Photography literally means “writing with light.” Photographers see; we see what others do not see, capture it in our viewfinder, and make a picture. The picture freezes time, magically preserves the moment, and though a still life, is yet alive.
One of my favorite parts of preaching, particularly as a preacher who regularly uses the Revised Common Lectionary, is that I get to return to passages over and over and discover anew their blessings and revelations, holy reminders of how God has been, is, and will be present with creation in the most intimate and enduring ways.
On a warm summer night, God intervened in a way that was beyond comprehension. During a time of worship, I felt God’s presence, and the fullness of God’s love became indescribable. It was not just in the words of the hymns or the warmth of the prayers but in the overwhelming sense of belonging in a space where love for God and for one another was palpable.
Accessibility and sustainability are words that bring to mind all kinds of images. From a liturgical perspective, accessibility can be linked to the ways that people feel welcomed to the table. Accessibility connects to the practical side of life as well, such as the ways people are able to enter your building, and beyond that be able to functionally use the building space.
Real Inspiration Ministries (RIM) is a fifteen-year-old church that began as a worshiping community started by Bishop Sonya Williams. Bishop Williams and her wife, First Lady Regina Williams, birthed this worshiping community because there was no place in traditional African American churches for our LGBTQ+ siblings.
In today’s world, our congregations are increasingly filled with individuals carrying heavy burdens. A 2020 Barna Group study found that only one in seven pastors feels “‘very’ well-equipped to help with trauma.”
As worship leaders and congregants seek comfort and hope during periods of crisis, worship music emerges as a crucial element in navigating emotionally and spiritually challenging situations. The unprecedented tribulations of the 2020 pandemic, which disrupted communal worship, highlighted the importance of music in offering healing and hope.
Walking alongside college-aged young adults is a gift. It allows me to be present at their formational milestones. Getting a great GRE score, setting a date for marrying their person, planning their big move across country for that dream job, celebrating the joy of winning the conference championship in the sport they love.
Africans were brought to America in 1619 to be subjected to the cruel and evil institution of slavery. From 1619 to 1865, the brutal system of slavery was the law of the land, and then came years of Jim and Jane Crow. For African Americans, it was God and the church that fueled our imaginations of freedom.
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