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Elizabeth Hagan

Preacher on the Plaza

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New Book Coming 2020!

I’m so excited to tell you today that there will be a new book with my name on coming your way in 2020. After writing my first book, Birthed, y’all kept asking, when the next one? So many of you felt the ending of Birthed didn’t fully satisfy your curiosity for what came next in …

New Book Coming 2020!Read More

Need a Inclusive Prayer for Mother’s Day?

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 …

Need a Inclusive Prayer for Mother’s Day?Read More

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 …

Do You Have the Courage to Show Up?Read More

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 …

Why Are You Silent?Read More

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 …

How to be Kind on Father’s DayRead More

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 …

Learning from the “I’m Spiritual But Not Religious”Read More

“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 …

“You Should Really Be in the Church, Full-Time”Read More

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 …

Some Not So Great ExcusesRead More

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 …

What the Church Can Learn from TwitterRead More

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 …

How Long Will You Grieve?Read More

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 …

I Need the Church and the Church Needs MeRead More

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 …

Why Do People Leave the Church?Read More

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Inspiration

“Here is the World: beautiful and terrible things will happen. Do not be afraid.”
-Frederick Buechner

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Recent Posts

The Fires of Pentecost
You’ve Got This: Persevere
Just stop with all the nationalism: don’t celebrate the 4th of July in church
New Book Coming 2020!
Why This Straight Pastor Supports Gay Pride
Rabbi Debbie’s Infertility Story: You Are Not a Statistic
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