Many years ago I worked at a summer camp for a church in Atlanta. As a part of my job, I was in charge of daily chapel services for our campers. Somewhere along the way, I decided to let the campers lead these services every Thursday. Each week I chose a different camper group to lead … Continued
This week I came across an essay written by Richard Rohr. He began with: The word change normally refers to new beginnings. But the mystery of transformation more often happens not when something new begins, but when something old falls apart. The pain of something old falling apart—chaos—invites the soul to listen at a deeper level, and sometimes forces … Continued
Our postlude for this Sunday’s online worship service is an arrangement for organ entitled “Variants on ‘ST. ANNE.’” ST. ANNE is the tune, or melody, name that we use to sing the hymn “O God, Our Help in Ages Past.” The composer of this tune is presumed to be William Croft. However, the first time it appeared … Continued
This weekend I took a break courtesy of Disney+. I spent HOURS watching (and rewatching) Hamilton. I was captured by the bravado of four friends ready to change the world, by Eliza’s heartbreaking journey of forgiveness and by the comedy of King George III. I was awed by the creative genius of Lin-Manuel Miranda and was carried … Continued
just to be alive on this fresh morning in this broken world. I beg of you, do not walk by without pausing to attend to this rather ridiculous performance. It could mean something. It could mean everything. It could be what Rilke meant, when he wrote: You must change your life. from Devotions by Mary … Continued
17 While all Israel were crossing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, until the entire nation finished crossing over the Jordan.Joshua 3:17, NRSV “Deep River” is an African-American spiritual whose words are simple. They speak of home, of … Continued
Yesterday I walked to the end of my driveway to find. . . a phone book. A phone book was a staple of my youth. You absolutely needed one of these things in the 80’s. Contained in-between the covers were the phone numbers for your neighbors, a listing of all the mechanics in your community, … Continued
In Psalm 86:12, David says “I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever” (NRSV). As we worship this Sunday, June 21, 2020, much of the music in Greystone’s online service was selected to help us do as David did, to glorify the name … Continued
Summer Break. We made it? The anxiety of remote learning for this middle school family has finally released its grip. Gone (at least for a little while) are the weekly assignments; we no longer have to remember the 2,036 internet login codes for different learning platforms; our schedules are not dictated by a complicated and … Continued
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23, NRSV Thomas O. Chisholm (1866-1960) penned more than 1200 poems, including the hymns “Living for Jesus” and “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.” The latter was written in 1923 while Chisholm, … Continued