Over the last four years, I've had the joy of serving the Mansfield Mission Center (MMC). In short, MMC is the place people turn when unexpected challenges arise, and it is the center of opportunity for individuals, families, and the entire community. Introducing the Mansfield Mission Center Founded as the benevolence ministry of First Methodist Mansfield and originally known as the Wesley Mission Center, the organization became its own non-profit in 2013, and was renamed Read More …
My “Next Normal” Communion Experience (#1937)
COVID-19 has forever changed the church. While exactly what the "next normal" of worship will look like will vary regionally and, within regions, between congregations, it will not return to how it was before the pandemic. With this in mind, I included worship changes as one of five changes I expect in the life of the church in the months and years ahead (for more on that check out Giving Up the Church I Always Knew). Returning to Indoor Worship After more than a year of worshipping Read More …
Celebrating 12 Years of So What Faith (#1936)
In the spring of 2009 I decided to give blogging a try. After doing a little research, talking with several friends and colleagues who had already been blogging for awhile, and brainstorming possible names, I launched So What Faith in June 2009. While I'd love to say that when I launched the site I knew what I was doing and imagined that the site would still be going strong a dozen years later, in reality I simply knew that I was ready to share some of my short form writing about matters of Read More …
Great New Books – June 2021 (#1935)
The ten best new books I've read over the last month are (5.0) United States of Grace: A Memoir of Homelessness, Addiction, Incarceration, and Hope by Lenny Duncan (Broadleaf Books, 2021) (4.5) White Evangelical Racism: The Politics of Morality in America by Anthea Butler (University of North Carolina Press, 2021) (4.5) Praying with Our Feet: Pursuing Justice & Healing on the Streets by Lindsey Krinks (Brazos Press, 2021) (4.5) Made, Known, Loved: Developing Read More …
It’s Time to Live Again (#1934)
Passage for reflection: Ezekiel 37:1-14 Church is predictable. Over the course of my lifetime, I’ve served nine congregations, and been part of worship services in over one hundred. In the denominations I know best, worship happens in an orderly manner and without surprises. The church year is predictable. Each new year begins with Advent, then come Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Ordinary Time. While that listing is correct it is intentionally incomplete; it omits Read More …
My Ministry Journey: Another BIG Step (#1933)
I'm excited to share the news that I've accepted a new ministry position. On June 21, 2021, I'll become the next Executive Director of the White Rock Center of Hope. This big next step is possible because of so many other steps of varying sizes I've already taken. The following account is an attempt to provide a high level overview of my preparation for this step. My approach is primarily chronological utilizing a series of phases or acts. While give thanks for the hundreds of Read More …
First In Person Worship Service in Florida (#1932)
After not attending indoor worship services for over a year, I re-entered this world in mid-March 2021. Over the next two months I visited 8 different congregations in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area (for more on those experiences check out Pandemic Regathering: 8 Experiences). Earlier today I attended my first indoor service of worship outside the state of Texas since before the onset of the pandemic at Naples United Church of Christ. Preparation I registered for the service Read More …
Thinking Theologically: Exploring 5 Tweets (#1931)
I've been tweeting as @SoWhatFaith since 2009. In 2021, the majority of my tweets have been quotes from new books. Interestingly, according to Twitter's built in analytics, my top tweets this year consist of four such tweets alongside one I wrote in response to a very difficult day. I invite you to read these five tweets, and select one to explore in greater depth. Carry the words of that tweet with you for a few days, then share your reflections. Brian McLaren. "Eventually, I came to Read More …
Great New Books – May 2021 (#1930)
Over the last month I’ve read ten recently published books. My May list of recommended reads features one book published in 2020 and nine published in 2021. (5.0) The Hospital: Life, Death, and Dollars in a Small American Town by Brian Alexander (St. Martin's Press, 2021) (5.0) Reinventing Food Banks and Pantries: New Tools to End Hunger by Katie S. Martin (Island Press, 2021) (4.5) #ChurchToo: How Purity Culture Upholds Abuse and How to Find Healing by Emily Joy Allison Read More …
Pandemic Regathering: 8 Experiences (#1929)
When I first learned about COVID-19, I had no idea what to expect. In March 2020 when in person gatherings of all kind were discontinued, I never imagined it would be more than a year before I would next set foot in a sanctuary to worship alongside other followers of the Way of Jesus (I even blogged about the extended wait in posts like 6 Months Without In Person Worship and 10 Months Without In Person Worship). The First 8 Weeks My journey back to indoor worship and to intentionally Read More …