End of Semester

Now that finals week is finally winding down, I have a little more time for things like this blog. I wanted to share some reflections on my first semester in the MDiv program at Duke. It’s taken me a long time to come to the conclusion that God’s calling me to ministry, but [...]

You Are the Reason for the Season, A Sermon

You Are the Reason for the Season
Isaiah 11:1-10
Second Sunday of Advent, 2007
Can’t you just feel it? Can’t you just feel the excitement building? Can’t you just smell it in the air, taste it on your tongue? Christmas is coming! The lights, the ornaments, the tasty treats, the songs, the presents…and most of [...]

Behold the Lamb of God

United Methodists claim to believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, and although we may be reluctant to specify exactly how Christ is present in the Supper (neither trans- nor con-substantiation, but a “mystery”), we can still say that to receive the bread and wine is to receive Jesus. Thus, would [...]

Monks’ Bread and the Bread of Life

At the Abbey of the Genessee, a Trappist monastery in the finger lakes region of New York, the monks bake bread in observance of St. Benedict’s motto: Ora et Labora. Since the bakery and the chapel are both in the same building, the smell of fresh bread permeates the sanctuary and mingles with [...]

Saint Joseph the Worker

Yesterday was the feast of St. Joseph the Worker, so I thought I’d post something in his honor. Since May first is also the birthday of the Catholic Worker as well as the original “Labor Day,” I’ll post a litany for workers:

O Jesus, worker and carpenter from Nazareth, on this Labor [...]

Done and Done

I finished my Th.M. thesis today, and although it probably isn’t my best piece of writing, at least it’s done. Thank God. Now I can sleep…and do the laundry.
If anybody feels like reading it, I’ll post it in a few days.

Catholic and Methodist?

Recently I’ve been thinking about the possibility of identifying myself as a “Methodist Catholic.” I’ve never been able to understand why Protestant denominations call themselves “churches”, and I’ve been a Proddy my whole life. Every week (at least in my Methodist church) we recite the Apostles’ or Nicene Creed which affirms that we [...]

Christ is Risen, Indeed He is Risen!

Christ is risen from the dead,
trampling down death by death,
and upon those in the tombs bestowing life.
“You that have kept the fast, and you that have not, rejoice today for the Table is richly laden! Feast royally on it… Let no one go away hungry. Partake, all, of the cup of faith. Enjoy all the [...]

Receiving Jesus

Jesus told his disciples that “whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me” (Mark 9:37). How often do we think of “receiving Jesus” in this way? Do we welcome the children in our lives? Do we really [...]