Little help here?
So I’m trying to figure out exactly what this blog will look like over the next couple of years. I’ve committed myself to putting some serious time into RLP. I thought maybe you could help me think about this.
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Forth Worth on Monday morning
Jeanene and I are still in Fort Worth. We fly home at 1:45 pm.
It was a fascinating thing for me to preach in the Broadway pulpit. Broadway Baptist Church is probably the closest thing to a cathedral you'll find among Texas Baptists. I'm used to preaching behind a battered black music stand that a local high school band teacher gave me. The nearest person is about 10 feet away. It's a more casual setting. Suddenly I was on this big stage behind a wrap-around pulpit with a microphone in my face. My words echoed in the huge room and came back to me.
It was...different. I probably should have prepared a manuscript and read it. But it went okay, I think. Not my best sermon, but okay. We stayed around afterward and reconnected with friends from the moderate to liberal Baptist crowd in Texas. Most Baptists don't want to own the liberal tag, but I don't mind it. I don't really care about labels much. Call me whatever you want.
I did remember a funny story from my past. Jeanene and I joined Broadway Baptist Church in 1984, our first year of seminary. We were both from more "low church" worship traditions. I had never heard of Advent. The first Sunday of Advent that year, I noticed the Advent wreath down front. I had never seen one before. I leaned over to Jeanene and said, "You'd think a big fancy church like this could afford 4 MATCHING candles!"
Yeah. I love that story. I love that I was that naive and innocent. And I love that Broadway was our first introduction to a larger world. It was an honor for me to preach there last night.
rlp
Broadway sanctuary with its world-class organ.
Works in Progress
“Bearing Witness,” a Foy Davis story set in Fort Davis, Texas when Foy was in 3rd grade. Part one was posted 3-17-10. Part two should be ready next week.
“Lenten Satchel,” a short essay on the strange items that make up my Lenten journey this year. Because of Tracy’s comment. Posted here 3-18-10
“Last Things,” an essay about my final days at Covenant. Soon to be published by the Christian Century. Will be linked here when it is online at the CC website.
My Latest Book
I’m proud to announce that Turtles All The Way Down came out in November of 2009. This was my first experience with the Consafo model of social media community publishing.
2000 copies were printed. We sold well over 500 as advance purchases or in the weeks leading up to Christmas. This paid for the printing costs completely.
That's okay. I just this
Submitted by Heather (not verified) on Mon, 11/10/2008 - 11:25.That's okay. I just this year discovered that the 12 days of Christmas start on Christmas day.
What I love about being in a liturgical church (among many other things): between advent and epiphany, we have a long Christmas season.
Joe the Preacher?
Submitted by MasonK (not verified) on Mon, 11/10/2008 - 12:18.Nah, I think I'll stick with arelpee.
You preached good, preacher.
Submitted by txredd on Mon, 11/10/2008 - 19:44.I thought it was a very fine sermon. I wish I had brought a couple more people to hear it.
oh brother
Submitted by Elle (not verified) on Mon, 11/10/2008 - 20:46.You're not the only one to do stupid stuff at a new church. I remember the first time my brother and I went in a Catholic church (we grew up Baptist), he washed his hands in the holy water. The second time I went to a Catholic church, they tried to make me first in the communion line.
denarius
Submitted by lex (not verified) on Mon, 11/10/2008 - 22:37.my only regret was forgetting to ask you if i could hold it. you did great. tween george mason in the AM and you in the PM, i got my antiphonal, post-election sermons.
Gordon, we're delighted and
Submitted by Charlie Johnson (not verified) on Tue, 11/11/2008 - 07:19.Gordon, we're delighted and honored to have you in the Broadway pulpit. Your sermon was a fine treatment of that old text, and helpful to us all. Good job! We'll check in with each other soon...
Charlie
Broadway Sermon
Submitted by elizabeth Nall (not verified) on Wed, 11/12/2008 - 21:41.rlp:
I am a member of Broadway and I was present at your sermon, sitting next to Pastor Charlie Johnson. That is the first sermon I have ever heard which I did not want to end.
Dr. Liz
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