Category: Uncategorized
-
Invocations
The Latin root of invocation is to “call upon.” In the church we begin our services with an in-vocational prayer. We call upon God to be with us. Imagine for a moment our response when during that prayer Jesus appears physically, standing behind the Altar. Our prayer of invocation is now evoking fear and trembling. These emotions dissipate as his first spoken words are, “Peace be with you.” But now we are filled with anticipation of his message. Will we hear a new parable, or a familiar story with a new understanding. Will the message be directed at us as…
-
A New Take on “Rally” Sunday
Back in 2015 I shared this observation: “What got me thinking was the ‘RALLY’ Sunday sign I saw in front of a church this weekend. It was a call to the church community to come together, with hopes, I suppose, that non-members would respond as well. Sometimes the church hangs a ‘Homecoming’ sign with the same intent and hopes. I wonder what these signs say to non-churched people. How can I come home if I never belonged? If I come to Rally Sunday, am I enlisting in some kind of army because I’m hearing rally the ‘troops?’ For the active…
-
Ode to Wendell Luke
Our friend Rev. Dr. Wendell Luke died this week. He was a prophet, a force, and a voice for justice. He was also a thoughtful poet. His served on the Foundation’s Board of Directors for several years, shaping and encouraging our growth in both assets and ministry. I am sure that upon hearing of his passing the “Wendell” stories began circulating among colleagues and friends. Many of you know that he wrote poetry. I saved one of his poems that was shared some time ago because it resonated with me. Somehow, as I read the poem today, I cannot help…
-
The Dog Days of Summer
For many people the dog days of summer mean vacation and a slower pace of life. It is this slower pace that creates the environment for reflection and planning. This is especially true for life planning: retirement and estate planning etc. These longer-term issues tend to be put on the back burner when life is chaotic. Sometimes we have to be in the “mood” for these discussions, and summertime fosters the right mood because we are in a different state of mind. So, now is the time to invite your advisor over for iced tea and conversation. Share your thoughts,…
-
Lessons from My Lawn
We have a relatively small yard with nearly as much garden space as the lawn. My wife Carol is the steward of the gardens and I take care of the grass. The gardens are watered regularly, and the grass gets enough H2O to avoid going completely brown during this drought.I have a tough time thinking about an irrigation system for the grass. Partly for environmental reasons, but mostly because I cannot justify the expense. However, I noticed that under the stress of the drought, the weeds are creeping up. The brown grass has helped me make the connection between my…
-
True Confessions
I was in a conversation recently where the topic was about something I had written. I included everything in the communication that I felt a person would want to know. When I was finished, I was certain they would have no questions whatsoever and would be clamoring to participate in the event. One of the individuals in the conversation, for whom I have great respect, noted the length of the communication and the probable reality that people hadn’t read it. The length was challenging, the number of words overwhelming, and therefore the was message lost. I smiled as they were…
-
Trusting
Last week I reflected upon the effect that the Covid pandemic has had on the church. The challenges experienced changed how we are the church and how we will do church in the future. As a lay person, I can see that my role in the church is changing. Whether or not the church I am attending is thriving, or needs to merge with another, I need to be more fully engaged. Even if my church should close, I am still a member of Body of Christ. In Romans 8, Paul reminds us: “For I am convinced that neither death…
-
Of Churches and Restaurants
At the height of the pandemic churches applied for PPP Loans and relied on Zoom, Facebook and YouTube to deliver the Sunday Service. Many technology-challenged individuals were pushed into the proverbial social media pool. And, like the initial cold-water shock of jumping in, people finally warmed up to the new way of doing church. But, for every action, there is a reaction. We are now seeing a new phenomenon – almost half the congregation is staying home. It is not yet clear whether folks are watching the service on-line at their own convenience, or if they have found other things…
-
Of Fresh Cut Grass
As I get older I find many perfumes and colognes give me a headache. It is one of the reasons why I prefer to drive into Boston rather than ride the subway standing next to a millennial young man who thinks the better he smells, the better he looks – Not. For me, the smell of fresh cut grass, or hay, is a most pleasant experience. It is an experience because smells trigger the memory section of the brain. I enjoy the weekly task of cutting the lawn; except in ragweed season. It is time alone without a phone, it…
-
Tainted Money
I re-read an article written by Robert Wood Lynn titled: “The Ethics of Asking.” Mr. Lynn broaches the topic of receiving tainted money. The term tainted money originated back in 1905, when John D. Rockefeller, an oil billionaire, gave $100,000 to the Congregational Foreign Missions. This gift raised a red flag for Rev. Washington Gladden, a Congregational pastor, who had written extensively about the ethics of accepting money from questionable sources. Rev. Gladden’s concern was focused on gifts that were made public, thus connecting the gift with giver. Keeping this premise in mind, Mr. Lynn posed the following questions for…