Through the summer months I will
focus my preaching and the creating
of liturgy on how we experience God
(i.e., what that is like for us), what we
can to do to nurture intimacy with God,
and how we can express our experience
with God with others.
Some of the preaching and worship
themes will be:
- What is Christian Spirituality?
- The Other Side of Silence
- Mindfulness
- Something from Nothing
- Desire and Passion
- Spiritual Reading of the Bible and
Life
- Practicing the Presence
- Guidance
- Spirituality and Action
- Spirituality and Mission
Also, I am excited to welcome Rev.
Dr. Samuel Hamilton-Poore, Director
of the Graduate Program of Christian
Spirituality at San Francisco Theological
Seminary to our pulpit on July 13th.
Sam is a good friend and colleague. I |
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hope to have another guest in August
but that is TBD.
Although the service will not change
appreciably you are encouraged to
come dressed casually as if on retreat
(think church picnic) and to bring your
children. There will be no God’s Place
but there will be an emphasis on sermon
illustrations, songs and activities
in worship that will be addressed to
children. Depending on availability
church leaders will be asked to share
a “Life Together Moment” to help our
congregation gain a renewed appreciation
for who we are and what we do
as a church family. Finally, the pastoral
prayer (Prayers of the People) will
invite brief prayer requests from the
congregation. Expect a more casual
approach with a variety of hymns and
songs you might have enjoyed while
at church camp as a kid.
Anybody for Kum Bah Yah?
Expectantly,
Kent Smith
published in the SPIRE, Summer 2008 |