St. John’s Lenten Conversation Her stories are known for their shocking violence and their seedy, white-trash atmospherics, but Flannery O’Connor led a most devout, well-regulated and conventional life on a Middle Georgia dairy farm. “Many of my ardent admirers would be roundly shocked and disturbed,” O’Connor wrote, “if they realized that everything I believe is [...]
Lent marks the 40 days that lead to Easter Sunday. Lent is about embracing a downward movement of the soul. Ash Wednesday—February 13—marks the beginning of Lent. “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” With these words, we are reminded of our sinfulness and creaturely mortality. St. John’s will have three [...]
Advent begins next Sunday, December 2nd. Here are some of the ways St. John’s will be focusing on Advent (besides our regular Sunday worship): Holy Eucharist on Wednesdays at noon during Advent in the sanctuary of Christ UMC. December 8th-Caroling at the Claiborne-Hughes Nursing Home December 11th-Serving at “The Manger”, GraceWorks Christmas Store December 24th-Our [...]
Advent begins this Sunday, December 2. Advent is an invitation to be subversive, to live counter to the great powers of our age–frenetic activity, marketing, consumerism–that dominate this time of year, in favor of preparing our heart to receive the Lord. What are some ways that you can live subversively during Advent? Embrace Waiting A [...]
In Advent, we focus on three “comings” of Christ: his arrival in history as a baby born to Mary, his return in fearsome glory at the end of time and his intermediate entrance into our own lives. During Advent we are engaged by the prophets of Israel–Isaiah, Zephaniah, Micah, Malachi–and their messianic visions. We are [...]
I hope this message finds you enjoying your summer! Despite these record hot temperatures, I know many of you are enjoying trips and vacations; my prayer is that those times will be restorative. I’m writing to keep you updated on the status of our new affiliation with The Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). I [...]
Here is the announcement of our new meeting time: Dear Church, About three weeks ago I mentioned to you that the Parish Council was seeking the Lord through prayer and counsel as to whether it was time to move to Sunday evenings at 4 or 5 pm as a transition to finding a more permanent [...]
In 1985, Laura and I moved to Nashville to give oversight to a campus ministry at Vanderbilt University. We began attending St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church in Nashville. Initially, I was quite skeptical; it seemed “too catholic” to me, but the pastoral staff embraced us and affirmed our ministry at Vanderbilt. Eventually I was drawn to [...]
I have been in vocational ministry for almost 30 years, having served with three different parachurch ministries and the pastoral staff of a large Presbyterian church. In 2001, I consciously became an Anglican, and was ordained as Anglican priest in 2008. From time to time I am questioned by folks that consider it strange, given [...]
Dear Church, What a wonderful Eastertide we have celebrated together! How good it has been to worship our suffering and risen Lord together. Back in December I wrote to you about changes occurring within the Anglican Mission, the organizational structure which has been our connection to the Anglican Communion through the Province of Rwanda. Those [...]
