Susan's Pendulum

Sometimes we look at the way Christians worship in other lands and think, "That's African Christian culture" or "That...

When you're tempted to think that the liturgy isn't important, remember that contemporary worship was why Judah and Israel were dest...

The first time I saw it, I didn't like it.  Chairs lined up in the chancel.  Kids helping with the reading of the Gospel.  But it didn...

You didn't do it to make me happy.  You don't even know me. You did it because you love Jesus. And because you love your kid. B...

This morning after chapel, last year's palms (from Palm Sunday) were burned to ashes (for the imposition of ashes later today) .  There...

A few weeks ago we heard the parable (Matt 21) about the vine-dressers who beat up the land-owner's servants.  Then they killed his son...

The T.A.R.D.I.S. -- it's bigger on the inside. The wardrobe. A portal into Narnia.  It too is bigger on the inside.  There'...

When I was little, we went to "church."  "Going to church" meant Sunday morning or maybe a Wednesday-evening Lenten serv...

Extra services. Pastors have many sermons to prepare. Some pastors have services to write too.  In congregations that don't use the l...

Maybe the young, new pastor is shy and thus unsure of himself. Maybe the pastor had been immersed in "contemporary worship" and ...

After Paul talks about the falling away of many in the church, he says, " God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sancti...

So I don't like skits during church.  But is that just my preference, whereas somebody else has a different preference? I figured it o...

"Praise to You, O Lord"? "Glory be to Thee, O .... Christ???  Lord???  What IS the word?" When I was little, I could ...

In the Lutheran church, preaching comes after the Bible readings and before the Lord's Supper.  We visited a church once where the Lord...

"This is the feast of victory for our God ..." WHAT is the feast?  Why are we singing this when the feast is not offered? ...

We were both baffled.  Expectations and assumptions -- they sure do affect communication. A very sweet Methodist co-worker (a mom of sol...

How does a pastor know what to say when he's teaching somebody? I've seen my pastor do it in numerous contexts: teaching from the...

Andrew has scolded me for saying "In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost" at the start of prayers.  "...

It would be cool if Pastor Esget were more a friend than a friendly acquaintance to me.  I have thoroughly enjoyed the brief times I've...

So, is fussiness a bad thing?  I've often noticed the particular care my pastor takes with the items on the altar after communion.  He s...