The interim pastor I served on staff with until recently repeated the phrase and concept “for you” ad nauseam. It would show up weekly in his sermons, in conversation, and in theological reflection. But you know something, the more that I heard that over a year and a half, the more I began using that phrase too. It just resonates, yet it is simply profound … Continue reading “For You”
“In baptism we have died the only death that matters, and that should make us very dangerous people.” – Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, The Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), 1/19/14 This past Sunday and Monday, Allison and I had the privilege to see and hear from Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton for the first time in person. Needless to say, I was … Continue reading Inspired by the Presiding Bishop
It’s Tuesday, that means it’s time for the links to stories, articles, and other things I have found interesting and thought provoking. This week’s topic categories are: Church and Ministry Thought & Practice; Cross-Sector Collaboration; Leadership Thought & Practice; Neighbor Love; Stewardship; Vocation; Worship; and Miscellaneous. Enjoy! Church and Ministry Thought & Practice Let’s begin this week’s links with a potentially controversial and thought-provoking opinion … Continue reading This Week’s Links
Today, the United States observes Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. In doing so, we remember and celebrate a leader, visionary, and one of the foremost people who authentically lived and understood what it really means (in its most difficult of ways) to love one’s neighbor. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a day of service, a day of reflection, and a day of learning and … Continue reading Some thoughts on Martin Luther King Jr. Day
It’s Tuesday. That means its time to share a sampling of things I have read and found interesting and thought provoking over the past week. This week’s topic categories are: Church and Ministry Thought & Practice; Cross-Sector Collaboration; Leadership Thought & Practice; Neighbor Love; and Worship. I entrust these to you now for your reading and thought. Church and Ministry Thought & Practice Karl Vaters … Continue reading This Week’s Links
I have never claimed to be a poet or a good writer. I enjoy writing though, so thus I blog. A strange thing happened to me after attending a worship service yesterday though, I sat down and I started writing with a pencil on a scratch piece of paper. What came from that strange experience kind of looks like a poem (admittedly it doesn’t really … Continue reading Strange…
Today many Christian congregations celebrate the First Sunday after Epiphany. On this day, these congregations usually remember the “Baptism of Our Lord.” This is the day we remember Jesus’ baptism in the River Jordan. Many congregations will incorporate this into their worship through possibly the “Thanksgiving for Baptism” liturgy and other possibly unique baptism practices that congregations have (such as lighting candles to remember the … Continue reading The Baptism of Our Lord
Happy Epiphany! Today is January 6th. This is the day many in the Christian faith observe and celebrate Epiphany. Epiphany is the day that we observe the coming and visit of the Magi, Wise Men, or Wise Guys, depending on your interpretation. Though nativity sets usually depict them as part of the scene, it is quite likely that they probably did not visit baby Jesus … Continue reading Epiphany
Happy New Year’s Eve! Also, Happy Seventh Day of Christmas! As this is Tuesday, its time to provide you with a sampling of some of the things I have been reading or thinking about in the past week. This week’s topic categories are: Church and Ministry Thought & Practice; Leadership Thought & Practice; Neighbor Love; Social Media & Blogging; and Stewardship. I entrust these to … Continue reading This Week’s Links- The last of the links for 2013
Merry Christmas! As we begin the actual “Twelve Days” of Christmas, we remember what it can mean for God to literally break into the world in new and unexpected ways. One of the best quotes that I have seen shared this year comes from Michael Spencer. He writes: “The incarnation is the complete refutation of every human system and institution that claims to control, possess … Continue reading And so this is Christmas…
Timothy Siburg 