In my time as a church musician, I have gotten more than an occasional gripe about why we have to sing all the stanzas of all the hymns. Often they come from the pews, occasionally they come from choir members. More often than you’d believe, they come from pastors. Fortunately at my current post, this really isn’t an issue, but other places, it’s been made into a big deal. Of course, there are many clergy who align a little closer... Read more
(A brief warning for anyone who finds the subject of breastfeeding to be gross or inappropriate. If you can’t tell from the title of this post, I’m going to talk a little bit about how liturgy is like breastfeeding. If this offends you, I invite you to consider why, and possibly seek help from a mental health professional to get over yourself. Thanks!) My beloved wife, the mom of my two little children, is my hero. After nine months of... Read more
I’m admittedly not the biggest proponent of Vacation Bible School as a ministry strategy. In fact, I think VBS as it’s currently packaged by the likes of DeathWay, Orange Church, and other publishers and peddlers of jesusy crap is just another one of the marketing techniques that has so alienated the millennial generation from the American church. Even with the best of intentions, it’s hard to package Jesus up into a product that can be sold to small children... Read more
Okay, I admit it. I was wrong. I’m sorry. Sorry, sorry, sorry. I take it back. At least I take one thing back. A couple days ago, I wrote an open letter to the United Methodist Hymnal Revision Committee just to say a friendly “hello” and just let them know I’m rooting for them. And to make a few suggestions (again, very friendly ones) regarding their course toward a new United Methodist hymnal. As usual, my opinions received some mixed... Read more
Dear UM Hymnal People, I don’t know any of you personally, but let me tell you, y’all are the best. Seriously. Your denomination has needed you for, like, ten years now. You don’t know me either, though, so I’ll introduce myself. I’m Jonathan. Some of my best friends are Methodist. I married a good Methodist girl in one of the most beautiful Methodist churches known to Methodism, served another Methodist church for a number of years, and I still usually... Read more
One reason why we Christians argue so much about which hymn to sing, which liturgy to follow, which way to worship is that the commandments teach us to believe that bad liturgy eventually leads to bad ethics. You begin by singing some sappy, sentimental hymn, then you pray some pointless prayer, and the next thing you know you have murdered your best friend. – Stanley Hauerwas Writing this blog brings me lot of hate comments ranging from hilarious to threatening.... Read more
The Cult of Cafeteria Worship The Most Difficult Lie Green Like Golf. Or Whatever. Finding Jesus Where He Said He’d Be Photo: Flickr, creative commons 2.0 Read more
Church of St. YouTube Sixth Sunday after Pentecost July 1, 2018 Entrance Prelude Andante Religioso from Sonata No. 4 Felix Mendelssohn (1809 – 1847) Greeting The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. And also with you. The risen Christ is with us. Praise the Lord! Read more
Just for fun. “You’re never gonna let, You’re never gonna let me down, You’re never gonna let, You’re never gonna let me down, You’re never gonna let, You’re never gonna let me down, You’re never gonna let, You’re never gonna let me down, ‘Cause You are good, You are good, oh, oh, You are good, You are good, oh, oh…” “All my questions find their answers here. When You come You change the atmosphere. I am focused, I... Read more
I have a feeling many of us have been there. You know what I’m talking about. There is simply nothing worse than getting into a car with people you think you know and trust, only to find yourself unable to escape the transportation nightmare of being forced to listen to contemporary Christian radio. What can you do in such a treacherous situation? Nothing! I mean, you could unbuckle, open your door, and put yourself out of your vehicular misery. Seriously,... Read more
Ponder Anew
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