ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSDecember 11, 2022Today is our Annual Congregational Meeting. For some folks, those words are followed by a rolling of the eyes and a deep sigh. It’s not the flashy or exciting stuff of church, but it is sort of necessary. Here is what I want to emphasize. Yes, we are voting on a budget, but it represents the intersection of the congregation’s commitment and God’s vision. We
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSDecember 10, 2022Tomorrow is the Third Sunday of Advent, often referred to as “Joy Sunday.” This is the Sunday when we remind ourselves of the difference between joy and happiness. The two might overlap, but joy has this amazing capacity of showing up when happiness is not the mood of most. Rev. Dr. Emilie Townes, Professor at Vanderbilt Divinity School, writes: “Happy helps me see that a
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSDecember 9, 2022In yesterday’s Etching, I wrote about Isaiah 9 and a people walking in darkness. One verse later, we read how the divine light shines upon everyone who lives in the land of shadows. It sounds, no matter the translation, as if the light shines on everyone, because no matter who you are, there have been moments lived in the shadow of grief, despair, loneliness, pain,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSDecember 8, 2022In Isaiah 9, we read the rather simple yet profound words: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light…” Someone might read those words and say to themselves, “That’s nice,” while others who have walked through some pretty bleak moments of life can find themselves getting a bit emotional as they begin to describe what it means to glimpse even just a
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSDecember 7, 2022Have you ever wondered how the story of Christ’s birth, later told alongside St. Nicholas’ stories, evolved into Santa Claus, who lives at the North Pole and appears to be only interested in good boys and girls? I find it fascinating that St. Nicholas, who lived between 270 – 343 AD, is not only the Patron Saint of children (makes perfect sense), but also of
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSDecember 6, 2022Today is the birthday of Niccolò Zucchi, born in 1586. He was a Jesuit Priest, and even served a term as Apostolic Preacher which meant he was the private preacher to the Pope (no pressure). He was also an educator with a passion for astronomy. He is considered by many to be the person who first explored the idea of what would become the reflecting
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSDecember 5, 2022Prayer for the Week: Yesterday was the Second Sunday of Advent, or what is often called “Peace Sunday.” Throughout this past week, as I was working on my sermon, I found that my mind kept going back to the well-known Peace Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi. You probably know it well, but it is good to revisit it on a regular basis. Lord, make
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSDecember 4, 2022This morning at Cypress Creek Christian Church, we will look at the story that begins with Luke 1:26, a story of an angel coming alongside a young girl named Mary. It begins with the words: “In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSDecember 3, 2022Today is the anniversary of the first successful human heart transplant. On this day in 1967, a South African surgeon by the name of Christiaan Barnard successfully transplanted a new heart into Louis Washkansky who regained consciousness and lived for 18 days. I know 18 days doesn’t sound like much, and it sure is nothing compared to what is happening today. With that said, it
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSDecember 2, 2022As I continue to ponder the Season of Advent, I turn to Barbara Brown Taylor, who wrote, “It is a helpful reminder to all who fear the dark. Darkness does not come from a different place than light; it is not presided over by a different God. The long nights of Advent and the while it was still dark on the early morning of Easter