ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSAugust 1, 2023The group attending the General Assembly is having a grand time. I don’t believe I have ever attended a General Assembly where I have been able to say, “Every speaker has been fabulous!” I know there are still other worship services and workshops today, but even if the rest of the speakers are bad (and they won’t be), it won’t dampen the experience. Our preacher
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJuly 31, 2023Guest Writer: Rev. Paula GembalaHave you ever asked God for patience? I know I have, and if I am being honest, I would say I ask many times each month. I was on the phone with a friend one day who was having an extremely stressful time. She got upset with her husband who was doing something he shouldn’t have been, considering his age. She
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJuly 30, 2023Guest Writer: Rev. Mariah NewellNumbers 20: 10-12 are verses of Scripture which I find oddly comforting. I feel always like I shouldn’t find them comforting. They are the verses where God tells Moses he’s not going to go with the group to the Promise Land. 10 He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, “Listen, you rebels, must
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJuly 29, 2023Guest Writers: Dr. Joel PlaagA musing on Psalm 8:3. When I consider the heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and stars which you have set in place… I really didn’t like physics class. I think part of the reason was, even though the teacher was the mother of one of my classmates, I never quite understood all of the directions. The math wasn’t
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJuly 28, 2023I started to write that I was feeling “a little giddy” as we approach the beginning of the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), but using the word “little” to describe my giddiness is an understatement. I know I’m nerdy about church stuff, but our theme this year, The Kindom of God, is really resonating with me, especially as I will see
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJuly 27, 2023In the 14th chapter of John’s Gospel, we read: “Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father” (v.12). I referenced this passage a few weeks ago in my sermon. These words make me think of one of my
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJuly 26, 2023My job, like many other jobs, can have stress and pressure, but at no point has my job description linked good preaching to my limbs remaining intact. You may be wondering why I write that, but in Daniel 2, there is a threat of being torn limb from limb for not sharing a dream and its interpretation. I must admit that such a threat would
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJuly 25, 2023The task of a Christian is to fill oneself with God and the divine message of mercy, grace, and forgiveness. Music is a powerful tool. Rarely does anyone sit around on Monday repeating portions of the sermon, but there is a good chance that someone may hum a portion of a song sung in worship. Music has the ability to get under our skin and
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJuly 24, 2023God, I’m pretty sure you don’t even need to think about forgiveness. It’s just who you are and what you do. And let me say that I am so thankful for the generosity of your gift poured forth upon me. But it doesn’t come all that easily to me. Oh sure, there are certain things I can forgive without a second thought, but there are
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJuly 23, 2023Do you believe in miracles? There are plenty of people who would be quick to say that miracles are a bunch of nonsense, yet I have not only seen them but also had the joy of participating in them. In Acts 19:11, we read: “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul.” That is the narrator describing what s/he believes, and it might be exactly what I