The Simple Joy of Mail
Have you ever noticed the face of someone when they receive an unexpected piece of mail? For many of our elderly or shut-in members, checking the mail is part of the simple routine of the day. Most of the time, this results in sorting through all the advertisements and requests for money, which is then…
Read More10 Ways Churches Can Get Through the Economic Downturn
It’s not always easy or pleasant to talk about money. As a church, we often want to put our trust in God that He will provide in such a time of need … but the reality is, the church needs money to continue to operate. We surveyed subscribers about how Covid-19 is affecting their budgets and…
Read MoreOf Practices, Presence and Peace
This month’s guest writer is the Rev. Dr. Rob Apgar-Taylor. When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jewish authorities, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”…
Read MoreFree Resources from Our Sister Publications
May 7, 2020 The past few months have been challenging for church communities and those who minister to them. As a Homiletics subscriber, you’ve received e-mails offering free resources from several of Homiletics’ sister publications. Below is a summary of these free resources. You may download them for unrestricted, re-distributable use to help you through…
Read MoreFree Resources for Our Elderly and Homebound Members
Our homebound members have been our minds through this trying time, including those who live alone or are unable to leave their homes due to the ever-increasing shelter at home orders. As a way to try and stay connected, we are providing 4 days worth of devotions and activities from our sister publication HomeTouch Ministry…
Read MoreOn the Necessity of Communion in Diaspora
By the Rev. Dr. Rob Apgar-Taylor It was a Wednesday night in January, 1991, when we got the news. I was a student at Wesley Seminary, and the first U.S. bombs had just fallen on Baghdad. We immediately started planning a worship service at 9:00 that night. What to pray? What words could bring…
Read MoreThe Danger in Social Distancing
Psalm 100, 2 Corinthians 4:7-10 With the coronavirus spreading, we are wise to practice social distancing. But do not fall into isolation, which can lead to despair. The coronavirus is afflicting us, perplexing us and even striking some of us down. Schools are closing, restaurants are shutting down and congregations are no longer…
Read MoreA Pastor’s Note of Support from Homiletics Online
Dear colleagues in ministry, Just a note to express our support and understanding of the particular challenges we face as pastors during this time of national – global – upheaval. Many of our churches – if not most – are now shuttered because of the possibility of contagion, practicing “social distancing” to minimize the possibility…
Read MoreTHE P-WORD
I was recently cruising the buffet at a neighborhood gathering with a lot of “unchurched” (or de-churched, or non-churched, or whatever we’re calling “them” these days) and got into one of those typical conversations that we clergy types tend to stumble into. After some winsome discussion of our golf games and how the baseball season…
Read MoreThe Great Unfinished
Meals at the Kaylor household are often an eclectic mix of cuisines, with my wife Jennifer being a vegan and our daughter Hannah and I being regular omnivores (me slightly trending toward carnivore). It’s actually been good for all of us to eat a more plant-based diet, and it’s led me to try some things…
Read More