More from Urban Holmes

Many a pastor is dashed against one of two sets of rocks. He or she comes to be a hired flunky, on the one hand, a functionary chaplain to the establishment, or, on the other hand, he or she assumes the role of a petulant adolescent, working out his or her hostility upon the unwitting congregation. We excuse the former on the grounds that we are pastors, and we argue for the latter by claiming to be prophets. The truth of the matter is often neither one nor the other, but that we are spiritually bankrupt.
The dangers of these alternative courses to disaster are relatively well known in ministry studies. The solutions found in continuing education, consultation, and career evaluation are valuable, but they can easily lack the one ingredient essential to the vocation: a growing awareness of God’s purpose for us. The intention to live as a symbol and symbol-bearer of that which transcends as well as incorporates our secular expertise. This cannot be accomplished unless we steer through the straits between these Scylla and Charybdis of ministry guided by a living relationship with the Lord we profess to serve. - Urban T. Holmes, Spirituality for Ministry, p.171, emphasis in the original

New Idea

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

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

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/

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.

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

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