Dear Caldwell, The Sunday-to-Monday transition can often be a bit neck-wrenching but the transition after Easter Sunday can be particularly precipitous. The world is already rushing on, to whetever degree it paused, to the Royal Wedding (ugh), the violent oppression in Syria, the Washington budget debate, etc. , etc. etc. Yesterday is worth holding on to. …
Dear Caldwell, “The sun’s light failed ….” That is how the Gospel of Luke describes the weather upon Jesus’ death. In Charlotte today, with the sun shrouded by the clouds, the weather would seem to want to keep us in a contemplative mood, appropriate for remembering the darkness of Jesus’ tomb a little while longer. …
Dear Caldwell, Last night a few dozen of us gathered for the Maundy Thursday/Tenebrae service. It was as moving as any I recall here, punctuated by Thomas Moore’s beautiful musical accompaniment of the drama, Veronica’s poignant message about a sacramental life and communion at table. Thanks to all who contributed to its meaningfulness. It seemes …
Dear Caldwell, Today at the Elizabeth Communities of Faith worship service, Mercy Hospital Chaplain Barbara Bullock offered a thought-provoking message about how we might think of these days that make up the first half of Holy Week. The events of the second half of Holy Week are well known – the last supper, Jesus’ agony …
Dear Caldwell, Holy Week begins Sunday with Palm Sunday. It is a week of extremes, a week that calls us to explore the full range of our faith, its depth and its breadth, as we reconcile ourselves, each in our own way, to what the world did to Christ. It begins, of course, with Jesus …
Dear Caldwell, Whew. It’s been two weeks since I last posted. A blur of a fortnight, but God has given us all plenty of good things with which to be busy here. Let me catch you up on a few: A terrific group of folks became members of the congregation last week. That’s them in …
Dear Caldwell, After last week’s wonderful adventure in bilingual worship, we return this week to our Lenten Walk and the series of sermons on Christian traditions that stem from Jesus Christ’s own habits. This week we will consider the Holiness tradition/discipline, which author Richard Foster calls the life of virtue. The central questions for us Sunday: …
Dear Caldwell, A week ago I began this blog noting the events of that morning, the earthquake and tsunami that hit the coast of Japan. It’s been a harrowing week since. Today, I heard a news anchor interviewing a psychologist about the emotional impact of the disaster; they were talking about the Japanese, but on …
Dear Caldwell, I’ve mentioned to you before that I grew up hearing Paul Harvey on the radio, with his signature approach to story telling that emphasized the importance of the “rest of the story.” Tomorrow, as the Elizabeth Communities of Faith gather for Lenten worship noon at Hawthorne Lane United Methodist, we are presented with …
Dear Caldwell, On days that begin as this one did, it’s hard to think ahead. The events in Japan and on our shores will make for an unfolding story throughout the weekend. It may seem like Sunday is further away than usual this Friday. Then again, it’s on days like this when we look forward …
