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A Sunday (34) in Life of a Pastor/Mother: Roller Coasters
I love roller coasters, especially the old ones where the tracks are still made out of wood. As you ride you can hear the wood warping and creaking at every turn. Don’t get me wrong, I like the new ones too that whip you in circles and up and down. The problem is I’m the…
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A Sunday (33) in Life of a Pastor/Mother: Not Drinking the Water
Every summer at my church, it seems a handful of babies are born or about to be born. With 160 members and 90 children, you would think that there is something in the water or maybe the coffee we serve during fellowship hour. It is not unusual to hear the noises of babies and wandering…
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UNCO Your Church, Presbytery, and Denomination
Originally posted on The Presbyterian Leader on August 9, 2012 . . . I recently wrote a blog post about age and power which seemed to have touched a nerve. First, let me clarify and reiterate what the blog post was about and what it wasn’t about. “young” – again, I wasn’t just referring to…
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A Sunday (32) in Life of a Pastor/Mother: Sabbath
Today was one of my first Sundays off in a long time. By “Sundays off,” I mean not checking emails while away and not replying until I get back; I mean it not being a travel day while I fly to a conference, a meeting, or a gathering. Today was a true day off. What…
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A PCUSA Open Letter to the Old regarding the Young from Someone in the Middle
Dear Old, First let me define what I mean by “old.” In some regards I am referring to age, considering an overwhelming majority of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. denomination is . . . well, old. However, I am also referring to one’s longevity and history with this particular denomination as well – cradle Presbyterians, Presbyterians…
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A Sunday (31) in Life of a Pastor/Mother: 39 Eve
It is exactly a week away before I turn 39 years old – the last year of my 30’s. And though I thought I would approach 40 with trepidation, I feel myself running towards it. This has been an incredible decade. I was installed as pastor at 30 and soon morphed into a pastor/mother at…
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A Sunday (30) in Life of a Pastor/Mother: Middle School
This past week I have been a pastor/mother on the road. Instead of preaching at my own church, I have spent the last four days with 650 middle schoolers at Montreat Middle School Conference. It was a wonderful experience working with the leadership team and planning team. Although my kids are still young, these middle…
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A Sunday (29) in Life of a Pastor/Mother: Children’s Sermons
Children sermons – I hate them. Hate may seem too harsh of a word to use, after all, I do like sermons and I do like children . . . but put them together and I loathe them. I have always dreaded doing them ever since I was in seminary and had to do them…
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A Sunday (28) in Life of a Pastor/Mother: Hangover
After returning the night before from a long nine day trip in Pittsburgh where I attended the 220th General Assembly, Sunday was painful. And yet, I had to get up, get the kids dressed, and head over to the church. My Head of Staff was smart in getting that day off, but at least I…
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In the Middle: Intersection between Age & Wisdom
Photo by Dan Meyer I am a member of the Committee to Review Biennial Assemblies. This committee was tasked to research and suggest changes to the 220th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. We surveyed hundreds of past General Assembly commissioners and staff, asking them what message would they like to convey to this…
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Still Waters 