I have a friend who always cries at happy endings.  The first time this happened in my presence I looked at him incredulously…I mean, it was a movie with a really happy ending, no need to cry!  Always, he informed me, he cries…really cries…when things end happily.  I admit: I never really understood his tears of happiness.  This weekend, however, I had a hard time keeping the tears at bay, and I realized that sometimes happiness calls for tears.  Around... Read more

We Are the Church: Commissioning for Service 2 Samuel 5:1-5; 9-10 This morning the work of being the church together continues for us.  Last week in worship we remembered the life of one of our Calvary saints, Dee Robbins, and today we continue tangibly exploring in Sunday morning worship some of the ways we function as the church together.  Today we are ordaining one of our own to the Gospel ministry, calling her out and recognizing her gifts as we... Read more

We Are the Church: Comforting Each Other John 21: 9-19 Today we’re doing something a little unusual in morning worship.  We’re gathered for the worship of God this morning and we’re also remembering the life of one of our dearest Calvary members, Dee Robbins, who died this week.  Dee was a Calvary member for 61 years, and her memory is part of what guides our worship today.  Much of the music was planned in Dee’s honor; many of the people... Read more

The Truth About Leadership: Think Outside the Box 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13 I was talking with one of our new members, Jeff Wilson, just the other day about his job.  Jeff works in the schools in PG county with kids who need a little more individualized guidance than a large classroom can provide.  Jeff is a chess teacher, so he’s always coming up with new ways to help the kids learn an idea or skill.  He told me about a conversation... Read more

Well, I can tell you that a whole weekend of celebration is hard when you’re as old as 150.  Or 42, for that matter. This past weekend Calvary celebrated 150 years here on the corner of H and 8th Streets, NW.  One concert, one fancy dinner, and one huge worship service later, the church staff limped their way into church on Monday morning feeling like they’d completed a marathon.  Just barely. Some highlights: An incredible concert with a piece composed... Read more

Writing a History John 3:1-17 150th Anniversary Today we bring to a close the year-long celebration of 150 years of Calvary Baptist Church! It has been a year full of wonderful experiences and of celebrating the legacy of this church and the joy of our life together. It will never happen again. Never again will we celebrate 150 years, and so, it’s right that we gather for the worship of God to mark this auspicious occasion together. Thank you so... Read more

Jesus Has Left the Building     Luke 24:44-53 Christ is risen! Christ is risen, indeed! I remember it like it was just yesterday.  I was sitting in the backseat of the next door neighbor’s car on my way to a day as a new first grader at Our Savior Lutheran School.  The parent who was driving turned on the radio to the blaring voice of the news announcer reporting that Elvis was dead. I had no idea who Elvis was, but... Read more

As the Children, Youth and a New Kind of Christianity Conference closes today, I was asked to pray this prayer.  It’s adapted from a piece written by Ina Hughes, and it’s too beautiful not to share. We pray for young people Who put chocolate fingers everywhere, Who like to be tickled, Who stomp in puddles and ruin their new pants, Who ask for $20 before they leave with their friends, Who erase holes in math workbooks, Who never put away their... Read more

It helps, now and then, to step back and take a long view. The kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is even beyond our vision. We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God’s work. Nothing we do is complete, which is a way of saying that the kingdom always lies beyond us. No statement says all that could be said. No prayer fully expresses our faith. No confession brings perfection.... Read more