I look out my window today, and it is eerily silent. Not even a single bird has come to roost anywhere in my yard. My dog, Ava, does not even bother to look out the window where she normally gazes for long periods of time. 

All of these certainly are signs of a changing season and the arrival of autumn. I am sometimes asked…

 

-So what do we as Methodists believe about Halloween?

-Why is All Saints a Christian observance?

 

The answers I provide are Methodist answers to these questions, not Patti answers, but I do agree with them.

Before worship this last Sunday, there were many members who shared in a prayer walk around the church inviting the presence of the Holy Spirit to be present in every space and moment. Each of us walked silently in prayer covering various parts of the church knowing that within an hour those spaces would be filled with hearts for God. 

Archived Posts

Matthew 24: One More Thing...

I sometimes stumble on old documents I’ve created but have completely forgotten about.  I cannot remember why I created them or what purpose they were originally supposed to serve....

Keeping the Church Doors Unencumbered

        Sunday, we considered Jesus’ disruptive actions in the Temple in light of his frustration with keeping gentiles from worshipping in their designated courtyard.  We then reflected on how we still tend to throw up roadblocks to those who don’t normally attend church.  I found the following, but didn’t have space for it in the sermon.  It’s provocative and worth chewing on for a while.

What Was the Crowd Celebrating ​on Palm Sunday?

I came across this list which feels a little like a "Greatest Hits of Jesus' Ministry".  I share it with you today for your inspiration and edification.  Enjoy!

The Best Kind of Trouble-maker

 

        While working on this last week’s sermon I was looking through Phillip Yancey’s excellent book—The Jesus I Never Knew—when I came across a section that I found profound.  It didn’t quite fit my sermon, but it caught my eye enough that I copied it down.

Practical Tips To Avoid Judging Others

 

          When I research a sermon, such as Sunday’s message on judgmentalism, I always try to think through some practical steps or tips in how to implement God’s desire for our lives.  I rustled together a herd of ideas this week and I offer them to you.