This weekend, Mother’s Day, while joy-filled for many is full of anxiety for others. If you’re in the anxiety producing camp, know I am with you. It’s so hard to have complicated feelings about the mothers in your life. It’s so hard to have longings for children (or relationships) unfulfilled. Or to be grieving when …
church
Do You Have the Courage to Show Up?
Do you have the courage to show up to hard conversations? It’s no secret that courage is in high demand in these times we’re living in. In our polarized everything culture right now, it’s so easy to un-follow our social media “friends” who don’t believe as we do. It’s easy to worship, work and play only …
Why Are You Silent?
My dear, Christian friends, why are you silent? I can’t seem to get the question off my mind. ________ I, like so many of you, found my heart and mind in a tail spin on Wednesday when by a tweet our President declared a new military policy. A policy that called our transgender brothers and …
How to be Kind on Father’s Day
Do you think your church is kind on Father’s Day? Most of us would say, yes, of course! Yet, for men who long to be fathers and are not, for any who have a difficult relationship with their biological father, or those who’ve lost their fathers too soon, Sundays like Father’s Day can feel brutal. ESPECIALLY …
Learning from the “I’m Spiritual But Not Religious”
A sermon preached at North Chevy Chase Christian Church in conversation with James 1:17-27 “I’m Spiritual but not Religious” is among the most commonly cited reason why people don’t come to church. Over the years, I’ve heard: “Pastor, I don’t think I need to come to church. I’d rather commute with God by watching the …
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“You Should Really Be in the Church, Full-Time”
Such is the start of several conversations I’ve had lately with folks who wonder why I’m not serving one particular church, full-time. “But you’re good at it. Why would you not?” “The church needs you. Why are you keeping your gifts from it by not applying for ___ job?” “Did you really go to seminary …
Some Not So Great Excuses
These are busy days around our household for as many of you know in addition to having a new baby around the house and putting the final touches on launching my book, Birthed, I’ve been serving a short-term pastorate at North Chevy Chase Christian Church in Chevy Chase, MD. I began there in July and …
What the Church Can Learn from Twitter
“You should really try Twitter, Elizabeth. It’s a good networking tool for the church.” Such were the words from a communications professional friend. In 2008, they fell on my deaf ears. My distant impression of twitter was a bunch of people saying: “I had a peanut butter sandwich for lunch.” Who really cared? I just …
How Long Will You Grieve?
A sermon preached at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Christian Church, Reston, VA on the occasion of Rev. Dr. Jean Robinson-Casey’s anniversary as pastor 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13 A kindergarten teacher gave her class a “show and tell” assignment. She said: bring something to school tomorrow that represents your religion. The first child got in front …
I Need the Church and the Church Needs Me
“Instructions for living a life. Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.” -Mary Oliver After I left my position as pastor in December of 2012 to follow Kevin to Oklahoma and his work with Feed the Children, I thought I might never hold an official position at a church again. Much like I’d given up …
Why Do People Leave the Church?
When you go from being the associate pastor to the lead pastor in a congregation, there’s one huge dynamic that changes. You pay close attention to the numbers on the membership roles. Everybody wants to know is the church growing or isn’t it? Everybody wants to know why so and so hasn’t been to church …
4 Things Congregations Need from their Pastor
In my life, I’ve seen the pastor/ congregational relationship from many different angles: Growing up as the child of pastor from birth Serving several congregations as a student intern Leading a congregation as both an associate and senior minister Visiting congregations as an ordained pastor without a church In these situations, I’ve heard a lot …