Churches were still hosting revivals when I was a kid. Often held all week or maybe over a series of weekends, they were big community events meant to appeal to folks who weren’t coming to church on a regular basis. Out-of-town preachers might come–sometimes they were even preachers with TV programs! There was LOTS ofContinue reading “Appalachian Thursday – Brush Arbor Meetings”
Category Archives: Church
40 Days and Nights
Did you know quarantine comes form the Italian, quarantina, meaning 40 days? Having just concluded the 40 days of Lent by celebrating Easter, that number seems particularly significant. And it is–there are quite a few Biblical 40s: After Noah shut up the ark, it rained for 40 days and nights. Moses led the Israelites throughContinue reading “40 Days and Nights”
Are you waiting to experience joy?
Our pastor has been doing a great series called Songs of the Season that focuses on a different Christmas carol each week. Yesterday was Joy to the World. So, of course, we talked about joy (and yes, he does invite the congregation to interact!). One of his comments got me to thinking about how oftenContinue reading “Are you waiting to experience joy?”
Would you trade your gift?
Each Advent season my church puts together a book of daily devotions written by members. I LOVE it!! Our pastor assigns scripture to volunteers and they then share their thoughts about the verses. It’s such a beautiful, personal gift and look forward to reading advent insights from my church family each morning. And, of course,Continue reading “Would you trade your gift?”
Appalachian Thursday – Decoration Day
Monday is Memorial Day–the unofficial start to summer. And in Appalachia it means time to start planning for Decoration Day. Usually held on a Sunday in June, this is a day when cemeteries would be tidied and flowers placed on the graves. I’m not talking about those silk monstrosities either. I’m talking roses and daisiesContinue reading “Appalachian Thursday – Decoration Day”
An Anniversary Reflection
On Saturday, my husband and I celebrated 23 years of marriage. That means, as of next year, I will have been married for half my life. My wedding day feels like yesterday AND a lifetime ago. It wasn’t fancy–shoot, it was in the (literally) one-room country church I grew up attending. And if you wantContinue reading “An Anniversary Reflection”
How to Celebrate the Lenten Season
Okay, so not many folks think of Lent, which starts this Wednesday, as a celebration. This is, after all, a serious time when we’re meant to reflect, repent, and ponder Christ’s sacrifice for us. But I love Lent and, for me, it’s a somber celebration. I relish the notion of having a time set aside toContinue reading “How to Celebrate the Lenten Season”
Mustard Seed Faith – At Last!
For a long time now I’ve assumed, based on Matthew 17:20, that my faith is pretty pitiful. Not even a mustard seed’s worth. That scripture suggests that if my faith were as much as even a BB-sized seed, I could move mountains or cast mulberry bushes into the sea. And I can’t. Goodness knows I’veContinue reading “Mustard Seed Faith – At Last!”
Preach it, John!
Yesterday our pastor talked about the third chapter of Matthew. You know, John the Baptist preparing the way for Christ. Basically, it’s about John preaching repentance. And John must have been an effective preacher, because he inspired the crowd to ask what they needed to do to avoid being cut down and thrown into theContinue reading “Preach it, John!”
Appalachian Thursday – Mountain Saints
Appalachia is about people as much as it is about place. We have a lovely Christmas tradition at my church. Our pastor gathers scripture for each day of Advent (December 2-24 this year) and assigns them to volunteers who then write a short entry for a devotional that’s handed out to the congregation. I thinkContinue reading “Appalachian Thursday – Mountain Saints”
