As I consider dusting off this blog and recommitting to regular writing and publishing, I am adding recent email newsletter content shared with my congregation. Beloved of God, If you follow New Joy on Facebook and Instagram, you’ve seen this graphic several times over the past few days. We’ve posted this on the first dayContinue reading “The Blessings of Our Community’s School”
Tag Archives: lutheran
Communion at Home during a Pandemic: an Addendum
My prior post was the letter I published online for my congregation addressing our acts of worship and communion during the current pandemic. This current post is an addendum responding to discussions being held online among clergy colleagues and leaders of the church. Addendum: Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton has said that this pandemic might beContinue reading “Communion at Home during a Pandemic: an Addendum”
7+ Years In, Preaching Anew
More than 7 years into ordained ministry, and 19 years since I first entered seminary, I have renewed my practice of preaching – both delivering and preparing the sermon. I had always preached with a manuscript Most of these manuscripts were not paragraph’d pages looking as if they belonged in a book, but a more free-form movement ofContinue reading “7+ Years In, Preaching Anew”
Mormon Bashing
“‘All things are lawful,’” but not all things are beneficial. ‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things build up.” – 1 Corinthians 10:23 This week The Current in Westfield and The Current in Carmel included a 12-page “advertising supplement” entitled “Non-Mormon Temple Visitors Guide.” In this “guide” provided by Tri-Grace Ministries of Ephraim, Utah, you’llContinue reading “Mormon Bashing”
Decline of What?
The church is in decline. Sure, I guess. But, what do you mean by that? Membership is down in many congregations. Average weekly attendance is down, too. They are down as compared to 1965. They are down as compared to 1985. They are down, in many places, as compared even to 2005. There has beenContinue reading “Decline of What?”
The Lutheran Zephyr 