Joseph Richardson brings up an interesting point over here. Just what is the very basic Gospel, the Good News that the church preaches with a prophetic voice? At our Thursday evening service last night, using the Pentecost 6 readings, I talked about how it does not matter whether people believe what we have to say; … Continue reading What is the Good News?
Category: Mission
Confirmation Sunday
Last Sunday my church celebrated as 8 youth celebrated their rite of Confirmation. I remember little of my own Confirmation (for those who don't know me, I have issues remembering everything), except for my faith statement and that the only other person Confirmed that day was one of my best friends. But what is Confirmation? … Continue reading Confirmation Sunday
Two Theses
"We Christians need to stop being welcoming and start being inviting." "Christianity isn't Jesus-centered. It's Christ-centered." I did not come up with either of these. I heard them spoken by others and have been reflecting on them for a few weeks. What are your thoughts?
Applesauce Communion and Critical Thinking
This months edition of the Lutheran magazine (February 2012) provided some thought-provoking tidbits. APPLESAUCE COMMUNION When I first saw the title, I thought, "Oh God... can this be as bad as the Dr. Seuss liturgy highlighted last month?" (You can check that one out for yourself in the January 2012 issue). Thankfully, I was pleasantly … Continue reading Applesauce Communion and Critical Thinking
Visitors to the Table
I sat down at a small round table in the fellowship hall where two visitors munched on coffee cake and sipped Kool-Aid. I had met them earlier in the hallway; their friend, a member of the congregation and the one who had invited them to our church in the first place needed help answering a … Continue reading Visitors to the Table
Living an Ecumenical Life 