Diane Roth
Blaspheming the Holy Spirit
It's the "unforgivable" part that gets me. How can there be an unforgivable sin?
What is a congregation for?
On Saturday, a young man from my congregation died, after a long battle with cancer. Well, I say he was a young man, but he was my age. Yes, he was young.
...Nothing in my hands I bring
I went to the hospital the other day. For some reason, I like to have a prayer book with me when I go to the hospital, even though I rarely use it. It's not that I don't pray; I always pray....
Being a pastor to a pastor
I used to love to watch him and his wife, sitting in the front row at church every Sunday. He always took copious notes during the sermon....
Tools for missionaries
Recently I had a conversation with one of the young parents in my
congregation. We were having a far-reaching discussion that
included Sunday School, next summer's Vacation Bible School Program, and
the changing nature of our culture and church attendance. When I
offered the idea that "going to church" is not as culturally normal now
as it was when I was growing up, she replied, "That's right! I think we
are the only ones who go to church among all of our friends." She
continued that she knew that her friends had a wide variety of opinions
and emotions regarding faith, from some who clearly were not interested,
to others who were more ambivalent.
I blurted out, "So, you're sort of like missionaries to your friends."
I immediately regretted the statement.
All of my evidence is anecdotal
Which is to say: all I have is stories.
I noticed a young family gone absent from worship. She is a gifted
musician and actress; they have two young children. She did a benefit
concert here once full of wonderful musical numbers; all the proceeds
went to cancer research. I had been somewhat connected with them and
eventually found her on Facebook, where I noticed that her religious
affiliation was "atheist."
Oh.
The weak in faith
It was after a funeral. I was sitting with a couple who were visiting our congregation, but it turned out they had connections with my husband's church, so we began to chat. And (here's where I get fuzzy) I don't know how this came up or what I said exactly, but I must have said something about "the historical view" or "the critical view" of the Bible, and they both got this stricken, deer-in-the-headlights look.
Respecting all kinds of work
The other day, I was doing a little "internet checking" and went into a website called "Viewshound",
where anyone can publish their views and opinions on almost
everything.
Lectio divina
Thursday morning, I drove over to a neighboring parish to participate in Lectio Divina for the first time.
...What I saw Sunday
On Sunday, I went to church. I know, it's summer, and why would
you go to church in the summer? There's no Sunday school, and no choir,
and there are plenty of other things to do. At least, that seems to be
what several people think. But I am the pastor, and I was presiding,
so I went to church.
Consumers or producers
My husband, a musician, likes to talk about different ways people love
music. Most people love music of some sort or another, but they love it
...
"It didn't turn out right"
That's what she said when I walked into her room at the nursing home.
I was there to help plan a funeral on Saturday, for her daughter. Her brothers were also with us.
...