The first Sunday of Advent 2018 is December 2nd. Here are the message, readings and sermons for the season. Advent 2018 Message As we look at God’s word, we need to understand how the Christ (as the word of God) comes to humankind now and how we can receive and carry the Christ’s presence today. This
Advent 2018 Theme: Getting Busy Read More »
This year’s Advent theme is “Getting Busy.” Teddy Bear Ministry Every year, Gentle Spirit Christian Church collects teddy bears and stuffed animals during the Advent season and distributes them to patients in local hospitals and hospices to spread Christmas cheer and let them know they’re not alone. To participate, you can either bring a teddy
Guide to the 2018 Christmas Season Read More »
Six years ago I made what felt at the time like a strong statement about inclusivity. I railed against the splintered, inward-focused nature of the institutional Christian church, and about the irony of that fact given that the people in that ossified, bickering church profess to follow one of history’s most radically inclusive figures, Jesus
From Inclusivity to Inclusion Read More »
One of my pet peeves has always been the improper lane change — you know, that everyday driving move where you slide into the next lane without hitting your turn signal — which is a total moving violation and completely worthy of a traffic ticket. Or worse, hogging two lanes by making that sliding move
Dear Washington: Leave the Praying to Me Read More »
As we travel in our Lenten journey this year, our church once again encourages and will engage in an annual period of fasting and prayer from Good Friday to Easter Sunday. We started this practice 15 years ago, and for the past six years we have emphasized making this special time be about becoming more
Holy Week 2018 Pastoral Call to Fast and Pray Read More »
You’ve probably heard some variation of the joke about how different news media outlets would handle the news of the end of the world. I read some examples during a recent sermon; here are some favorites: My congregation howled at all of them except the last one — mainly because it wasn’t on the list
If Only This Were Fake News, But It’s Not Even Alternative Facts Read More »
Rather than “putting Christ back in Christmas”, I’d settle for putting Christ back in Christians. The above is a variation on a statement I saw on Facebook that really spoke to me — and apparently to more than a few of my Facebook friends, because my reposting of it went “viral” — at least as
Where Christ Belongs Read More »
The first Sunday of Advent is December 3rd. Here’s everything you need to know about celebrating the season with Gentle Spirit Christian Church. Tree & Wreath SaleEvery year starting the day after Thanksgiving, there are quality trees and homemade wreaths for sale on the First Christian Church of Decatur lawn until they’re sold out. Proceeds
Christmas 2017: Worship Services, Ministries and Office Hours Read More »
In honor of World AIDS Day 2017, First Christian Church of Decatur will host Unity Fellowship Church Greater Atlanta and Gentle Spirit Christian Church in their main sanctuary for a joint service and panel discussion at 10:30am on Sunday, November 26, 2017. For Gentle Spirit Christian Church, this special service in the main sanctuary of
World AIDS Day 2017 Service Read More »
On Thanksgiving Day 1977, my husband’s father died of a massive heart attack, leaving behind a wife and 12 children — six boys and six girls. The family was Episcopalian, attending St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Newport, Ky., where the Pabst family tithed and the children were baptized and married. Because of the family’s size,
When In Doubt, Err On The Side Of Love Read More »