“Believing and Belonging – Belonging and Believing” Those terms are often used to name two elements – the two elements? – that are involved when a person becomes part of the community of God’s people. What we might mean by “believing” is probably pretty simple and straightforward. But maybe not quite so simple and straightforward … Continue reading Pastor#14
Tag: Elmira
Prayer Notes #1
A Prayer about Prayer Lord, I struggle so much to force myself to be still and to concentrate on anything, but especially on prayer. I really do hate this about myself. Do I have to be this way? Please, Lord, if I could simply be still and concentrate better mentally, I believe I would be … Continue reading Prayer Notes #1
Backyard Notes #2
Well, our little wood frog seems to have moved to his winter quarters to hibernate away the winter under a rock or in the brush pile or under a thick layer of leaf litter. He's been a constant resident of our little backyard pond since he came to us a a tadpole in early summer. … Continue reading Backyard Notes #2
Pastor Notes #5
A Prayer My Father, I want to be a man of discernment. I want to be a man thoroughly committed to acting on your will as I discern it. But I know that that means I must be committed to nurturing a spirit of patience and quietness in myself -- a quietness that is not … Continue reading Pastor Notes #5
Pastor Notes 3
Sometimes when we come away from a worship service feeling unmoved, feeling as if the service was confusing, boring, or poorly led, the problem is not actually with the worship service itself or with the people leading it, but instead is a problem within us and our lack of real preparation. And sometimes when the worship service has indeed been poorly planned and led, we can meet God powerfully in it anyway simply because we have prepared ourselves well.
Backyard Notes #1
The ideal American lawn is pretty much as useful to wildlife as a paved parking lot. At my house, we've decided to go against the prevailing attitude and make our yard more hospitable to wildlife. Here's part of the story about how we decided to that.
Pastor Notes #2
Can a virtual community fully engage embodied human beings? Or does the embodied nature of human existence require physical presence for full-orbed human relationship and community? For my own vocational musings, is it possible to be a faithful pastor to someone using only virtual, digital means?
Gary Chorpenning's Notebooks 