Dear Caldwell, Today is Holy Saturday, the second day of what the church calls the Tridium, the three day period from sunset on Maundy Thursday to sunset on Easter Sunday. Taken together as part of Holy Week, the commemorate the full cycle of Christ’s journey from Cross to Resurrection. Some like to debate where the risen Christ was on …
Dear Caldwell, Last night we celebrated communion and were fed by the Spirit – in bread and cup, in song and prayer, in scripture and sermon. We ended the evening on the front lawn as we draped the cross in black and I said the words, “Death does not get the last word.” Today, as …
Dear Caldwell, On this Maundy Thursday, we gather this evening to share communion and remember Christ’s “mandate” (thus, Maundy) to love and serve one another with humility and to remember his sacrifice. I hope you can come to tonight’s service at 7:30. It is always very powerful and helps us enter into the tomb with …
On Sunday, we dived into the deep end by taking a quick walk through various ideas and understandings of atonement. Break that word down and it reveals its meaning. How do we, as broken and sinful beings in a busted world, reach a state of being “at one” with our Lord?
Dear Caldwell, Life in ministry is always full and most of it is life-giving. Of all of its roles and responsibilities, I cherish pastoral care with members in a special way. Lately I have been richly blessed by some quiet time with member Janie Lownes. Some of you may remember Janie from when she first …
Dear Caldwell, Remember the old radio announcer Paul Harvey? His rich, deep voice and distinctive, halting Staccato-style delivery fit his ability to tell a story. Listeners hung on for every word, especially after he said, “And now, the REST of the story ….” From that point, whatever story he was telling or covering would take …
Dear Caldwell, With all that is dismaying in the world around us, how about some good news for a change? First of all, I am always lifted up when a bunch of college kids pass up on going to the beach on spring break and, instead, give of themselves for others. We’re delighted to welcome the Georgia …
Dear Caldwell, I enjoyed talking to this year’s confirmation class last Sunday about Jesus the Christ. We filled out a fictional Facebook profile for Jesus, that prompted us to consider: What did Jesus look like? What was his “occupation” and what were his “achievements?” Who were his friends and family? What is his relationship is to …
Dear Caldwell, Anne Hunter Eidson and I fell into a great bargain opportunity to attend the NEXT Church Conference in Atlanta this week. We both come home with notebooks full of notes, ideas, contacts and opportunities to share. I thought I might share a few here to give you a taste of our experience and …
Justice is the body of love. Love is the soul of justice. Justice is the flesh of love. Love is the spirit of justice. You separate them, you don’t get either. You get a moral corpse. – Fa. John Dominic Crossan Dear Caldwell, As Presbyterians, we make it a habit to confess our faith. …
