My dilemma

In just a few hours I am scheduled to preach at a church about 20 miles from where I live. I thought that worship began at 11 a.m. So I also agreed to teach a Sunday School lesson in the town where I live (9:30 am - 10:30 a.m.) I assumed I could leave church at 10:30 and make it to the second church in time for worship there.

Late this evening, the pastor of the church where I am scheduled to preach sent me a text message and reminded me that worship begins at 9:30 a.m.

See my dilemma?

Christians United

I've been fascinated by churches, denominations, and, yes, even other religions, for as long as I can remember.

It's the week of prayer for Christian unity... not for sure how that spins out... but it's worth praying for!

I am blessed to be working in a ministry that is supported by five different denominations (and a couple of non-denoms). I am blessed to be working in a ministry that has been welcoming of people of all faiths (and even people of no faith). I am blessed.

We are not always perfect, but we do attempt to be welcoming of all.

"may they be one..."

Killing the Re-baptised

Today saw the first believers' baptism of modern times in Zürich, Switzerland, in 1525. With Protestantism less than eight years old, a handful of its most radical proponents concluded that baptism was an adults-only activity, and rebaptised each other. For this crime, most of them were executed. (ship of fools dot com)

The Baptism of the Lord

Prayers and Intercessions -

Our Redeemer permitted himself to receive baptism in the Jordan, at John’s hands. Let us pray to him:
- Kyrie, eleison.
Christ, by your coming you brightened our lives:
give your light to everyone we come across today.
You humbled yourself to receive baptism from your own servant and showed us the way of humility:
fill us with a spirit of humble service to mankind.
By your baptism you washed us clean of all sin and made us children of the Father:
show all who seek you that they are children of God.
By your baptism you sanctified your creation and opened wide the doors of repentance:
make us ministers of your Gospel in the world.
In your baptism you revealed the Holy Trinity to us:
renew the spirit of God’s sons in the royal priesthood of the baptized.

Our Father, who art in Heaven,
hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those that trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Almighty and eternal God,
Christ was baptized in the river Jordan;
the Holy Spirit descended on him;
you solemnly declared him to be your beloved Son.
You have chosen us to be your children
and you have given us rebirth in the water of the Holy Spirit:
look with favour on us always.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
Amen.

Hey, I think this too sometimes!

Have you ever wondered what God thinks of church?

I'm so predictable...

... because people don't change! (inside joke to all my close friends)

But I couldn't resist posting this (from Ship of Fools):

On this date.... In 1527 Felix Mantz was executed by Protestant authorities in ZŸrich, Switzerland, at 3 o'clock on Saturday afternoon, for for being rebaptized as an adult. He was drowned (spot the irony) in the River Limmat, his mother calling encouragement from the river bank.

Have an "enlightening" Epiphany weekend... I will be away from my computer for awhile.

New Campus Ministry Blog

I am creating a blog that will contain information of interest to campus ministers and all who have a passion for ministry among college students. The blog is cminfo.blogspot.com

Welcome

I have decided to create a new blog. I needed to separate myself from the identity of where I work.

So welcome to my new blog.