I’ve had some requests for more information about last Sunday’s sermon, “To Protect and Defend the Constitution” – I’m posting some of the direct primary sources below. I can also recommend some storytelling about the creation of the Constitution. One you may want to watch with your family is a...
On Sunday, we talked about witches, or more specifically, beliefs about witches across thousands of years. This was one of those sermons where the information far outpaced the limited time of a service. Since I received so many interesting comments and questions afterwards, I thought I’d share more for those...
When I saw the photos of the East Wing of the White House being demolished to make way for the construction of an unvetted ballroom, I viscerally felt sick. I realized that I had seen images like this before, but they were a) always fictional and b) from an attack...
Sunday was our Question Box Sunday, where members submit questions and the ministers answer them on the fly. The questions I receive are always impressive, but I think y’all outdid yourself this year. So many good ones, we couldn’t address them all. No problem, you’ve given me great fodder for...
This Sunday, it’s time for one of our most popular services, “The Question Box.” During the offering, you’ll be invited to write down your question on an index card. We’ll gather them, then AJ and I will answer as many as we can during the “sermon” time of the service....
One of the bits of wisdom from Brene Brown that I repeat often, to myself and others, is “Clear is kind.” As someone enculturated as a woman in the South, this takes a lot of work. We are taught to be unclear in how we communicate – just think of...
If you are feeling fear these days, worried about the encroaching fascism you see, know that it is by design. People are who are fearful are easier to manipulate. People who are fearful will do terrible things in order to feel safe – turn in their neighbors, act in ways...
Spoilers ahead…this Sunday, we’ll have a new order to the worship service! With the beginning of the new church every September, we change the liturgy, that is, the standard script for the worship service. It keeps things fresh, prevents items from becoming “tin gods” that can never be changed, plus...
Like most churches, Live Oak’s “program year” runs from September though August. Our worship services and faith development classes begin new themes and curricula, we often begin new discussion groups (like the upcoming “Big Ideas” group) at this time, and there will be a new liturgy starting in September. (Liturgy...
The argument that most churches, including ours, need to make nowadays is not “why our church?” it’s “why church, period?” There is no longer a societal expectation that you’ll belong to a religious community. In fact, it’s often countercultural (especially among our progressive friends) to be a member of a...