When I was sixteen, I wrecked one of our family’s two cars. It was an old Volkswagen and, while it didn’t represent a huge monetary loss, it was a big deal in my development. As I stood by the car which was mashed into a tree off the side of the road, some things my […]
Blog
Kick-Off Sunday!
Sunday school for all ages resumes on Sept. 10th from 9:15am-10:15am. There are several choices of classes for adults. Sunday school for children and youth will also begin that day. To celebrate the kick-off, we will have a hot dog lunch & rides after the 10:30am service
Three Paths to Growth
Three Paths to Growth There are three basic ways that we grow, an older wisdom teaches: Catastrophic Event; Spiritual Awakening; Psychotherapy or Spiritual Direction. The first two are thrust upon us and then require some time and effort on our part. The third path to growth is an intentional response to a yearning or […]
Pastoral Care
Pastoral Care is one aspect of parish ministry that really cannot be done well enough or is ever entirely finished. The physical and spiritual needs of a large group of people, or even one person for that matter, are always changing. Once one need is met, another arises. Like any relationship, the work done in […]
Technology and Prayer
Technology and Prayer Many are the woes of modern technology. Being constantly available wears on us as there is less and less down time. Our attention spans seem much shorter as our phones and pads tempt us to jump from one bit of information to another. Families have a harder and harder time actually […]
Blessing of the Backpacks-August 13
Each year, right before school resumes, we take a few minutes during the 10:30am service to honor everyone who’s heading out to school with our “Blessing of the Backpacks”. So if you’re heading to school for the first time or the 12th time, bring your backpack, laptop case, etc. and we’ll take a couple of […]
Tribalism
Over the years, as I have attended and led Youth Group meetings, I have watched teenagers walk into a room and gravitate toward people they already know. If we allowed it teenagers would divide into their little groups and not have much to do with anyone except those they go to school with or feel […]
Don’t GO TO Church…
Don’t GO TO Church… In this part of the country, it is very common to ask the question, “Where do you go to church?” In some ways that question reveals what is good about our southern culture. Going to church is encouraged, even expected. I like that. Going to church is a healthy practice, […]
Rocky Top
What do you do when you fall off a cliff? When the rug gets pulled out from under you and you begin a free fall that spirals and circles into blackness until you don’t know which way is up or have any sense of direction? How do you push through life when your faith takes […]
Outreach Grants of $110,000
On June 19 the Vestry approved the recommendations made by the Outreach Grants Committee, chaired by Charlie Harris. Grants of $110,000 were made and will be distributed September 1 to the following ministries in our area which involve many volunteer opportunities as well. Applications this year totaled $228,660. These groups are carefully researched by our […]