Pastor/Mother
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A Sunday (37) in Life of a Pastor/Mother: Blessings
For the past nine years I served at my church, I have counted my blessings, especially as they have changed and made space for me to pastor while being a mother. When my son was born, he was one of few babies born. It’s hard to believe eight years later, we have had 10 babies…
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A Sunday (36) in Life of a Pastor/Mother: Death & Sex
So this past week has been quite a busy week. Not that every week isn’t busy, but this past week seemed to be quite eventful. Both personally and in ministry, it’s been a fine balance between death and well rebirth or in the case of sea monkeys – sex and lots of it. You see,…
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A Sunday (35) in Life of a Pastor/Mother: RIP
Today was the last day that children’s sermons take up space in worship. Beginning next Sunday, worship will move to being more intergenerational. These next two months, we will experiment with music, seating layout, preaching styles, and liturgy. We will explore ways that are inviting to all ages, extroverted and introverted, cerebral and tactile, and…
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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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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 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…
Still Waters 