In the middle of a public place, a busy coffee shop, surrounded by strangers… people got real. We hosted our first ashes to go in the community and while we didn’t have a large turnout, the conversations were deep and holy. I got to know my parishioners better. I heard what brings they joy and…
Love before Knowledge
There are two things I have come to hope for on Communion Sundays: Welch’s grape juice in the cup, and Hawaiian Sweet Bread on the table. And that’s for a couple of reasons: First, they both taste better than most other options available. Second, the Hawaiian Sweet Bread is the perfect combination of soft…
Them, Too!
When I was looking at seminaries, two of my top schools were in Chicago right across the street from one another in the Hyde Park neighborhood. My mom and I went to visit and we started to imagine what life would be like if I was there. My brother, Tony, was also attending school in…
It's a coaching problem…
I was recently talking with a colleague about the fear/frustration that church members think we, as the pastors and staff, are the ones who do ministry. Obviously, since we are the ones getting the paycheck, we should be the ones out making new disciples and teaching and being prophetic and visiting the sick and all…
In the Night
When I was in college, our chaplain encouraged us to go to this event called, “Exploration.” It was a conference for young people who felt like they were hearing a call to ministry – a place to explore what that meant for their lives. I don’t remember a single thing about the conference, except for…
An ideal Saturday in the making
1) sleep in 2) eat a late breakfast/lunch 3) work out (because I promised myself I couldn’t do #5 until I did) 4) surf the web / blog / facebook 5) play skyrim 6) cook an awesome dinner 7) chill, preferably in front of the tv (tonight it will be the ISU bball game) 8) SLEEEEEEEEEEEEP…
Procedures
My household recently added a person to it. My brother in law moved in for a bit as he prepares to start graduate school. It is our chance to help him out and besides, we love having him over! It has been interesting to watch as we navigate around one another. We are running the…
Feedback and Preferences
I’ve been in my current congregation for about six months now and I know that we have some tinkering to do with worship. On the one hand, we have a solid traditional service that features our choir and the organ and liturgy and is right up my own personal alley and comfort zone. We also…