Author Archives: reallifepastor

So, you’re the Creator-of-all-that-is and things are going okay, but not exactly how you’d planned them.  You created in love hoping your creatures would continue living out that love.  Some did…but a lot didn’t.  Something was missing.  There was a … Continue reading →

Sometimes what we’re doing in worship just doesn’t mesh with what’s going on in the world….like celebrating Joy Sunday when the nation is grieving the loss of 20 school children and six people who cared for them….like “singing glory to … Continue reading →

The Gospel of Luke is the original Broadway Gospel.  It’s like every time something big happens, the characters in the story break into song.  When the pregnant Mary goes to her cousin Elizabeth’s house, she breaks into song.  (#119)  “My … Continue reading →

Another great story from the Bible.  A woman is barren, prays for a child, then—at last!– conceives.  In response, she offers a beautiful song of thanksgiving to God.  A great story!  Hope-filled!  Miraculous!  Inspiring!  Annoying. Don’t get me wrong.  I’m … Continue reading →

(Set out “little church.”)  Every time we have an Inquirer’s Class, someone asks about the little church.  “What’s up with that box?” they ask.  Here’s the story that’s come to me. Many years ago a Confirmation class visited an African … Continue reading →

Did you see the Paralympian’s Halloween costume?   Josh Sundquist lost his leg to cancer when he was 10 years old.  Despite the loss, he began skiing at age 13 and represented the US in the 2006 Paralympic Games.  His costume … Continue reading →

One of the first things you learn when you start hanging out with nuns, is just how important the cemetery is to them.  Want to take a walk?  “Let’s go to the cemetery.”  Need a place to talk?  “Let’s go to … Continue reading →

What a wonderful story!  A blind man, forced to beg because of his disability, hears that Jesus is coming.  He shouts out:  “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”  Jesus hears him, calls him, heals him.  “Immediately, the man … Continue reading →

What fun! It’s been a couple of years since we had a Blessing of the Animals service at Pilgrimage.  Today we had 24 people and 19 pets join together for this beautiful (and sometimes loud!) celebration.  Sixteen of the 19 … Continue reading →

We’ve heard a lot about Koinonia Farm over the last couple of years.  Koinonia started as an interracial Christian community in Southwest Georgia in the 1940s.  Under the leadership of Clarence Jordan, the community tried as best it could to … Continue reading →