My rough estimate is that we have experienced a 350 percent increase in children worshipping! I’m comparing the last three Sundays to the same three Sunday’s last year. The energy, vitality, and warmth of the 9:01 service are palpable.
Dr. Paul Tucker, Co-Director of Music Each year, at this time, I find myself struggling with conflicting thoughts. School is about to begin again, and while I know from past experience that I won’t hate every minute of my teaching job, I never really feel prepared for what is to come. I Read More...
Rev. Joe Walker, Minister of Congregational Care The automobile– it is quintessentially American, more so than apple pie. It appeals to both our personal and cultural love of “freedom.” It becomes an extension of our personality; frugal or flashy, safe or speedy. We can’t wait to start driving, counting the days to Read More...
You were only 68 years old. Now you are almost 100. I arrived fresh out of graduate school, eager and excited but with a gnawing doubt in the back of my mind...would the church in America actually survive another generation? My favorite scripture was the call from the prophet Micah who demanded Read More...
Lindsay Howes, Director of Children's Ministries We have been planning and talking and preparing for weeks now for the Creator’s Place for children during the 9:01 service. We were hesitant to commit to certain ideas or crafts or activities until we knew what to expect. Then finally, we realized, we were never Read More...
What we make space for says a lot about who we are. I realized this clearly as I packed up everything I own to move to a new state and into a tiny studio apartment.
I’m at St Benedict’s Monastery in Colorado. I longed to visit here for 32 years. When I heard Father Thomas Keating, the Abbot, present a guest lecture in graduate school I was mesmerized by his passionate approach to prayer and contemplation. Nestled in a wide valley surrounded by mountains, the monastery stretches the heart to inhale God’s boundless beauty.
By Paul Cutelli, Director of Technology Peace - /pēs/ - noun - freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility. In the tumult of everyday living, I have noticed I lack peace in my life. From the stresses of deadlines, troubling current events, dramas, and an inundation of information, I often find myself wanting to Read More...
These are all moments that help remind me why encouraging parents and families to bring children into worship is so important. Young, wiggly, energized worshippers are central to our church, to our congregation and most importantly to living God’s love.
Vacation begins with the word vacate. We begin by wrapping up at work or home and heading out of town. Set up a tent, take a flight, or get on a boat. Take leave. Get out.
Santa gave him his first guitar. We got him lessons. Then he wanted an electric guitar too. But after a few years he and his guitar teacher chose to fire each other. He sold both guitars. But as a freshman in high school, he picked up a friend's guitar and began to Read More...
By Dr. Dina Pannabecker Evans It’s a thrill for me to be able to share some recent, extraordinary musical experiences with you, thanks to the support of the Country Club Christian Church congregation. On July 3, we sponsored an organ concert as part of the American Guild of Organists National Convention, held Read More...
In the movie, Cool Hand Luke, there is a classic scene culminating with Paul Newman’s timeless line, “What we’ve got here is failure to communicate.” Pardon the grammar, and never mind the context; but I think the same could be said about our church’s annual Community Camp. (Shortly after coming on staff, Read More...
Though summer now feels 2/3 over, I still look forward to hours of uninterrupted reading while on study leave at a monastery in Colorado and some vacation time on the beach. While the bulk of study leave is devoted to mapping out sermons for the coming months, I also try to read Read More...
My mom drove us home in the snow. My infant son was buckled into his car seat. I sat in the passenger seat looking out the front windshield and it was like entering the world for the first time. Everything looked different now that I was responsible for raising this precious life Read More...
