Published by Bill on 24 Jun 2011
Good Works Matter
Thirty-six LPC youth and their adult leaders will leave tomorrow for a week in New Orleans. They go as members of this year’s youth work camp team. Their job will be to add their energy, strength, skills, caring and love to the ongoing efforts to rebuild the city in the aftermath of the destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina almost six years ago. Plus daily devotionals,worship and great fellowship. Continue Reading »
Published by Bill on 17 Jun 2011
Honoring Fatherhood
According to those who keep track of such things, we seem to love our mothers just a little more than our dads. At least if the cost of a present is any indication of the level of love (but, of course, it isn’t). This past Mother’s Day the average mom had $140 spend on her while it is expected that the average dad will have $106 spent on him this coming Father’s Day. You can read more here.
I’m all for celebrating our dads, but memo to my kids: you don’t need to spend $106 to tell me you love me. I already know it and cannot begin to describe what an amazing gift your presence in my life is. Thanks, I’ve received my Father’s Day gift and I love it. Continue Reading »
Published by Bill on 10 Jun 2011
When the Fog Lifts
“Presbyterians Vote to Change Form of Government!” Unlike our vote to allow gay clergy, this one will not make a single newspaper or news site headline. Commentators won’t comment and analysts won’t analyze. The world out there doesn’t care a bit, and, frankly, nor do most of us inside the Presbyterian Church.
The story is this. In our drawn out pass and ratify system, it was not until this past Tuesday that the new Form of Government, nFOG as it is known, reached approval by 87 presbyteries, the number necessary for it to become church law. The final count will be very close, maybe 88-85, almost as close as you can get. But close vote or not, on July 10, nFOG will become FOG, the law of the land, as it were. Continue Reading »
Published by Bill on 03 Jun 2011
On Renouncing Evil – at age 15
Awhile back, maybe a dozen years or more, our PCUSA Book of Order was changed to include new wording about Confirmation. Here’s what we now say:
The church nurtures those baptized as children and calls them to make public their personal profession of faith and their acceptance of responsibility in the life of the church. When these persons are ready, they shall be examined by the session. After the session has received them as active members they shall be presented to the congregation during a service of public worship. In that service the church shall confirm them in their baptismal identity. They shall reaffirm the vows taken at Baptism by Continue Reading »