Churches of the United Church of Christ of southern Illinois (the Illinois South Conference) gather each fall for their annual meeting. It is a wonderful reminder that the ministry of Jesus Christ spreads beyond the communities where our local church resides. Yes, there are wonderful ministries we do at the local level, but there are…
Fearless is one of those words that people often hear differently. For some, fearless is heard as reckless. For others, fearless means possessing or exhibiting courage or courageous endurance. Fearless, as a word of faith, is more like the second definition; or, in addition to that definition, to challenge one another or to dare one another,…
Rev. M. Craig Barnes once gave a stewardship sermon: “No Greater Cause.” He begins: If CNN pollsters asked for your approval rating, you may say your church is doing fine. Or you could point to a change or two you would like to make. But what if the pollster asked, “Do you believe the church…
Hello, St. Paul Church!! It is so good to be back doing ministry with you. Don’t get me wrong: the time away was needed and appreciated, but the time comes, when you know you have rested enough and it is time to get back to work; that time has come! Over the summer I did…
God’s Creation & Agriculture Sunday On Sunday, August 24, from 8:00 a.m. – 12 noon, our congregation will be celebrating God’s Creation and Agriculture Sunday. The prayers and message will be centered on the great blessing of God’s Creation. We will also be acknowledging the role of agriculture in society and in our community with…
This past weekend someone said to me: “fourth of July is over. The start of school is just around the corner.” To me, five or six weeks is a lot of time. God has given us each and every day as a gift. Savor the time. Enjoy friends and family. Don’t wish your time away. …
While pondering the concept of having Hope in God, I came across this poem: Hope without risk is not hope, Which is believing in risky loving, Trusting others in the dark, The blind leap Letting God take over. Don Helder Camara “Hoping Against All Hope” Orbis Books, 1984 It…
Summer has settled in. It’s a time for vacations, ball tournaments, picnics, BarBQ’s, Music at Metter, gatherings of friends and family, or simply enjoying a movie or FIFA World Cup in your air conditioned home because it’s too blasted hot to go outside. Although there are no major church holidays or celebrations, there is worship…
This morning I am preparing for our Tuesday, noon, study group. Today, we begin Rev. Adam Hamilton’s book and video, “Why? Making Sense out of God’s Will.” He presents three foundational ideas: First, that God has given human beings dominion over the planet. that is, God has placed the human race in charge of God’s…
Christian worship is the glad response of individuals and community – through “heart, soul, strength, and mind”-to the saving acts of God in history. It is the celebration – both personal and the community of faith- of God’s love for creation and every human being. This divine love is revealed in God’s gracious covenant with…
