Category Archives: Church
Ministry, Facebook, Friends & Purging
Wow, how’s that for a title?! When JJ and I started talking about the likelihood of moving, we were immediately faced with a uniquely 21st century dilemma: What to do with our Facebook friends. On the surface, the answer seems … Continue reading
Posted in Announcements, Church, misc.
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Major Changes!!
We have been at Dunningville for almost a decade and, although it has been a good place to live and minister, we have increasingly come to believe that it was time to move. After months of discussion, thought, prayer, and … Continue reading
“President’s” Address to Zeeland Classis
I have, for almost a year, been the Vice-President/Acting-President of Zeeland Classis (the regional denominational assembly that Dunningville belongs to). One of the privileges of that position is the opportunity to address the Classis at the March meeting with a … Continue reading
Posted in Church, Religious
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What it means to me…
The Reformed Church in America traces its history in North America back 1628. We are the oldest continuous denomination on the continent, and yet in that time we have never adopted a new confession. It is no small thing, then, … Continue reading
Posted in Belhar, Church, Religious, Synod 2009
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“Happy Holidays”
Ok… Here’s the ax I’m grinding. I keep running into Christians who are angry about the use of the “Holiday Season” or “Happy Holidays” rather than saying “Merry Christmas” – which, they insist, is a more “Christ-centered” wish. Fine, I’ll … Continue reading
Posted in Church, Religious
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Minister as Conductor
Of the many things a minister does with his or her time, the one we are most often judged on is our presence in the pulpit and/or time spent leading worship. That makes sense, of course, since most of what … Continue reading
Posted in Church, Religious
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Celebrating Slowness
Yes, I’m a slow bike rider. Slow enough, in fact, that those I’ve ridden Ragbrai with over the past two years have occasionally referred to my biking style as “tortoise pace.” It’s true, actually and I don’t mind at all. … Continue reading
Posted in Biking, Church, misc., Ragbrai
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Out of Context – for Good and for Bad
As I began thinking about what I would do if given the opportunity to vote on the Belhar, I spent a lot of time thinking about what a “confession” is. Of course, there are a lot of ways to define … Continue reading
Posted in Belhar, Church, Race, Religious, Synod 2009
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No, you don’t get your way this time…
Every year, as Synod approaches, I talk to the congregation I pastor about what’s on the docket and what kinds of things the delegates are going to be talking about, celebrating, learning, etc. Some congregations roll their eyes at the … Continue reading
Posted in Church, Religious, Synod 2009
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3 Pillars Handout
This morning, in church, we did a “check in” on the “Three Pillars.” Essentially, the Three Pillars are arenas within which we expect each member of our congregation to have some kind of growth and development going on at any … Continue reading
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