This is the letter I shared with my congregation in June 2016 before taking a four month sabbatical: Beloved community, Since my sabbatical was announced earlier this year, I have been asked dozens of times—by people within our congregation and outside it as well—“What are your plans?” It is only …
When I was in seminary and we seminarians were feeling anxious about seeing the Ministerial Fellowship Committee (the “MFC”), we would reassure ourselves that we would certainly become ministers someday no matter what because “all you really need is to be ordained.” Only congregations have the power to ordain a …
I am blessed to have one Sunday off each month, and I usually sleep in and rest up that day, grateful for a precious TWO DAYS OFF IN A ROW (Monday being my usual day off). I don’t usually think about attending church; it would defeat the purpose of a …
The following sermon was shared at the August 2, 2015 worship service at Chalice Unitarian Universalist Congregation. Thought for the day: “As Unitarian Universalists, we believe there is no ‘one right way’ for everyone. We also believe that everyone should believe there is no ‘one right way’ for everyone. This …
Our culture right now is steeped in messages that encourage us to do what we love, and the money will follow. There’s a book by that name–Do What You Love, the Money Will Follow–written in 1989 by Marsha Sinetar, and I don’t know if she and that book started our preoccupation …
People new to congregational life are often anxious about pledging. After all, this is a financial commitment you didn’t used to have. Here’s what I hear most often: How much should I pledge? Pledging is a spiritual practice, a commitment to the future of the congregation. The practice of making a …
Aha! You knew some day this blog would grub for money, didn’t you? Churches are all the same. Church financial scandals in recent decades have led many to view fundraising as an example of religious hypocrisy: if religious people really want to make the world a better place, why don’t …
So much has been written about children attending worship services that I feel I have little to add. At the same time, parents with young children have many questions and worries about attending church with children. So here goes. Many parents are surprised to learn that children are welcome to …
You made it to church for the first time! You got yourself out of bed on Sunday morning, had the right set of directions, found a parking spot, and arrived not too late for the start of the service. You even enjoyed the service! But… Something off-putting happened. There was …
Before I became a minister, I never, ever, even once went through the receiving line to greet the minister after a worship service. I assumed that everyone else waiting in line had something meaningful to say about the service, something deep. I had no idea what to say. I came …
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