Favorite Hymns for Mission

It is November, and many of my friends on Facebook are posting gratitudes. Each day they post words of gratitude for family, friends, joyful events, fond memories. This all is done in a spirit of Thanksgiving, expanding the attitude of giving thanks for more than just a holiday weekend. One of the people who I … Continue reading Favorite Hymns for Mission →

Come and See

Earlier this week I was in a meeting, studying the demographics around two churches in neighboring towns. Someone stopped by to pick up information from the person I was meeting with, and while we were all talking the person who stopped by invited me to join him on his next trip to the town where … Continue reading Come and See →

Food for the Soul, Fed for the Work of the Church

Life happens. Sometimes it happens with routines. School schedules, regular work days, afterschool activities and such. Sometimes it happens too fast, when all the normal routines are crowded with business trips, conferences, additional meetings and activities. Other times it happens with focus on a single important event – a dear friend in crisis, a family … Continue reading Food for the Soul, Fed for the Work of the Church →

Liturgy In Place

Today is Good Friday, the day on which Christians mark the crucifixion and death of Jesus. On my morning walk, I thought of all the churches I've had the blessing to worship with over the years. As a child growing up on the Mexico-Texas border, our church would worship once or twice a year with … Continue reading Liturgy In Place →

Faithfulness in Small Work

Dusting and Vacuuming Yesterday I worked cleaning chairs and polishing wood. As I vacuumed off construction dust from the seats and used old t-shirts to clean and condition the old altar, I thought about all the people through the history of Christianity who have done work like this – cleaning, setting up, taking down, organizing, … Continue reading Faithfulness in Small Work →

Lenten Practices

Ash Wednesday in Community Last night I went to church for Ash Wednesday service. We sang together, listened to scripture, and prayed together. Our pastor gave a short sermon, and led us through a silent meditation time by passing out cards with a single word printed on them. We would meditate on the word, and … Continue reading Lenten Practices →

The Blessing of Shared Worship

Singing Together A couple weeks ago I had to miss Sunday morning worship due to a family emergency. I didn’t think missing one worship service would be too detrimental. I listen to an online daily devotional, keep a prayer journal, and attend a weekly Bible study. Turns out, what I missed was the music. Congregational … Continue reading The Blessing of Shared Worship →

Just Be Willing

Mission historian Dr. Dana Robert describes worship as essential to mission. In her 2010 United Methodist Women study Joy to the World! Mission in the Age of Global Christianity, she emphasizes the importance of worship for the practice of mission. When we gather together and worship God, we open ourselves to the Holy Spirit, who … Continue reading Just Be Willing →