by Jon | May 3, 2017 | feat., killingly |
Dear Killingly, I last wrote to you a few months ago when we were deep into dark winter months. It was just after New Year’s Day, and, if you recall, it seemed like we just couldn’t catch a break. There was one student death. Then another. Then a teacher...
by Jon | Mar 12, 2017 | feat., sermons |
Here is this morning’s sermon after being verbally accosted in Westfield’s 1923 Ladies’ Parlor by a member of another church. The scripture was John 3:1-17. Do you believe people can change? Perennial parental advice says no. Can’t you hear your mama...
by Jon | Jan 4, 2017 | feat., killingly |
Dear Killingly, I moved to your town in October of 2012. I’m a born and bred Southerner who loves all things Southern–things like grits and coca-cola and air conditioning. Late in September of that year, I packed up my life and my cat and drove north. I...
by Jon | Dec 15, 2016 | feat., westfield |
Last Sunday night around 7:45pm, I stood in front of 400 people holding candles. “Lift them high,” I directed, as we began to sing the first verse of Silent Night again. Just like that, a church that had faced so many hard, dark days was filled from floor...
by Jon | Dec 10, 2016 | feat., g |
Holy Hannah, Greg! YOU MADE IT! YOU’RE ORDAINED! It’s been a long road, hasn’t it? You’ve studied your tail off. You’ve written papers upon papers and gone to sessions reflecting on your spiritual development. When we first met, you were...
by Jon | Nov 13, 2016 | feat., sermons |
Like many pastors stepping into the pulpit the Sunday after the 2016 election, I was at a loss for words. My congregation is wonderful. They are kind and generous and remarkably politically diverse. Here’s what I came up with, starting with Isaiah 65: 17-25....