Categories
Church Faith Ministry Preaching Sermons

A final word…

This is the sermon I preached today in my last official act as the pastor of the Antioch United Methodist Church. Next Sunday, I will begin my tenure as the Senior Pastor of the Old Hickory United Methodist Church. The text for today’s sermon was Ephesians 4:1-16. Three million, six hundred and eighty nine thousand, […]

Categories
Church Faith Ministry Preaching Sermons

A final word…

This is the sermon I preached today in my last official act as the pastor of the Antioch United Methodist Church. Next Sunday, I will begin my tenure as the Senior Pastor of the Old Hickory United Methodist Church. The text for today’s sermon was Ephesians 4:1-16. Three million, six hundred and eighty nine thousand, […]

Categories
Church Methodism Ministry

Betwixt Here and There — The Consultation Dance

This past January, after much prayer and soul searching (and a bit of divine revelation) I informed my Staff Parish Relations Committee of my intention to ask to be appointed to another church. I have been at Antioch UMC for seven years and have had a good ministry. I wasn’t facing any mutiny in the […]

Categories
Church Methodism Ministry

Raining on the Parade: The Failure to Support New Potential Clergy

Ed note: It’s been a while since I have written here, partially because I have moved my Nashville social commentary to http://justnashville.wordpress.com, but partially because I really haven’t had much to say. I am hoping that recent changes in my schedule will allow for more commentary here on faith and life in in the United […]

Categories
Church Methodism Ministry

Did David Gamble Misspeak?

I stumbled today on the recent controversy in British Methodist circles about the comments made by David Gamble, President of The Methodist Church in Great Britain. Folks across the pond seem bent out of shape over a speech he made to Church of England’s General Synod which is being interpreted as an expression of desire […]

Categories
Church Ministry

The Missional/Relational Dilemma (The Flip Side)

As I’ve thought about the comments on my last post, it seems that somehow folks think I am arguing for an “either/or” perspective on a congregation’s focusing on mission and relationship. Obviously, from the beginning of this entire church thing, relationships have been important. The early Christians gathered regularly for the breaking of bread and […]

Categories
Church Community Ministry

Trunk or Treat and Being Neighbors

Yes, I should be working on the sermon tonight, but as often happens I have to take a break to exercise the thoughts that burst forth when my mind goes into full gear. Tonight’s revolves around a comment Kay made earlier about the lack of “trick or treaters” in the neighborhood. Several years ago our […]

Categories
Church Faith Ministry Preaching Worship

What’s Up In Worship

Phil Dillingham is a friend in ministry, a neighbor, and the pastor of the Priest Lake Christian Fellowship here in Antioch. Priest Lake is an interesting place, birthed in the charismatic renewal of the traditional Churches of Christ here in Nashville. It’s a place that doesn’t get much publicity, and Phil is a pastor who […]

Categories
Church Faith Ministry Preaching Worship

What’s Up In Worship

Phil Dillingham is a friend in ministry, a neighbor, and the pastor of the Priest Lake Christian Fellowship here in Antioch. Priest Lake is an interesting place, birthed in the charismatic renewal of the traditional Churches of Christ here in Nashville. It’s a place that doesn’t get much publicity, and Phil is a pastor who […]

Categories
Church Methodism Ministry TN Annual Conference

Failing To Trust Ourselves

Yesterday I made the mistake of posting an obscure scream on Twitter about a frustration I was feeling in regards to what seems to be an increasing trend in United Methodist leadership. Many seemed confused by my comment that it seemed to me at the time that leaders in our communion seem to think being […]

Categories
Church Emergent Faith Methodism Ministry

The Church of our Youth

  There has been a conversation that I’ve had many times during my ministry when I am talking with folks about why they chose to be a part our church… Me: So, why have you decided to hang around? What is it about our church that you find appealing? Them: Well, it reminds me of […]

Categories
Church Ministry TN Annual Conference Worship

Sally Morgenthaller @ TN Annual Conference, Session 3

Live blogging Sally Morgenthaller’s presentation to the TN Annual Conference 2009 Starts out with a clip from Ice Age How would you tell some of the parables in images like was done in the clip? Henri Nouwen saw the great painting of the prodigal son in Leningrad, which opened up the entire painting, leading to […]

Categories
Church Ministry TN Annual Conference Worship

Sally Morgenthaler @ TN Annual Conference, Session 2

Live blogging from the stage of Sally Morgenthaler’s presentation to the Tennessee Annual Conference. Sally is the founder of Sacramentis, and a reknowned leader in the area of worship. I’m not sure the outline form really works for this, but bullet points don’t work in this template, so bear with me… Are you ready to […]

Categories
Church Ministry TN Annual Conference Worship

Sally Morgenthaler @ TN Annual Conference – Session 1

Live blogging from the stage of Sally Morgenthaler’s presentation to the Tennessee Annual Conference. Sally is the founder of Sacramentis, and a reknowned leader in the area of worship. Revelation 5 as a model of passionate worship. What are you passionate about? Sally’s recent passions – Family grandchilds: Nathan and Roman Family is a passion […]

Categories
Church Ministry TN Annual Conference Worship

Sally Morgenthaler @ TN Annual Conference – Session 1

Live blogging from the stage of Sally Morgenthaler’s presentation to the Tennessee Annual Conference. Sally is the founder of Sacramentis, and a reknowned leader in the area of worship. Revelation 5 as a model of passionate worship. What are you passionate about? Sally’s recent passions – Family grandchilds: Nathan and Roman Family is a passion […]

Categories
Church Faith Methodism Ministry

Belief, Practices, and Re-Thinking Church

I’ve been re-reading Tom Frank’s excellent book, The Soul of the Congregation and while this thought is usually before me, it jumped out at me tonight as a good reminder: …people generally do not adopt a set of beliefs called “Christianity” and then pick out a church in which to express them. People become “Christian” […]

Categories
Church Community Ministry Nashville

Nashville must support General Hospital

April 26,2009 written by Rev. Jay Voorhees As a pastor, I spend a lot of time in area hospitals. Fortunately, when most of us seek healing in a hospital, we trust that insurance will cover most of the bill. However, for growing numbers of Nashvillians, money is a huge concern when they need health care. […]

Categories
Church Methodism Ministry Worship

A point of comparison…

Given my last post, here is our “traditional” service, which continues to meet at 10:30 a.m. Your comments are welcome. See the worship guide after the jump.

Categories
Church Ministry Worship

Tomorrow’s Order of Worship for prime::

prime:: is our contemporary/comtemplative service at AUMC, which we hold every Sunday at 8:30 a.m. Frankly we would probably be better served holding this service at a different time, but we have a faithful crew of 10 to 20 that show up every Sunday, and so far we haven’t had a clear call to move […]

Categories
Church Ministry

A Preacher’s Rant on Weddings

This past weekend, in a fit of pique that was probably less than appropriate, I left a comment on Twitter that I was thinking about forgoing officiating at weddings for any couple under the age of 25. As I should have expected, I received all sorts of comments from folks who had married young and […]