Shane Claiborne, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, and Enuma Okoro. Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals. Zondervan: 2010. ISBN: 9780310326199. Meet the Authors/Compilers Shane Claiborne is a founder of The Simple Way, a New Monastic community in inner city Philadelphia that has helped to birth and connect radical faith communities around the world. He is the author of The Irresistible Revolution: Living as an Ordinary Radical. Claiborne is Read More …
My Thanksgiving Prayer (#0193)
Over the last several days I have read many blogs and news articles, searched Scripture, talked with several people and participated in an interfaith worship service all in an effort to better grasp both Thanksgiving and thankfulness. For some reason, this Thanksgiving what resonates deeply with me are the lyrics to a song: "My Thanksgiving Prayer." I encourage you to take time to read them, then to hear them sung, and finally to offer them as a prayer. In this time of my Read More …
Bible Reading – There is an App for That (#0192)
LifeChurch.tv is one of the most technologically innovative churches in the United States. With over 26,000 in average weekly worship attendance, they are also the second largest congregation in the country according to the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. This multi-site congregation doesn't simply create leading edge hi-tech creative edge resources, they also share them for free via Open. In 2008, the church launched their own Bible app called YouVersion in response Read More …
Before You Give (#0191)
Meet the Journalist Nicholas D. Kristof is a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner who currently writes op-ed columns that appear twice a week for the New York Times. Viewed by many as a leader in web journalism, Kristoff was the first blogger on the New York Times website. To learn more about or to connect with him consider reading his blog, following him on Twitter, liking him on Facebook, or viewing his channel on YouTube. Year End Giving Kristoff's most recent article, "When Read More …
Review of Why Jesus? (#0190)
William H. Willimon. Why Jesus? Abingdon Press: 2010. ISBN: 9781426700286. Meet the Author Since 2004, William H. Willimon has served as a Bishop in the United Methodist Church responsible for overseeing 57,000 members and 792 pastors in North Alabama. Previously, he served for twenty years as Dean of the Chapel and Professor of Christian Ministry at Duke University. Willimon is the author of over sixty books including two best sellers: Sinning Like a Christian: A Read More …
Catholics to Recognize Protestant Baptisms (#0189)
After working for the last six years on a means to provide mutual recognition of baptism with several Reformed Protestant denominations, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops voted in favor of the measure at their annual Fall General Assembly. While similar agreements have been reached in other countries, this is the first of its kind in the United States. According to Religion News Service, Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta, chairman of the ecumenical and Read More …
Review of Changing the Script (#0188)
Daniel Schultz. Changing the Script: Authentically Faithful and Authentically Progressive Political Theology for the 21st Century. Ig Publishing: 2010. ISBN: 9781935439141. Meet the Author Daniel Schultz is pastor of Salem United Church of Christ in Wayne, Wisconsin. He is also the co-founder and contributor to Street Prophets, which is an offspring of Daily Kos that seeks to mobilize "progressive people of faith to name, discuss and take action on Read More …
Lessons I am Learning (#0187)
For those in liturgical congregations, this Sunday’s celebration of the reign of Christ will mark the end of the church year. Next Sunday, November 28, we will begin a new year with the season of Advent. As we near the end of this year, I have been reflecting on my journey of faith over the past twelve months. Three experiences have played critical roles in informing and continually reforming my faith: Exploring Experience: After serving five congregations in lay or Read More …
Reign of Christ / Christ the King (#0186)
From Christ the King to Reign of Christ to . . . This Sunday is the final Sunday of the liturgical year: Christ the King. Carey Gardner Mack provides a brief history of this new addition to the church year: Christ the King Sunday is a relatively new development. It does not bear the history of many long-held church traditions such as All Saints or Christmas or Easter and does not possess the deep and traditional biblical backing of these celebrations. Pope Pius XI brought Christ the Read More …
Churches Embracing Social Media (#0185)
Catholics and Protestants are uniting around the importance of social media. Earlier this week at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops annual Fall General Assembly, Bishop Ronald Herzog of Alexandria, Louisiana, a member of the Communications Committee, gave a speech in which he said: Although social media has been around for less than 10 years, it doesn’t have the makings of a fad. We’re being told that it is causing as fundamental a shift in communication patterns and behavior as Read More …