I found myself at the hospital again the other day, which is not so unusual given my line of work. (Lately I seem to be hanging out in those endless, nondescript hallways a little too much. I’m sure the folks I’m visiting feel the same way but, let’s face it, I get to go home while they have to stay so maybe I should just let it go . . . .) I know, of course, that when I go to the... Read more
Turns out that my very own offspring, who has a tendency to do everything exactly like the idol he currently adores–his father–might also be just a little like me. He loves to write, so this fifth grade assignment–to spend the weekend writing a story about someone who overcame a hardship–felt like playtime to him. That’s my boy! (Reprinted here with no edits by permission.) Overcoming the Local Boys By Samuel Butler Hi I’m Tyler Freeman. I am called a mama’s... Read more
Somehow I came to know about a poet called Gypsee Yo, who lives in Atlanta. I saw a YouTube video of her performing a poem and then read some of her poetry. This one made me cry: Sand Castles by Gypsee Yo my happiness is a sore arm where my daughter’s head rests easy I’m her favorite pillow and blanket too They say that every desert was once an ocean that someone forgot to love So I will rock you... Read more
This is the last of our Telling Stories series in worship. It has been a fun and wild ride, with everyone participating. In this final piece of art in the collection, Caroline made a book sculpture–totally cool. All of the art is now on display in the library, and we plan a showing of the whole collection in a few weeks. If you’re in town, stop by and see it in person! Read more
I am a little behind on posting art from our series Telling Stories. Two weeks ago we told the story of God’s provision of manna for the Hebrews in the wilderness. The art was primarily performance art, aided by the children of the church and the gathering baskets Caroline folded out of the homeless newspaper, Street Sense. The children gathered the “manna” that was spread all over the sanctuary–but just enough for the people in their families. They then piled it... Read more
There has, perhaps, not been a weekend in recent memory when it rained so hard for so long at such a continuous pace. It would stand to reason, then, that this weekend would be the weekend our family chose to go camping. My last experience camping in a tent (which was 17 years ago to be exact) caused such trauma that I can still remember exactly how miserable I was. Thank goodness that experience still looms large in my memory, otherwise... Read more
I just had to laugh when I first read this article in a link sent by a friend. Nothing surprising about it, really, but worth a moment of levity, for sure. Seems it’s causing a bigger stink than it really should be, as folks are discussing it in other places, too. So, in the true spirit of exacerbating an already ridiculous “controversy” (which is one of my favorite pasttimes, I confess) I would here like to post pictures of some... Read more
I suspect, though I am not sure exactly, that the extreme difficulty I had writing this week’s sermon was somehow related to the fact that its themes are particularly prominent in my own thinking about life and God and how the two relate. I like to write sermons, and I love the process of studying and creating–even though I struggle to fit enough time in my week every week to live that process. Although this has changed significantly over the... Read more
We tried an experiment this summer: easing into Wednesday night worship. It’s a big deal to start a new worship service, I kept thinking. Lots of work to organize people and come up with music, not to mention crafting a meaningful liturgy and getting the word out, too. But I’ve been surprised by my response to the experience, which actually has come together much more smoothly than I anticipated. I’m finding I don’t care so much about the music or... Read more
This week in worship we told the story of the Hebrews crossing the Red Sea from Exodus chapter 14. No matter how many times you tell it the story never loses its power. With the choir’s rendition of Wade in the Water echoing in our ears, we left worship yesterday to face whatever fears keep us from following God with courage and resolve. Again, the art on the altar told the story beautifully and powerfully. Here’s Caroline’s description from the... Read more
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