It’s Maundy Thursday. Not Monday, but Maundy. The word, “Maundy” comes from the Latin Mandatum which means mandate. On this night, Jesus gave his disciples a mandate: Love one another. We meet at The Palms this Thursday afternoon at 5 pm with our sister churches to remember Christ’s gathering his disciples in an upper room for a special… Continue reading Today is Maundy Thursday
Tag: Sun City AZ
That one Palm Sunday during Children’s Moment…🤣
Most of my career I led a children’s moment in weekly worship. As Holy Week approached each year, I mentioned the names of the worship services and the meaning behind them: Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and, of course, Easter. Palm Sunday was of particular interest to one young eight-year-old girl. As I talked… Continue reading That one Palm Sunday during Children’s Moment…🤣
Grieving prophetically
Ecclesiastes 3:1: For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven. After a lifetime of ministry, Richard Rohr said, “I have become convinced that most anger comes, first of all, from a place of deep sadness.” Life disappoints and hurts us all, and the majority of people don’t know how… Continue reading Grieving prophetically
Wow! A lot is going on.
April is upon us! Wow! Where did February go? The only option is to March forward. The Church of the Palms is going all out in April with many special worship services. We hope you plan to attend. Wow! A lot is going on, thanks be to God! I hope you can make the time… Continue reading Wow! A lot is going on.
Before you jump to the resurrection
Ecclesiastes 3:1 “For everything there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven.” After a lifetime of ministry, Richard Rohr said, “I have become convinced that most anger comes, first of all, from a place of deep sadness.” Life disappoints and hurts us all, and the majority of people don’t know how… Continue reading Before you jump to the resurrection
Using banned words often and with intentionality.
In a world where certain words are being removed from government sites, I intend to use them often and with intentionality. I recently had the following words explained to me as if life is a library. Okay, now apply this library lesson to life and to our society. I hope you can insert the above… Continue reading Using banned words often and with intentionality.
Finding the holy amid the garbage.
How do you find the holy amid all the garbage of the world? There’s a lot of garbage in politics and in our relationships. How can we find holy moments in the middle of all our living? That thought has come alive in a new way in my life this year. Wendy’s parents were hoarders and… Continue reading Finding the holy amid the garbage.
Why is IHELP closing?
For the past five plus years we have partnered with Lutheran Social Services (LSS) to provide the homeless population a safe place to sleep. Over 100 volunteers have supported the program. Five-plus years equals over 250 nights of hosting with 330 guests. The people in the program have come through our doors searching for hope,… Continue reading Why is IHELP closing?
Keep the chocolate.
Lent is finally upon us. Throughout my life, I have traditionally given up things for Lent. While self-sacrifice has its place in our faith journeys, I have come to believe that Jesus would probably laugh at our efforts during Lent. Jesus looks us in the eye, chuckles and smiles, and asks us why we’re giving… Continue reading Keep the chocolate.
The unusual season of Lent
Lent. The season of Lent is, to my mind, the most unusual season of all. Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany are filled with expectation, warmth, and wonder. Easter is full of joy. The Day of Pentecost is filled with excitement. Ordinary time (the time between Pentecost Sunday and Advent) describes much of my life—ordinary. But Lent… Continue reading The unusual season of Lent