Category Archives: Worship
Nursery in the Sanctuary
At Linda’s church she has turned a corner of their sanctuary into a children’s area where they remain as their parents and grandparents worship. This space is where the organ used to be, to the right of the lectern. An … Continue reading
A Tree With Many Trunks
The day began before dawn at Island Park with an Easter Service led by my wife. She included the ‘kindling of a new fire,’ which we used to light candles to represent the light of resurrection. It was a beautiful … Continue reading
Stumble Toward Something Better
On Easter afternoon I visited my Mom at the Toledo Hospital, where she has been since last Thursday. At the information desk at the end of this airy lobby, a kind man verified her room number for me. As I … Continue reading
First Taize Service
A parishioner and I attended our first Taize service Thursday night at the Sylvania United Church of Christ. We went on a field trip, so to speak, from the worship committee at our church in Adrian, where we have considered … Continue reading
Living Sacrifices
[We held our last praise service in fellowship hall this evening. There are plans to redevelop the service, but it will take time -- there are many unanswered questions. Our pianist did some flip-flop engineering to keep the piano from … Continue reading
Outdoor Altar
Saturday we attended an event at the West Adrian United Church of Christ, celebrating the congregation’s 175th anniversary. It was founded in 1836. Its pastor, JK, constructed this altar for outdoor worship; his church members donated the stones, and his … Continue reading
PM Praise
Here’s the audio from last night’s praise service, which featured music from the Ascend Praise Band and a video clip from the TV show Joan of Arcadia. The service was 50 minutes. The message begins at about 20:15… it’s based … Continue reading
Longest Night Altar
C and A created this altar for our Longest Night Service on Monday. We hold the service before Christmas each year for people who may be grieving the loss of loved ones during the holidays. I’d never seen a deer … Continue reading
The Song Remains the Same
E. suffered from Alzheimer’s for nine years before she died early Tuesday morning. At her memorial service today, the chaplain noted even after her mind and memory disappeared, her songs remained with her. She kept singing. So it was fitting … Continue reading
Flag In the Sanctuary
In anticipation of the Fourth of July, On the Jericho Road asks whether the United States is a Christian nation. The answer he gives is no, since nations cannot make the faith commitment needed to be religious. And besides, what … Continue reading
Six Things I Saw Spying On Another Church
After our worship yesterday, five of us scooted over to Ogden Church for their 10:45 service. Ogden is a non-denominational, evangelical church that meets in a new facility east of town. (For years they met as a buildingless congregation, worshipping … Continue reading
Should We Observe Father’s Day In Church?
Tom Steagald, a United Methodist pastor in North Carolina, dislikes what he calls the ‘Hallmark Cycle,’ secular holidays and themes that insert themselves into the church’s worship. Lately we’re moving through the Mother’s Day, Memorial Day and Father’s Day part of the … Continue reading
Handbells and the New Creation
Last Sunday our Wesley Bell Choir performed at the 9:30 service. We played “A Christmas Carol Fantasy,” our hands clad in dark brown gloves. I rang C, D flat, and D in the fourth octave. We’d lugged our tables, music stands … Continue reading
