both featured in the blog section at umc.org, as we attempt to subvert the church with our newfangled communication…

Praise and Lament

I recently sat with a woman who felt more like lamenting than like praising, and together we pondered what it means to grieve, to mourn, to feel without joy or hope at times. We discussed Psalm 23, and the beautiful image of a shepherd caring for sheep, tending them, protecting them, helping them find green…

It does feel different.

I feel like I missed a lot of Conference. Or maybe it's just that it's blurry and I only remember the big things. I preached Wednesday night for the opening memorial service, a tremendous honor that had me sweating glowing like crazy and more nervous than I remember being. Of course the actual sermon was…

Pamper me

I'm not a stuff person, and I don't go asking for gifts a lot. But I feel like this might be a good occasion. I'd like you to give me something. Nothing huge, and preferably something that can be sent by email or explained via phone call. A poem. A picture. A prayer (I'm specifically…

A Corny Post (Giving Thanks)

At the family/friend gathering where I often celebrate Thanksgiving, we have a tradition at the beginning of the meal. Each person sits down to a plate with three popcorn kernels on it (I've realized recently that, as microwave popcorn is the only kind I know how to make, this is tough to replicate at my…

Living Tomorrow Today

(An Extraordinary Ordination, from Church Within a Church) There are times when you fight for all you're worth to make change happen. There are times when you bang your head against the wall until it hurts. There are times when you nurse your wounds and pray for strength to pick up the struggle another day.…

Grieving Well

I deal a lot in the business of death and, more importantly, its aftermath, and the ability to hopefully mourn well. We do ourselves and our loved ones a great service when we are able to honor and say goodbye to them, and process the pain and the loss in our lives at the same…

Bursting with pride

Very proud of my courageous and loving friend, Annie.