Today I took a Sunday off to travel to Richmond with my family to hear Jim Somerville preach his candidacy sermon and accept the pastorate of First Baptist Richmond. The congregation of First Baptist Church of Richmond voted Jim in unanimously. What a wonderful opportunity for Jim, Christy and family. How sad for our city to be losing such an amazing pastoral presence. It’s a happy sad day. Read more
I love it when the perfect sermon illustration comes along just at the right time. I love it when that happens. However, that most certainly did not happen the third week of Lent, when I struggled and struggled to find a way to engage the congregation and the text in a way that had some sort of meaning. Part of the problem, of course, was, honestly, the passage. Jesus and the Samaritan woman have this amazing encounter, full of layers and... Read more
As one who does not own an ipod I am in the minority in my family (and, it seems, in the world). It’s not that I have a moral objection to ipods, it’s just-it seems overwhelming to me, this choosing of a personal soundtrack. Maybe that sounds ridiculous but it’s true: I watched dear friends Kevin and Elizabeth Hagan make an exhaustive list of music for their wedding, after all, and all I could think was that I was so... Read more
Witness my excellent birthday present from a colleague: Read more
Yorkie Puppy—$350, male/female, 12 weeks yrs old, 202-347-8355 Price: $350 Date Listed: Feb 14 2008 Category: Dogs Breed: Yorkshire Terrier Sex: Female, Male Age: Baby Yorkie Puppy—$350, male/female, 12 weeks yrs old, 202-347-8355 Classified ad from the Washington Post Express today. Great, if you want a Yorkie puppy. Not so great if you list the phone number of Calvary Baptist Church. Nevertheless, we’ve developed a brilliant outreach strategy. Colleague Mary suggested everyone answering the telephone point out: “Have you thought... Read more
It seems a little strange that a small pile of dirt gives me such comfort, but it happens to me every single year. Since we Baptists don’t generally do the Ash Wednesday thing the experience of the ashes is pretty new for me. Because of my historical unfamiliarity with the rite, every year it seems that some kind of logistical hilarity ensues. (I’ve never had an experience quite like my colleague Elizabeth’s, but you know what I mean.) Thank goodness... Read more
Calvary showed the documentary film For the Bible Tells Me So last Sunday afternoon. We’d done quite a bit of publicity about the film but even we were shocked when 250 people showed up for the film and subsequent panel discussion. Originally we thought we’d show the film to our deacons as part of an ongoing conversation in our community of faith, a continuing discernment of how God’s Spirit is working in our midst. The interesting thing I’ve found, though,... Read more
It was his sermon title but, I have to tell you, I got complaints later after I got back to church. “I was so excited! A 15-word sermon! We’re sure to be out of there early.” Well, if they had shared that expectation with me ahead of time I would have told them that I’ve never heard Jim Somerville contain himself to 15 words under any circumstances . . . . Sunday the pastor of First Baptist Church of Washington,... Read more
I’m still muttering under my breath from time to time: “Why didn’t they have something like this when I was graduating from seminary??!?!?!” What a great idea to offer young ministers a hands on experience in the parish since we all know . . . most of what a pastor experiences at work was never covered in seminary–it takes hard time on the ground to learn the real stuff. The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s Initiative for Ministerial Excellence is offering ministry... Read more
I’ve been thinking about confession lately. Lent, as you know, is almost upon us. This year at Calvary we’re spending a few weeks learning how to confess-the value of sharing our challenges, fears, failures with others and mostly, with God . . . as a blessed way of unburdening our heavy, heavy souls. To help us do that together in Sunday worship I’ve been on the prowl for creative ways to experience corporate confession (Do you have a suggestion? Share!... Read more
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