Pastoral MinistryVows

Amanda's Pastoral Vows

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In a beautiful, sacred worship service last month, Amanda Howard was licensed as our church’s worship pastor, and afterwards, people asked me to share the vows that she affirmed. I am so proud of this special young woman–a leader in her generation–and I am pleased to post her vows here….

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DoubtReconstructionTroubling Questions

Deconstruction-Reconstruction

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In a few weeks at Hope City Church, I am going to address the theme of deconstructing and reconstructing our faith. If you have spent much time on TikTok, Instagram, or in conversations with new or old friends, you have likely heard about this concept of deconstruction. Many people today are…
forgivenessGriefRecoveryUncategorized

A String of Ungrieved Losses

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Throughout our lives, you and I will accumulate a string of disappointing losses, and quite often those losses will go ungrieved. Like ships collecting barnacles in the ocean, our hearts collect injuries, and we aren’t always adept at sufficiently grieving them. No one is immune to wounding, and even the…
CreativitydreamsWonder

I Spy a Triceratops

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On a recent walk along the Thompson Creek Trail, while praying for our church, I overheard a mom and her son playing the “I spy” game. I heard them before I saw them, her gentle, patient voice giving helpful clues to her hopeful, guessing son. As they rounded a corner…
Uncategorized

Keep the Sauna Door Closed

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2 Mins read
One of the biggest pet peeves of sauna lovers is when a casual sauna visitor wanders in, leaving the door wide open, allowing the precious heat to escape. Baking in a sauna was one of my dad’s favorite pastimes, and I remember him growling at people who didn’t seem to…