Providence Presbyterian Church — Gum Spring, Virginia Our historic, wood-frame structure has been in continuous use as a house of worship since 1747. But the brightly colored playground equipment situated directly behind the old sanctuary perhaps symbolizes what is most “right” about Providence. Our small, multigenerational congregation is dedicated to including children in the church’s life, as well as to serving the children of our neighbors, both near and far. Our “Backpack Blessings” program assists local children who are at risk of hunger when school is not in session. Last year, we offered a blessing as the youth returned to school and collected an offering that will provide over 20 students at La Gonave School in Haiti with lunch for the entire school year. For the last 29 years, Providence has also hosted and supported a vibrant, weekday preschool. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them” (Matthew 19:14a). The good folks of Providence have … [Read more...]
“I’m a pastor.”
This month we asked our bloggers about how they view the role of pastor, how they understand their pastoral identity, or to share what a pastor really does all week. Here's how they responded. There are lots of memes and social media posts going around that joke about how people’s first response, when realizing they are talking to a pastor, is to either stop swearing or apologize for swearing. In my experience, this is assuredly the number one reaction. But, the second is usually to either talk about their church upbringing or their spiritual background, sometimes even confessing why they haven’t attended religious services recently. And, if we are lucky enough to get to this one, the third reaction is usually to ask a spiritual question or talk about a spiritual experience they have had without holding back. With humor, we tend to focus on the first reaction the most because, well, it is first, and often we do not stick with the conversation long enough (for whatever reason) to … [Read more...]
Sacred Signposts: Words, Water, and Other Acts of Resistance
Benjamin J. Dueholm Eerdmans, 176 pages Reviewed by Gordon Lindsey When we review the ways Christians have expressed their faith, we face a puzzle. Theologies vary. So do ethical systems. Worship styles come and go. So what gives the Christian movement its continuity from generation to generation, from culture to culture? It is the enduring practices of Christianity, contends Benjamin Dueholm in his new book “Spiritual Signposts.” “If nothing else, a religion is what it does,” says Dueholm, a Lutheran pastor. “We take hold of religious practices, and they take hold of us.” And so he devotes his book to discussing the “central, sacred, vexing practices of Christianity, the ‘holy possessions’ by which Christians receive and enact their faith.” For Dueholm, those seven holy possessions include the Word of God, baptism, Eucharist and the cross. His book reflects on each in a separate chapter. I found these chapters thought provoking in ways I did not expect. In each case, I came … [Read more...]
Our weakness, God’s strength (Horizons 2)
“God’s Promise: I Am With You” Lesson 2: Exodus 3:1-12, Judges 6:11-27 “To recognize our weaknesses is a great blessing.” How does that statement strike you? Is it odd, a statement of fact or ridiculous? Our culture is all about strength, gifts and talents. (Indeed, if we weren’t so modest, we each could talk about our worthy abilities!) As children, youth and young adults we strive to master skills and learn what we can do well. As adults, we work out of our strengths. Thus, we tend to stay in the comfort zone of our competences. When God calls us to serve, we are summoned to move out of our comfort zones and trust God with the future. This feels awkward and threatening. In Exodus 3:1-12 and Judges 6:11-27, Moses’ and Gideon’s first reactions to God’s call mirror our own feelings about doing something we know we are ill-prepared to do. “You mean me? I am not qualified.” “Is it really you, God, talking to me?” “I am nothing special.” “I don’t speak well.” “No one will … [Read more...]
Organizational imagination: The practical wisdom for communities in transition
It all started with a sign. One year after the fatal shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, The Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion, located only a few miles away, found itself at an intersection. At the invitation of the congregation’s leaders, one of us was asked to guide them through a strategic visioning process. Through that process, the congregation identified three core values: community, welcome and diversity. Facing a racially-divided city and a volatile national conversation on issues of race and justice, Holy Communion could not help feeling that these core values were pushing against each other, if not altogether incompatible. This realization came in the form of a literal sign — or rather, a debate about signs. A racially diverse congregation (40 percent black, 50 percent white and 10 percent mixed or other ethnicity), the vestry was divided on whether or not to put a Black Lives Matter sign on the front of the church property. The white vestry members … [Read more...]
What can 1870 teach a 2018 minister?
This month we asked our bloggers about how they view the role of pastor, how they understand their pastoral identity, or to share what a pastor really does all week. Here's how they responded. When I daydream, it’s almost always about the future – flying cars, spacecraft, jetpacks and the little pieces of gum that make you feel like you ate a three-course meal from “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” Sometimes, though, I get swept in the other direction – especially when it comes to the history of the local church. The church I currently serve, Langcliffe Presbyterian Church in Avoca, Pennsylvania, was established in 1870, which is the same year its presbytery (Presbytery of Lackawanna) started. It’s a young church by many standards, including the standards of the First Presbyterian Church of Wilkes-Barre down the road, which was established in 1772 (as a Congregationalist church), and the other Congregationalist, Baptist, Roman Catholic and still other … [Read more...]
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 281
- Next Page »
Tweet With Us
Be A Facebook Fan
Our World in Photos
Pin With Us