Dear Caldwell, I am a pastor because of my mother. There is a lot more to it. My sense of call, of course, traces ultimately to God. I am sure of that. But the initial nudge came from God’s agent, Gwen Cleghorn. I was in my late 20s, trying to decide what to do after …
Dear Caldwell, I can’t tell you how good it is to be back in the Caldwell community. I arrived back in Charlotte mid-day yesterday and went straight to the hospital to see someone, then to a staff meeting, handled some timely correspondence and then to the session meeting, getting home about 9. Call me strange, …
Dear Caldwell, On the eve of my last day for this January session of my doctorate study, I finally have a few minutes to write. I have missed you all and look forward to seeing you soon. You have been in my thoughts during the day and my prayers at night. These two weeks of intensive …
Dear Caldwell, As the sun falls on this Day of Epiphany, I hope the Light of the world has shined on you today, illumining your way. On Sunday, I quoted one author who said Epiphany, the “manifestation” of God in the Christ child we welcomed in Christmas, invites us to “perceive and participate” in what …
Dear Caldwell, “How was your Christmas?” By now, most, if not all, of us have answered that question. We may have reported on travel to see family, any special traditions we follow or maybe even a gift that stands out. These exchanges are all part of being in relationship with others – our friends, …
Dear Caldwell, “For lo! The days are hastening on . . . .” This line of poetry from “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear” speaks to how Advent “hastens” to its close tonight – but also how the world is hastening on to the completion of the Kingdom of God. With all the world’s troubles, …
Dear Caldwell, I wrote to you yesterday to say that I would be sharing a few lines of some familiar – and not-so-familiar – Advent and Christmas hymns as we count down to our Christmas Eve service Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. Today, I’m going with the familiar – in part, because it is never too …
Dear Caldwell, Music – in its many forms – is an essential part of our faith. This time each Advent, I come again and again to appreciate the depth and meaning of the hymns of Advent and Christmas and how they capture our hope and waiting. As we travel from Sunday to Sunday – with …
Dear Caldwell, The world could use a little hope, couldn’t it? From the anger and unease so many of us feel over racial injustice, to the war that still tears at too many countries, to the poverty that sucks life from too many homes, right down to the individual burdens each of us carries, hope …
Dear Caldwell, It is good to be back – back at home, back in the office, back in the arms of the Caldwell community. I’ve appreciated your thoughts and prayers as my family has gotten my mother back home and settled for now. Driving home yesterday, I enjoyed listening to an audio file of Susan …
