Category: My Congregational Home

Interesting Advent Article

I ran across this article this morning and really found it interesting. I am pretty sure I knew the Advent wreath had not been around that long but did not realize that it only made it to the United States in the 30’s!

http://t.co/gUQaiUSA

That would mean that we actually have church members who may remember the first time they were used in a church. I wonder what kind of conversations popped up around this new tradition back then?

Prayers from Home

I thought I would simply share a couple of prayers that I use on a fairly regular basis today.  The first is a prayer for Illumination based on Zechariah 4:6 and Acts 2:3-4.  I am not sure when I first started using this as a prayer before reading Scripture in worship, but it seems to fit me quite well.  This is also one of those that I am unsure if I heard it somewhere first or what, but am fairly certain I wrote it – at least in part…but I share it with you.  If you know the author, please let me know, so I can give them credit.

It is not by might;
It is not by power;
and it most certainly is not by cleverness of imagination
that Your word is read and proclaimed, O God.
But it is by your Spirit.
So, may that Spirit come and rest upon each of us,
work within all of us,
to bring us the Word which is Jesus this day.  Amen.

The second is a Benediction that I know I have borrowed, with permission, from Dr. William Lawrence, dean of Perkins School of Theology and current President of the United Methodist Judicial Council.  Dr. Lawrence had the daunting task of teaching me both preaching and church administration when he was at The Divinity School, Duke University.

Wherever you go, may God go with you.
Whatever you need, may God provide.
Whenever you stumble, may God lift you.
And when, at the end of you days –
you lay yourself down for the last time…
May God raise you up for all time.  Amen.

Still headed home….

Scott

Enough Again

Here is this past Sunday’s sermon which is also based heavily upon Adam Hamilton’s “Enough” series – especially the apple eating illustration. Once more, I do not do justice to Hamilton’s message, but I have attempted to make it relevant for our “place”. Peace!

Contentment

This week, I began I three week series on stewardship that borrows heavily from the teachings of Adam Hamilton in Enough.  I don’t do Hamilton justice, IMHO, but I am making the message relevant for where I am and where I think our congregation is at this particular time.

Enjoy…and feel free to comment!

http://vimeo.com/52336605

Promises, Promises

Since one the homes I spend so much time in is my congregational home, I thought it might be good to share a little bit of what I do there.  Remember…this is just a little bit of what I do.  I don’t see myself foremost as a preacher in my congregational home.  It is one thing I do ,but it also happens to be a very public thing that I do and one of those things that for which many people have opinions.

So, here is my sermon from this past Sunday.  I really do hope you don’t enjoy it as much as you find it making you a bit uncomfortable.  I was uncomfortable as well.

http://vimeo.com/51867865

Comments are welcome!

Edit – Some have asked for a link to the Peter Rollins video on “Confronting Our Beliefs” that I attempted to use in this sermon.  Here it is:

http://vimeo.com/48198788