The Great Thanksgiving Once a month we have a Prayer of Great Thanksgiving, which is offered when the offering plates are brought forward.  At the same time a Communion chalice and a paten with bread are brought forward.  The white cloths that cover the elements that are already in place are removed so that all […]

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For all of us make many mistakes… The tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits.  How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire!  And […]

What Are You Looking For? During my week of spiritual renewal I attended Sunday worship at a nearby congregation. There was much about the experience that I appreciated: someone greeted me at the door and held it for me as I entered.  The narthex was clean and had a display of materials that visitors might […]

In her book, Real Good Church, Molly Phinney Baskette offers a top ten list of reasons you should be going to church.  My favorite is number 2: “Taking a break from our hectic lives to come to church is accepting the gift of Sabbath.  Wayne Mueller says, ‘[Sabbath] dissolves the artificial urgency of our days, […]