The Branch—May 26, 2020
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Rustlings (May 26, 2020)
As we look forward to the celebration of Pentecost (Sunday, May 31) and the month of June, the voice of David Bowie is echoing in my head, ‘Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes…’ Some things will not change as we enter the month of June. We will not regather in our Sanctuary for worship during the month of June. (You […]
The Branch—May 18, 2020
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Rustlings (May 18, 2020)
Three years ago, our church evaluated its seminary/pastoral internship program. We discovered the model used through the prior decades did not adequately integrate with current seminary models or the needs of current seminary graduates. After much study and prayer, we embraced the ‘Residency Model.’ In the residency model, a seminary graduate is hired for a […]
The Branch—May 11, 2020
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Rustlings (May 11, 2020)
I enjoy watching children step onto elevators. If I’ve already boarded the steel box, I resist pushing any buttons. Inevitably, the child wants to push the buttons. The attending parent almost always allows the child to push ‘their floor,’ and then I politely speak the number of my floor. The child will look at the […]
Rustlings (May 4, 2020)
(Warning: this article contains generational references which may be meaningless to those under the age of 50. Please read with caution.) A long, long time ago in a cultural milieu far, far away, we spent our summers watching re-runs on television. At 7:00pm, we would actually get off the sofa, walk to the television, pull […]
The Branch—May 4, 2020
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Rustlings (April 27, 2020)
I’ve become accustomed to the teasing, and I assure you I don’t mind. Recently, a family member inquired if I planned to collect an offering at my daughter’s upcoming wedding! I assured them I had not planned such…but now that they had mentioned it… A lot of ministers—television ministers, reputably—talk about money out of greed. […]
The Branch—April 27, 2020
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