Fear grows in the dark. This season of Advent darkness—it’s so stressful and hard for so many, and these weeks leading up to Christmas can be especially difficult.  Work, busy schedules, too many parties, too much sugar, all the considerable stress of the season make already heavy burdens almost unbearable. And this Advent, words like repentance, darkness, waiting, wilderness seem to yell stridently from the pages of scripture: “Pay attention to the pain!” Absence cuts like broken glass. Disappointment hangs... Read more

And Hear the Angels Sing: Hope Isaiah 2:1-5 Today is the first Sunday of Advent, the very first day of a brand new church year. Curiously, the church year begins in the dark, with the light of day waning far too early and all of us huddled inside with glowing lamps and crackling fires, trying to push away the darkness.  And the darkness outside mirrors the darkness we carry inside—in these weeks leading to Christmas the two converge: the darkness... Read more

Blessed Advent all.  The Calvary DC congregation has written a beautiful Advent devotional with the theme, “And Hear the Angels Sing.”  Follow along each day in Advent by subscribing to Calvary’s blog or liking the Calvary DC page on Facebook.  In the meantime, read the words of Howard Thurman and listen up…it’s Advent. There must be always remaining in every man’s life some place for the singing of angels – some place for that which in itself is breathlessly beautiful... Read more

I first read some version of this prayer more than ten years ago.  It was written by a friend and mentor of mine, Rev. Sharlande Sledge, who probably was the first woman I ever saw in a pulpit wearing a clerical robe.  As you will see, she also has a gift with words beyond compare.  With her permission I first used this prayer at a community Thanksgiving service many years ago.  The experience was so moving that it has become my... Read more

Morality Tales Proverbs 17:22 Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones. Well, it begins.  Next Sunday is the first Sunday of Advent, which means we’re celebrating Thanksgiving this week, and I know as well as you do that the craziness of the holidays is upon us…and has, in actuality, already been here for quite some time. You may not know this, but Thanksgiving is not actually a liturgical holiday.  If... Read more

Thinking about some dear ones I love on this Transgender Day of Remembrance, and praying that the light of God’s all-encompassing love would flood over us, illuminating darkness, offering generous welcome, instilling peace. Blessed is God, in Whom no light is extinguished. A prayer: God full of mercy, bless the souls of all who are in our hearts on this Transgender Day of Remembrance. We call to mind today young and old, of every race, faith, and gender experience, who... Read more

Morality Tales Proverbs 16:18 Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. I’ve been so proud these last few weeks since I ran a 5K with my daughter Hannah and lived to tell about it.  Actually, I even lived to marry Ridgeway and Sarah on the very same day!  Many of you have had to endure my chatter about this achievement, as I’ve been working on being able to run approximately three miles at one... Read more

Sometimes I write things down and they are not coherent. (That is, usually I write things down and they are not coherent.) I have many things swimming around in my head; I try hard to write them down in ways that make sense, but they don’t always fit together.  And then Bob Allen fixes them.  (Let the people say amen.) This is one reason (among many) that I deeply appreciate the work of Associated Baptist Press editors, especially Bob.  Bob regards... Read more

Hang on for the ride, Calvary! Transitions are always adventures and we’re beginning to see some of the blessings of our current staffing transition following Pastor Leah’s last Sunday with us. Beginning today, Calvary has added two part-time, interim staffers to our team.  They might look familiar to you: Myra Houser will be working a few hours each week as our Communications Coordinator, helping us streamline our social media and print communications as well as implementing a social media strategy... Read more