Garden of Grace United Church of Christ, Columbia, S.C. Readings for the 18th Sunday after Pentecost: Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7; Luke 17:11-19 Let’s begin this morning with a little song: If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands If you’re happy and you know
For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable. (Romans 11:29) The church is in turmoil. Those with more conservative beliefs are in an uproar that the church is now including those with new ideas, those with ways they deem sinful and unnatural. The
Listen to the podcast interview Don’t write off the Right Since 1999, Soulforce has been working hard to secure a place at the table for GLBT people in church and society. They’ve staged sit-ins at Focus on the Family, protested at denominational conventions and synods,
Garden of Grace United Church of Christ, Columbia, S.C. Readings for the Ninth Sunday after Pentecost: Hebrews 11:1-16, Luke 12:32-34 This morning’s sermon title contains three words that I have never actually said in a sentence before: “Where’s my purse?” Saying those three words in
Garden of Grace United Church of Christ, Columbia, S.C. Readings for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost: Psalm 25:1-7, Luke 10:25-37 This is probably one of the most preached passages around, mainly because it’s pretty easy to write a sermon around. You have a helpless victim,
Garden of Grace United Church of Christ, Columbia, S.C. Readings: John 14:11-13, James 1:22-25 When I began seminary my mother, a faithful and faith-filled Southern Baptist woman, told me in an ominous voice, “You’ll shipwreck your faith.” You see, that’s what happens when you go
Author and activist Wayne Besen’s new book Bashing Back: Wayne Besen on GLBT People, Politics and Culture, offers a powerful defense of secular and progressive values, while unsparingly eviscerating religious charlatans and right wing hypocrites. It also provides innovative approaches towards activism and practical advice
Garden of Grace United Church of Christ, Columbia, S.C. Readings: Jonah 1:1-10, Matthew 6:25-33 Our grandson, Ayden, recently celebrated his first birthday. To join the celebration we had to make our way from Camden to Summerton where the other grandparents live. Now, at least one of us
Listen to the podcast episode I don’t understand fundamentalists. I wish I did. It would make things a whole lot easier. If I understood them, I’d know how to talk to them, how to convince them that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people of faith
Like most kids, I went to camp. Unlike most other kids, I only went once. I hated camp with a passion. My one and only experience was at Camp Pinnacle – a Christian camp in Clayton, Georgia. I was one of a herd of