Dear ______: I’m glad to hear you got through your first “children’s sermon” all right. Whew! (The fact that this topic is so fraught for you might be something to think about when you are looking for a field education placement. We can chat about that later if you want to.) I am glad you […]
Letters to a Young Pastor: The Children’s Sermon — The Mr. Rogers Moment
Dear ______: Wow! I’ve never heard you ask for advice so urgently. I hope this reaches you in time to be helpful. As I understand it, you’ve been asked to preach a “children’s sermon” and you are totally freaked out. Don’t panic. Help is on the way. The Children’s Sermon I’ll confess: the idea of […]
Great Compline
One of the Lenten services I’ve experienced in the last couple of years is the Orthodox “Great Compline.” I’ve known the Western version of Compline very well for a very long time. In the West, Compline is the last of the monastic hours, a short gentle service, maybe 20 minutes of brief prayers and Psalms, […]
Forgiveness Vespers
A couple weeks ago I attended a gathering for the night before Lent began. No, this was not a Shrove Tuesday pancake supper. Nor was it a Mardi Gras carnival. This was a Sunday evening worship service. It was an Orthodox church — and for the East Lent does not begin on a Wednesday. Orthodox […]
Letters to a Young Pastor: “Forgive Us…As We Forgive”
Dear ______: Thanks for your sympathy: I find a verified case of “Influenza A” plus pneumonia can put a serious dent in my week. Or month perhaps. So just a quick note to say thanks and continue the conversation. Glad you looked ahead in the Lord’s Prayer to prepare yourself: the “modifiers” in the clause […]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 62
- 63
- 64
- 65
- 66
- …
- 138
- Next Page »