What might it mean that all are sought? We pick up the conversation from last week where we discussed the idea of “all are welcome.” If the church, and its congregations are going to actively claim that “all are welcome,” I believe it needs to take seriously the conception that “all are sought.” So what might this mean? It starts in a missional understanding … Continue reading “All are Sought”
Recently, I had the privilege of having a Facebook conversation with a pastor friend. He was openly wondering questions about welcome and what that really means after having read Nadia Bolz-Weber’s Pastrix. I think my pastor friend unwittingly gave me the start of a series of blog posts, so we’ll see where this conversation takes us. To set the stage, we have all seen it, churches … Continue reading The Implications of “All are Welcome”
It’s that time of the week. Time to offer some links to articles and things which I have found particularly interesting and thought provoking. As always, I entrust them to you and hope you find them equally interesting and insightful. Leadership First of all, if you have not heard of Otto Scharmer before, allow me to introduce you to him and his fantastic blog! Scharmer is the author … Continue reading This Week’s Links
As has become custom on this blog, I am including a transcript of the sermon I preached this past Sunday (September 1st, 2013). The gospel passage that this centered from was the lectionary appointed one, Luke 14:1, 7-14. Without further adieu here it is: A Sermon for September 1, 2013 (Lectionary 22/Pentecost 15C); Gospel of Luke 14:1, 7-14 The past two Saturdays, Allison and I … Continue reading A Sermon on Luke 14
In my posts yesterday I hinted that there would be upcoming posts about recent changes in the ELCA (the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America). Today, I offer a guest post sharing some reflections from my brother Thomas who was a voting member at the ELCA’s Churchwide Assembly on behalf of the Southwestern Washington Synod. Thomas is in the midst of graduate studies in social work and … Continue reading Guest Post- Reflections on the ELCA Churchwide Assembly
First of all, I hope you are all having the chance to watch and follow some of the speeches and ceremonies going on today honoring, remembering, and continuing in the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, today, 50 years later. King’s vision and dream continues I believe today, because the vision and mission with which it is grounded and speaks … Continue reading Summer Links
I had the opportunity to bring the message yesterday on the story of the sisters Martha and Mary. What follows are excerpts of that sermon. I have removed some of the more contextual pieces that would only really make sense for the congregation that this sermon was preached for. I titled the sermon, “Why do we do what we do?” It was preached on July … Continue reading “Why do we do what we do?” – Sermon on Luke 10:38-42
Happy Canada Day to all Canadians! To the rest of you, Happy July! This post is the second post featuring a long list of different stories and links which I have not blogged individually about. I had originally planned to do this weekly or bi-weekly, but at least at this point, the rhythm of this is monthly. We’ll see if I can make this happen … Continue reading Lots of Links
Continuing in my series of reflections from reading Anthony B. Robinson’s Transforming Congregational Culture, today we turn to chapter four which he titles, “From Assuming the Goods to Delivering the Goods, Part One: Worship.” This chapter offers some thoughts, perspectives, challenges, and questions around what is worship. Robinson makes a number of assertions in this chapter and asks some very important questions. I was particularly struck … Continue reading “From Assuming the Goods to Delivering the Goods”
