In December 2023, my wife started a new job in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. Since her work requires on site leadership, we immediately became a multi-state family. We retained our home in Arlington, Texas and rented an apartment in Oklahoma City. Then, a few months later, we purchased a home in Oklahoma City. I planned to spend at least one weekend a month in Oklahoma. And, on Sunday mornings we expected to visit one of the area Mainline Protestant congregations. That plan worked Read More …
Discipleship
Long-Term Church Membership (#2201)
Somehow I've managed to do what I once assumed impossible: become a long-term member of a local congregation. I've been part of several congregations for three years and one congregation for four years, however, those medium-term experiences included both church membership and paid service on the church staff. And, in the case of my four years at Naples United Church of Christ not only was I both a church member and a member of the church staff, I was not present for worship on Sunday mornings Read More …
The Gift of Doubt (#2200)
This morning at Advent Lutheran Church (ELCA). we continued our Meeting Jesus Again series. Sermon My message, “Welcoming Doubt" is based on the narrative lectionary passage: Luke 7:18-23. You can watch below or read the manuscript. Excerpt Just as good church members – of actual congregations as well as fictitious ones – know what to expect of a prospective pastor, John the Baptist knew what to expect of Jesus. Remember siblings in Christ, this is the same John Read More …
Preaching Justice: A Community & A Lifeline (#2199)
When I first applied to become a Preaching Justice Fellow, I saw it as an opportunity to sharpen my skills in preaching justice and leading meaningful social change. At the time, I had no idea that this fellowship would coincide with my return to the pulpit as Interim Senior Pastor of a local congregation, or that it would unfold during a pivotal moment in American history. Now I understand this fellowship as much more than a professional development opportunity; it is a lifeline. The Read More …
Speaking New Life (#2198)
This morning at Advent Lutheran Church (ELCA). we continued our Meeting Jesus Again series. Sermon My message, “Speaking New Life” is based on the narrative lectionary passage:: Luke 7:1-17. You can watch the message below or read the manuscript. Excerpt Since I’ve officiated a number of funerals over the years, I know what to expect. Also, since I’ve also been in ministry a few decades, I know to expect the unexpected. Thinking back over the more unusual moments, I Read More …
The Future of Faith: Imagining Life Together (#2196)
Last week I spent three days in San Francisco for the Faith and Justice Winter Gathering: The Future of Faith: Imagining Life Together, which included some special gatherings for the organization's Preaching Justice Fellows. I'm honored to be among this group (for more on the fellowship, check out I’m a Preaching Justice Fellow!). Overview While, the general format of this three day experience was similar to the Fall Gathering in Minneapolis (for more on my experience there check out Reset Read More …
21st Century Sabbath Keeping (#2195)
This morning at Advent Lutheran Church (ELCA). we continued our Meeting Jesus Again series. Sermon My message, “Honoring the Sabbath” is based on the narrative lectionary passage:: Luke 6:1-16. You can watch the message below or read the manuscript. Excerpt Through these two encounters, Jesus was teaching his early followers and is teaching us that the humanly constructed rules for Sabbath keeping can be broken. All such rules have exceptions. But, more Read More …
Answering the Call: Recommitting to the Way of Jesus (#2194)
This morning at Advent Lutheran Church (ELCA). we continued our Meeting Jesus Again series. Sermon My message, “Answering the Call” is based on the narrative lectionary passage:: Luke 5:1-11. You can watch the message below or read the manuscript. Excerpt Most of us lead rather ordinary lives. On any given day our schedule is filled with familiar commitments and considerable consistency. However, all of us have had one of those days when the ordinary suddenly became Read More …
2025 is God’s Year to Act (#2192)
This morning at Advent Lutheran Church (ELCA). we continued our Meeting Jesus Again series. Sermon My message, “Gods Year to Act” is based on the narrative lectionary passage: Luke 4:1-14-30 You can watch the message below or read the manuscript. Excerpt When I think about modern day good news for the poor, especially on Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend, I think of the Poor People’s Campaign. Nearly everyone knows that Martin Luther King Jr. was a civil rights pioneer Read More …
Star Words: Clarity, Faith, Believe (#2191)
This Epiphany I introduced Advent Lutheran Church (ELCA) to star words. In doing so I learned that this was the first time words were received in worship and that the entire concept was new to many people. Overview For those just learning about star words, I encourage you to google around and learn more. In brief this new Epiphany practice invites people to choose a star. Only after choosing do they turn it over to learn the word it contains. That word - a star word - is then intended as Read More …