Perversely, since I stepped out of parish/congregational ministry, I’ve fallen in love all over again with the texts that, week after week, speak into life and culture. Somehow, freed of the pressure of preaching every week, I’ve gained a new appreciation of the timeless relevance of Scripture in all that confronts the world and creation… Read More
11th Hour Preacher Party: Get Behind
A few weeks ago I had a homeless woman show up at church, literally in the church, crouched over the kneelers, banging her fist on them, crying. When I approached her she looked up at me and said, “I just want to pray.” And then a little later, after I gave her water and food,… Read More
11th Hour Preacher Party: Wilted, yet Blooming Edition
Pictured is an American Beauty Berry plant. Its berries turn this lovely color (plum? fuchsia?) in the fall here. Its leaves are wilted, because it has been hot and dry and dry and hot, most of the summer. (I took this photo last week. Thankfully, we’ve had some rain in the past few days). I’ve… Read More
11th Hour Preacher Party: somehow September
I’m not entirely clear how this happened, but….it’s September. For our sisters in North America, that means Labour Day weekend, and fall kick-offs, and a return to the program year. For our friends Down Under, it hopefully means a turn toward summer! And also Father’s Day, which can be a fraught time for some. For… Read More
11th Hour Preacher Party: Back in the groove
Here in Scotland, Schools and colleges are back and the weather is doing its best to convince us that summer is over. While some are relieved to re-establish a routine, others are reluctant to get back into the groove. This past week it has felt as though a new church session has exploded into life… Read More
11th Hour Preacher’s Party: The Wisdom (or, uhm, not??) of Kings, Prophets, and Bread
After years of storing our home baked communion bread in the freezer of the church kitchen, we had two Sunday’s this summer where we discovered the communion bread was gone. All of it. 9 loaves, twice. Taken, I imagine, by a homeless person who wandered in to the kitchen, which is also the… Read More
11th hour preacher party: Things happened…
This week I have been at Holiday Club (which we call Mayhem) every day. One of the catchphrases of the teens leading the up-front bit is “that reminds me of a story in the Bible!” which of course leads to someone stepping out of a time machine and explaining a story Jesus told. (Naturally.) In… Read More
11th Hour Preacher Party: beautiful things
It’s that time again….time to write a sermon! Or, for some of us, time to get ready for holiday club, or to figure out how to incorporate the past week of children’s programming/vacation bible school into a Sunday service, not knowing how many might appear. Or perhaps it’s time to confront the powers of the… Read More
11th Hour Preacher Party: Rooted and Grounded
“I pray that…Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith as you are being rooted and grounded in love.” Ephesians 3:17 This is my favourite passage for beach walking. I’m fortunate enough to live just a few minutes from the beach and, most days, I can be found walking and meditating on this verse. It’s… Read More
11th Hour Preacher Party: Simple Edition
Newman Castle, Bellville, TX, 2018. Photo by Monica Smith Let’s keep it simple today, preachers. Share ideas. Rest a while. Ask for help. Pray with and for each other. Play. RCL post for this week Monica Thompson Smith is a Presbyterian Church (USA) minister, serving as stated supply pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Luling,… Read More
