church, church life, church renewal, gay, gay rights, LGBT, LGBTQ, mainline church, mainline churches, Midweek Vespers, small church, small churches, summer, vespers, videosLeave a comment

Vespers: Happy Pride

June 25, 2022 Dennis

What do LGBTQ people mean when they talk about pride? Continue reading Vespers: Happy Pride

church, church life, liberal christianity, liberal protestantism, mainline church, mainline churches, progressive christianity, progressivismLeave a comment

Podcast Clip: The Church as Truth Teller

June 18, 2022June 18, 2022 Dennis

The church needs to be a truthteller, which means the church is willing to speak the truth even if it means attacking sacred cows that people like. Continue reading Podcast Clip: The Church as Truth Teller

church, church life, church renewal, mainline church, mainline churches, Midweek Vespers, small church, small churches, summer, vespers, videosLeave a comment

Vespers: Every New Beginning Comes From Some Other’s Beginning’s End

June 17, 2022June 17, 2022 Dennis

The new beginning is coming and we give thanks. The old beginning is ending and we give thanks. Continue reading Vespers: Every New Beginning Comes From Some Other’s Beginning’s End

church, church life, church renewal, Disciples, disciples of christ, mainline church, mainline churches, Pentecost, sermons, small church, small churches1 Comment

Sermon: Carried by the Wind

June 17, 2022 Dennis

Why does Pentecost matter to us? Why do we celebrate it every year? Why does the Spirit coming like a wind matter? Continue reading Sermon: Carried by the Wind

civility, diversity, essays, inclusion, podcasts, politics, UncategorizedLeave a comment

We Have Some Healing To Do

February 21, 2022June 17, 2022 Dennis

Differences over ideology, sexuality and race were there 30 years ago, but there seems to have been more opportunities to come together and meet the other. Our modern self-selected society allows us to basically pick our friends instead of trying to build bridges with those who might be different. Continue reading We Have Some Healing To Do

church, church life, church renewal, mainline church, mainline churches, small church, small churchesLeave a comment

Visit a Ragamuffin Church

February 8, 2022 Dennis

We “church shop” just like we are buying cars. As I said, this doesn’t work well when it comes to finding a faith community, but this is how most people determine which church they are going to join. Continue reading Visit a Ragamuffin Church

church, church life, Disciples, disciples of christ, essays, musings, small church, small churchesLeave a comment

Table Talk: It’s Enough

February 7, 2022February 7, 2022 Dennis

At the end of the day, we are enough. Gideon teaches us that we are enough because God is enough. Continue reading Table Talk: It’s Enough

Donald Trump, epiphany, politics1 Comment

What Do Epiphany and January 6 Have in Common?

January 14, 2022June 17, 2022 Dennis

Donald Trump wanted power. Not unlike Herod, he was insecure. Trump wants nothing more than to be successful and he was willing to do anything, even if it meant weakening our democratic process. Continue reading What Do Epiphany and January 6 Have in Common?

podcasts, race, race relations, racism, theologyLeave a comment