This is a new idea to me (even though I had read this book before-must have missed this page), and I'm interested in anyone's comments:
Not infrequently clergy are caught up in the evil that threatens every congregation because they have no ability to discern what in fact is happening. Illustrations abound: adultery, greed, cowardice, and omnipotence. But the sin to which ordained persons are particularly given is envy. - Urban T. Holmes, Spirituality for Ministry, p.158
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
John Calvin in USA Today
A friend sent me a copy of USA Today with an article by Henry Brinton, pastor of Fairfax Presbyterian Church in Virginia. The title of the article? "Calvin Saw this Coming." Here's a link to the online version: http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2009/05/calvin-saw-this-coming.html#more
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Worship Resources from the UCC
Those looking for worship resources (and who isn't?) might like to check out the United Church of Christ's worship page, which has lectionary-based resources for each Sunday of the year at http://www.ucc.org/worship/worship-ways/
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Nancy Profit in "These Days"
I see the Rev. Nancy Profit, formerly a member of the Odebolt church, is the writer for April 5-11 in These Days magazine.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Sentence Introducing the Offering
Here's something from my current book (see other posts) that you might be able to use as a sentence introducing the offering--at least that's how I plan to use it:
We are only a very small part of history and have only one short life to live, but when we take the fruits of our labor in our hands and stretch our arms to God in the deep belief that He hears us and accepts our gifts, then we know that all of our life is given, given to celebrate. - Henri Nouwen, Creative Ministry p.110
We are only a very small part of history and have only one short life to live, but when we take the fruits of our labor in our hands and stretch our arms to God in the deep belief that He hears us and accepts our gifts, then we know that all of our life is given, given to celebrate. - Henri Nouwen, Creative Ministry p.110
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Still working my way through Creative Ministry by Henri Nouwen, published in 1971. The following passage seemed timely, again with no attempt made to make the language inclusive:
We live in a culture in which the words of Jesus: “Do not worry about tomorrow, tomorrow will take care of itself” (Mt. 6:34) sound beautiful and romantic, but completely unrealistic. We live in such a utilitarian society that even our most intimate moments have become subject to the question: “What is the purpose of it?”
Modern man does not just eat and drink but has business lunches and fund-raising dinners. He does not just go horseback riding or swimming—he also invites his companions to do a little business on horseback or even in the pool. He does not just exercise his body or listen to beautiful songs, but he also has become involved in a tremendous industry of sports and music. And he always keeps on believing that the real thing is going to happen tomorrow. In this kind of life the past has degenerated into a series of used or misused opportunities, the present into a constant concern about accomplishments, and the future into a make-believe paradise where man hopes to finally receive what he always wanted but the existence of which he basically doubts.
A life like this cannot be celebrated because we are constantly concerned with changing it into something else, always trying to do something to it, get something out of it, and make it fit our many plans and projects. We go to meetings, conferences, and congresses. We critically evaluate our part, discuss how to do ti better in the future, and worry whether or not our great design will ever work out.
Our culture is a working, hurrying, and worrying culture with many opportunities except the opportunity to celebrate life. - Henri Nouwen, Creative Ministry, pp.101f., my emphasis
We live in a culture in which the words of Jesus: “Do not worry about tomorrow, tomorrow will take care of itself” (Mt. 6:34) sound beautiful and romantic, but completely unrealistic. We live in such a utilitarian society that even our most intimate moments have become subject to the question: “What is the purpose of it?”
Modern man does not just eat and drink but has business lunches and fund-raising dinners. He does not just go horseback riding or swimming—he also invites his companions to do a little business on horseback or even in the pool. He does not just exercise his body or listen to beautiful songs, but he also has become involved in a tremendous industry of sports and music. And he always keeps on believing that the real thing is going to happen tomorrow. In this kind of life the past has degenerated into a series of used or misused opportunities, the present into a constant concern about accomplishments, and the future into a make-believe paradise where man hopes to finally receive what he always wanted but the existence of which he basically doubts.
A life like this cannot be celebrated because we are constantly concerned with changing it into something else, always trying to do something to it, get something out of it, and make it fit our many plans and projects. We go to meetings, conferences, and congresses. We critically evaluate our part, discuss how to do ti better in the future, and worry whether or not our great design will ever work out.
Our culture is a working, hurrying, and worrying culture with many opportunities except the opportunity to celebrate life. - Henri Nouwen, Creative Ministry, pp.101f., my emphasis
Friday, March 6, 2009
Lenten Reflections from Henri Nouwen
Ran across this today in Henri Nouwen's Creative Ministry. See what you think. I have not tried to make the language inclusive.
So the identity of the pastor, as it becomes visible in his pastoral care, is born from the intangible tension between self-affirmation and self-denial, self-fulfillment and self-emptying, self-realization and self-sacrifice. There are periods in life in which the emphasis is more on the one than on the other, but in general it seems that as a man becomes more mature he will become less concerned with girding himself and more willing to stretch out his hands and to follow Him who found His life by losing it.
So the identity of the pastor, as it becomes visible in his pastoral care, is born from the intangible tension between self-affirmation and self-denial, self-fulfillment and self-emptying, self-realization and self-sacrifice. There are periods in life in which the emphasis is more on the one than on the other, but in general it seems that as a man becomes more mature he will become less concerned with girding himself and more willing to stretch out his hands and to follow Him who found His life by losing it.
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