Matching Needs and Resources
September 22nd, 2010
Once a month for three months late this summer, 200 to 300 people have lined up in the parking lot of St. Francis Episcopal Church to receive a food box from the San Antonio Food Bank. The SA Food Bank brings two to three tons of food, reports St. Francis’ rector, the Rev. Patrick Ormos. “We provide the space and some volunteers to help with distribution.”
But, you see, space is something St. Francis has plenty of. “Being a missional church,” says Ormos, “is a matter of leveraging what you have.” St. Francis has seven acres of land, plenty of parking, easy access from IH10, and a neighborhood with a great many needs.
This particular food distribution is a three-month project...
Do Life as Life
August 10th, 2010
"Do life as life," says John Rayls, the Canon for Strategic Growth and Development for the Diocese of West Texas. Rayls works with congregations to develop strategies for growth. One of his current focuses is assisting churches to become "missional," as introduced by Reggie McNeal at the recent diocesan Abide in Me II conference.
Rayls has been on the staff of the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas for six years and comes to the position with a background in church planting. He was ordained in the Mennonite Church and has "planted" seven churches in two states. He recently made the decision to become ordained in the Episcopal Church and is now a deacon. He will be ordained to the priesthood...
The Bath
April 29th, 2010
Bob, a gentleman who was probably in his 70s, had been quiet and attentive throughout the evening. I was teaching about the story of the prodigal son. When I finished speaking, Bob was the first one out of his chair. I could tell, as he made his way to the front of the classroom, that he was upset.
“What about the bath,” he demanded. “You didn’t say anything about the bath.”
I had no idea what he was talking about and told him that I did not understand his comment. He became more agitated the longer he talked.
“You know where he had been!”
“Yes,” I said, “in the pig pen.”
“And you know what he would have smelled like and what was on him.”
“Pig...
Three Stages of Conversion
April 29th, 2010
In a recent conversation, the Rev. Mary Earle and Sylvia Maddox – both of whom are actively involved in speaking, writing, teaching, and leading retreats on spiritual formation – talked about three stages of conversion.
“Three stages?” we said.
“Yes,” said Mary, “although it’s not linear; more like three aspects of conversion – intellectual, moral, and spiritual.”
And so our discussion began. Join in as Mary and Sylvia speak about their own experiences in living a converted life.
Mary: My first experience with intellectual conversion was in a junior high school chemistry class. Mr. Mickey was teaching about the periodic table of elements. All of sudden, I saw it. I saw that there is a design to the world that we humans had nothing...
Revelation Then and Now
April 29th, 2010
They went fishing. The coup had failed, the revolution was over, their leader had been killed, and they had to do something, so they did what they knew how to do – they went fishing. (See John 21:3-8 for the full report.)
They spent all night at it and – more misery – caught nothing. Then this stranger showed up on the shore to give them advice: “Cast your nets on the other side of the boat.” Oh, sure.
It was John who recognized him. At some heart-level, gut-level, John knew him and proclaimed it to the others: “It is the Lord!” Peter got so excited he jumped into the sea.
Scripture does not record what Jesus looked like at that point. Had...