In all of my many years of visiting faith communities I've yet to encounter one that proudly proclaimed its church campus was designed for use for an hour or two on Sunday morning and designed to go unused the rest of the week. I have, however, encountered plenty of churches that use their sanctuaries and other worship spaces only a few hours a week and/or have entire wings or buildings that are unused or used less frequently than once a week. For Members Only For some Read More …
Discipleship
Two New UCC Worship Experiences (#1729)
I'm accustomed to visiting a lot of churches. In a 24 month period ending in November 2017, I was blessed to worship with more than 40 different communities of faith in the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. Over the next four months, however, I only managed to worship in one while serving as that congregation's visiting minister. Choosing Where To Worship The last three congregations I served were all affiliated with the United Church of Christ. With these positive Read More …
My Last Day at WFPC (#1727)
Today, I concluded four months of service as visiting minister at West Fork Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) in Grand Prairie, Texas. Unique Experience This opportunity was unique for me in several ways, including starting as a surprise first role that was neither permanent nor interim shortest duration in a parish based role smallest congregation I've served first congregation I've served that is located in an industrial district first time to preach 15 Sundays in a row in the Read More …
Now Open! (#1725)
Last summer, I started a new role as the first ever Director of Social Enterprise at the Wesley Mission Center in Mansfield, Texas. Over the last seven months I've helped this young (est. 2013) , community oriented, justice focused, faith-based non-profit scale its largest funding source and flagship social enterprise: a Thrift Store and Boutique. Learning For many years before the Wesley Mission Center became its own separately incorporated 501(c)3, it was the Community Outreach Read More …
Ministry Opportunities: Search or Surprise? (#1724)
I had a very positive seminary experience, and graduated well prepared for pastoral ministry within a congregational context. When I reached my final semester of my M.Div. program I began to seek my first pastoral position. The search process went very much like I expected it would, and I secured a role as Associate Pastor. I managed to navigate similar discernment processes to secure positions in congregations affiliated with multiple mainline denominations for both permanent Read More …
Take Another Look (#1723)
This evening while watching the Olympics I encountered the Dunkin Donuts commercial, "The Usuals," which features several regular customers ordering "the usual." I realize that having the usual beverage at your favorite coffee place or usual lunch at the restaurant you frequent regularly is common behavior. So is driving the same route to reach your workplace each day and sitting in the same pew (or chair) for worship each weekend. Something Else I'm not against enjoying the usual elements of Read More …
Waiting (#1722)
Some people are good at waiting. I have never claimed to be among them. I have many gifts. Patience is something I'm glad many consider a virtue, but not something others use to describe me. Waiting At the start of 2018 my wife and I moved into our new home. One day later we expected to receive the delivery of a refrigerator. We purchased a new fridge because our old fridge would not fit in the space in our new home. Anything that could go wrong with this experience Read More …
Spiritual Entrepreneurship (#1720)
"What do you do?" One of the simplest ways people interact with others is by asking polite questions that are normally considered safe in nearly any social setting. And, one of the most popular of these questions is to ask about the kind of work someone does. Many Answers For many years I did like most people did during that era and worked in one professional capacity at a time. Most of the jobs I held had titles that provided a new conversation partner with a general concept of Read More …
Every Day is MLK Day (#1719)
This year I did not use Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as an opportunity for furthering the important work Dr. King began. Instead, I occupied myself with the task of unpacking boxes as my family settled into a new home. I did, however, manage to see many familiar quotes attributed to Dr. King on my social media feeds. I also saw a few recommendations that the work these quotes spoke of is a way of life rather than merely the exception to be noted once a year. John Lewis John Lewis Read More …
Faith Palm Banners Go Viral (#1715)
Until a few days ago I had never heard anyone use the term "faith palm." Thanks to a tweet by Daniel Dale, a Washington D.C. correspondent for the Toronto star I not only learned the term, but also was introduced to a unique marketing campaign by a progressive Episcopal congregation in D.C. The President Said What? The image at right is one of four banners on a chain link fence outside of a construction area on the campus of St. Thomas' Parish Episcopal Church. Each banner contains Read More …