When a church like ours entertains a Candidate Sunday, you never know how it will go. Perhaps that is why it so interesting and edgy. A candidate comes, presents, lays bare his soul, makes a case for his leadership, and then you and I get to decide. Having been in this circumstance six times, I […]
DON’T MISS CANDIDATE SUNDAY
Sometimes it feels like the trajectory of a lifetime can pivot in one short day. Surely such a day is upon Benjamin Geeding this Sunday. Such a day is also upon First Congregational Church, Darien as we consider calling Benjamin to be our Minister of Youth and Pastoral Care. (The worshippers at 8:30 am have […]
A LAST TRIBUTE TO FRED AND MARNY SMITH
The other shoe has finally fallen. Yesterday Fred and Marny moved to Easthampton, MA. I could only say so much about their illustrious lives before we sang our farewell hymn. May I share a couple other bits redolent of their years with us as matriarch and patriarch? One obvious gift was who they were as […]
Sometimes It Comes Later
For three years, I directed a non-profit organization called Life Compass that ran out of a church. We raised money and we bought instruments (guitars, pianos, violins, and snare drums), ESL textbooks, cooking supplies, theatre equipment, and art supplies. We offered free lessons to the youth in the surrounding inner city. It was my job […]
DILEMMAS OF LIVING AND DYING FOR GOD
As I see Benjamin Geeding graduate from Yale Divinity School in May, I recall graduating there 40 years ago nearly to the day. I was filled with ideals and ready to make sacrifice, even my own life if need be. I could summon scenarios where I would be called upon and, yes, even die for the Gospel and the church of Christ.
FAITHFUL FRIENDS ARE A STURDY SHELTER
You’ve heard me recall this more than once. As a conference closed in Chicago, Mother Theresa prepared to return to Calcutta. The new friends she had made spoke out with concern for the grand and fragile lady, pulling the dying out of the gutters in one of the poorest places on this earth. “How can you go back there?” they queried. “How can you survive the bleakness of facing into such poverty?”