Our vision is to partner in spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. Our mission is to work together in ways that promote healthy congregations and effective leaders in every place, making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
Background: This past week I got to join some of our sisters and brothers at The Duke Endowment-sponsored Rural Church Convocation. Great event. Three times I heard reviewed information about how clergy—along with the folks who serve in other human-service-intensive callings—can focus their lives in ways that help them thrive. The good news, of course,… Continue Reading→
You’ve probably gathered that I often write these articles out of experience. Remembering Mr. Wesley’s dictum that our own personal experience can “guide us into grace,” I am going to assume that it is Grace itself that leads me to share these musings. Because this is going to get real. I have been asked to… Continue Reading→
Recently, I went to the house of some neighbors who had been bereaved earlier that day by the death of a mother. I don’t know the folks well; we’ve been in the same neighborhood for only about 10 months. They plainly don’t get what I do (the pastor thing) though I’ve invited them… Continue Reading→
I was not taught how to pray. Except by my parents’ example. We did pray as a family and I was taught to pray every night before I went to bed. But no one taught me how to pray. That didn’t happen until I was in div school and realized that while I was being… Continue Reading→
Before I offer these musings I have to give so many conditionals that I almost didn’t write this article. I know moving is hard: physically, emotionally and in every other way. It is also exciting: new people, new opportunities, new challenges. It is also grief and anxiety provoking. It is demanding on families: new jobs,… Continue Reading→
I have a friend who must use that phrase 500 times a day. She’s a straightforward person who has learned – the hard way I gather – to cushion some of what she bluntly observes with the qualifying words, “I’m just saying.” I’ve always taken her to mean that she’s stating what she knows or… Continue Reading→
This week’s article is a commercial, an advertisement and reminder, of several of the major things The Capital District will be doing this summer to better equip ourselves as disciples. An ad or commercial is a great thing; it’s a preview of coming attractions. Please make a note of these; I’ll see you at most… Continue Reading→
This Pentecost I heard an excellent message by a lay member of the church where I worshiped. He talked about what the gift of the Holy Spirit means to us as individuals and how we should live in the Spirit. About one-third of the way into his sermon, however, he made a huge and wonderful… Continue Reading→
This Easter Season I’ve been blessed to worship in a variety of the local churches of our district. I got to hear the end of a youth Sunday School class a few weeks ago and want to share my version of the lesson they had that teaches me a great deal about myself and what… Continue Reading→