Glory of Zion: A Whirling Dervish of a Service

Last updated on: May 25, 2017 at 11:22 am By Christy Thomas

Glory of Zion: The songs, repetitive in nature, continued during the healing, the congregation hearing and singing over and over again, “You are holy,” or “Lord I want you to move me.” “Hover, hover, hover, hover, hover.” Over and over, the 24 piece band led the singing of “Hover” as the people danced, some collapsing in utter ecstasy, fainting in their seats. The flags and ribbons twirled while the African-influenced rhythmic music pounded. The congregation prayed and sang with passionate... Read more

Don't Tell Me Little Boys Can't Sit Still for Worship

Last updated on: October 29, 2014 at 3:10 pm By Christy Thomas

They sold 650 tickets, and it looked like every one showed up at the Episcopal Church of the incarnation in Dallas. Within minutes of the 3:45 door opening, the high-arched, stone-floored sanctuary of this Gothic revival church was nearly filled. The concert began at 4:30, and I felt for the late comers, even though I had been sitting by then for 45 minutes on the uncushioned dark wood pews. The discomfort would be worth it. I’d heard this particular group... Read more

Denton Mystery Worship Six: A Nearly Perfect Experience

Last updated on: May 25, 2017 at 11:34 am By Christy Thomas

“The hour and forty minute service passed as though I had been there only a few moments.” Both my companions and I had the same reaction after discovering that the people of Friendship Baptist Church in The Colony actually lived up to their name, offering friendly greetings, hugs, handshakes and an experience of deep worship on Oct. 19, 2014. I had picked that church for this week’s visit primarily by time and location, needing an early service in eastern Denton... Read more

Why the UMC is Such a Dismal Failure at Church Planting #UMC

Last updated on: October 15, 2014 at 2:08 pm By Christy Thomas

It was a moment of amazing clarity as I suddenly saw why the United Methodist Church has such a dismal record creating successful church plants. I am defining “successful” as a plant that is showing extensive growth to the point of needing to plant satellite campuses within a few years, has a number of young adults and children participating in it, and is financially self-sustaining. A little history here: Even before I retired from my full-time appointment, I had long... Read more

Denton Mystery Worship Five: Sound Bites and Church Plants

Last updated on: October 15, 2014 at 10:05 am By Christy Thomas

They needed 14 million two years ago; this past Sunday, they only needed 2.4 million to see their vision come fully to life. Two years ago, the leadership of Valley Creek Church (http://valleycreek.org/), based in Flower Mound, announced an ambitious plan: double the space in Flower Mound, open a Denton location, and set up a school in New Delhi, India to train local church planters. This past Sunday, October 12, was the two year missional anniversary of that vision and... Read more

Did the Rapture Take Place? LDS Visitors Non-Welcome

Last updated on: May 26, 2017 at 9:59 am By Christy Thomas

Now, my intrepid companion and I on these church visits had spent quite a bit of time on the LDS website trying to figure out where and when to visit. Too bad all the info was nearly completely inaccessible to the non-Mormon. “Oh my goodness, the Rapture took place and we’ve been left behind!” That was our first response when driving into the parking lot of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) on Teasley Road this... Read more

The Church's Gay Obsession and Our Hypocrisies #UMC

Last updated on: October 6, 2014 at 10:01 am By Christy Thomas

I simply stole that headline, “The Church’s Gay Obsession” from this superb editorial in the October 5, 2014, edition of the New York Times. Frank Bruni speaks eloquently of the Catholic church’s decisions to fire various teachers and leaders in Catholic schools and parishes because they were either in same-sex relationships or decided to marry their same-sex partners in states where they could do so legally. When such actions are glibly justified by those saying things like, “They knew the rules of... Read more

"Shabbat Shalom" Reform Judaism and Progressive Christianity #UMC

Last updated on: September 16, 2017 at 1:50 pm By Christy Thomas

I was delighted when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” (Psalm 122, NKJV) And so I was. Last week, I was in New York City enjoying a mini-reunion with a couple of people who had attended Rice University the same time as I. My hostess, a Jewish woman, and hearing that I was visiting varied worship services, said, “Do you want to go to shul with me tonight?” I immediately accepted, so at... Read more

The Frozen Chosen and the AME Church

Last updated on: May 26, 2017 at 10:47 am By Christy Thomas

Trinity Presbyterian Church, 2200 N. Bell Ave, Denton, shuttered its doors on Sunday, September 21, 2014. Anyone seeking to worship there would have found an empty parking lot, no greeters, no worship about to begin. Instead, the members and choir of this Anglo “frozen chosen” Presbyterian Church headed over to the Saint James African Methodist Episcopal Church, 107 East Oak Street. The previous Friday, the members of the two churches had gathered for a potluck dinner and a viewing “When... Read more

Denton Bible Church: The Subtle Seduction

Last updated on: May 26, 2017 at 11:07 am By Christy Thomas

I felt the subtle seduction of this perfect and orderly world of Denton Bible Church pulling at me the whole time I was there. In fact, I was very nearly hypnotized by it. A lovely woman greeted me and my friend after the 9 am worship service at Denton Bible Church, located on University Drive east of TWU. She eagerly asked, “What did you think about it?” I hesitated for a moment, looking for the right words to express my... Read more