Category Archives: Ministry

Thought for the Day (if not the Millennium)

Posted on September 29, 2011 by Darrell Pursiful

I want a church that includes fussy kids, old liturgy, bad sound, weird congregants  and—brace yourself—painfully amateur “special music” now and then. Why? Well, for one thing, when the Gospel story is accompanied by a fog machine and light show, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics, Life as Prayer, Ministry, Praying Together | Leave a comment

Two Churches Figure Out that People Need Jesus more than They Need Gimmicks

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Darrell Pursiful

I found this iMonk post refreshing—but don’t neglect to ponder Chaplain Mike’s two concerns at the end. Share this: Digg this postRecommend on FacebookTweet about itSubscribe to the comments on this postTell a friend

Posted in +Apostles' Teaching, Mere Catholicity, Ministry | Leave a comment

Leonard: Forgetting to Remember

Posted on June 28, 2011 by Darrell Pursiful

I deeply appreciated Bill Leonard’s testimony about his mother and her advancing Alzheimer’s Disease. Each first Sunday, when the deacons bring my mother Holy Communion and read the words of Jesus: “As often as you do this, remember me,” the … Continue reading →

Posted in +The Breaking of Bread, Ministry | Leave a comment

Macon Help

Posted on June 14, 2011 by Darrell Pursiful

A friend from church has put together a helpful website with contact information about social services and need-meeting ministries in Macon, Georgia. Check out Macon Help. Macon Help was created from the Macon Community Guide to help connect those in … Continue reading →

Posted in Ministry | Leave a comment

What If It’s True?

Posted on May 20, 2011 by Darrell Pursiful

This is the best response to Harold Camping’s rapture-mania I’ve seen so far. The ending deserves a standing ovation: But even if we assume that the 21st is the end, and there’s no need to maintain any savings to fall … Continue reading →

Posted in +The Breaking of Bread, Ministry, Theology | 2 Comments

My Plans for Sunday

Posted on May 20, 2011 by Darrell Pursiful

It is easy to mock Harold Camping and his crew for insisting the rapture will take place tomorrow. Mockery is without question a valid biblical response to false teaching, as Isaiah and many of the other prophets will attest. I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Ministry, Praying Together | Leave a comment

God’s Letter to a Six-Year Old (via the ABC)

Posted on April 25, 2011 by Darrell Pursiful

Whatever your opinion of the Archbishop of Canterbury, I hope you’ll appreciate Rowan Williams’ pastoral wisdom in responding to this little girl’s question: A six-year-old Scottish girl named Lulu wrote a letter to God: “To God, How did you get … Continue reading →

Posted in Ministry, Theology | Leave a comment

On Selecting Ministers

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Darrell Pursiful

I agree with Ken Schenck that the most important qualifications in a minister are spiritual, not academic. I also agree with him that biblical scholarship has its place and every denomination ought to have a few Bible scholars laying around: … Continue reading →

Posted in Ministry, New Testament | Tagged | 2 Comments

A Case for Catechesis

Posted on March 14, 2011 by Darrell Pursiful

The New Testament, particularly the book of Acts, indicates that the usual procedure in the first century was for recent converts to Christianity to be baptized first and then instructed in the Christian faith. By the second century (i.e., the … Continue reading →

Posted in +Apostles' Teaching, Lent, Life as Prayer, Ministry | 2 Comments

Of Prostitutes and the Kingdom of God

Posted on March 11, 2011 by Darrell Pursiful

“Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics, Life as Prayer, Ministry, New Testament | Tagged | Leave a comment