Our Sacramental Bible The Bible is a very obliging book in at least one particular respect, and that is that the Bible explains in fairly straightforward terms what it is. That fact hasn’t caused scholars and others to refrain from arguing about the matter. That argument has been going on for centuries, off and on. … Continue reading Pastor Notes #10
Tag: Gary Chorpenning
Pastor Notes #9
[The following is a letter I wrote to a forty-something parishioner who had been raised in a nominal Roman Catholic home and had given her life to Christ while she was in college. This letter was written on the occasion of her nominally Catholic mother's death. As you will also see, the circumstances of my … Continue reading Pastor Notes #9
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 #3
A Prayer Today, my generous Lord, you have allowed me to enjoy the use of my body out in lovely spring weather. I mowed the backyard, pushing the mower up and down the yard, around obstacles , across the wide, flat section. I felt the strength of my legs and arms as I used my … Continue reading Backyard Notes #3
Pastor Notes #8 (9/11/2001) — Presence as Ministry
[The following is from several entries into my journal about the events of the evening of September 11, 2001. I was at that time the pastor of Central Presbyterian Church in the heart of downtown Columbus, Ohio. There are several large, high-end hotels in the immediate vicinity of the church.] Tuesday, September 11, 2001 7:30 … Continue reading Pastor Notes #8 (9/11/2001) — Presence as Ministry
Pastor Notes #7
[From a pastor's notebook; the names and places have been changed to protect identities.] He is in the ICU at the local hospital. His heart is failing. He has a pacemaker, but it is not much help since the muscles of his heart are very weak. Why? I don't know. Before I went up to … Continue reading Pastor Notes #7
Pastor Notes #6
A pastoral note to an early, middle-aged widow who had just announce her engagement to be remarried, names and certain other details have been changed to protect confidentiality: I'm sorry I didn't respond as soon as I received you letter. I intended to, but it has been an unexpectly hectic week or so. I really … Continue reading Pastor Notes #6
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.
Gary Chorpenning's Notebooks 