We saw the film The Soloist today. As one who serves an inner city congregation and has contact with men and women who are mentally ill and who live on the streets, I found this portrayal to hold such deep truth. So many men and women who are mentally ill live on the streets. They [...]
Archive for the ‘St. Louis City’ Category
The Soloist – Mental Illness
Posted in Compton Heights Christian Church (DOC), Friendship, Mental Illness, Religious Community, St. Louis City, Urban Church on May 3, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Where’s the outrage?
Posted in Compton Heights Christian Church (DOC), Pro-Reconciliation/Anti-Racism, Racism, Religion, Sacred Spaces, Shooting, St. Louis City, Urban Church, community, gangs on May 31, 2008 | 4 Comments »
Yesterday, I took that bike ride with a woman in the congregation. It was beautiful day and we road 16 miles. It felt good. Today I talked with a colleague about the images of the shooting still in my head. The sense of anger and frustration at not being able to [...]
Shots Fired
Posted in Compton Heights Christian Church (DOC), Reconciliation, Religious Community, Shooting, St. Louis City, Urban Church, gangs on May 28, 2008 | 1 Comment »
In my dreams the very presence of the church in a place makes a difference in the community. I believe that is true with Compton Heights CC as we see people receive care and nurture – through the worship, prayer, and faith sharing in the congregation, the sharing of food and clothing with those in [...]
Discussing “Amistad”
Posted in Amistad, Compton Heights Christian Church (DOC), Open and Affirming Congregation, Pro-Reconciliation/Anti-Racism, Reconciliation, Religion, Spiritual, St. Louis City, Urban Church, progressive church on October 6, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
This evening 12 of us gathered at the church to watch and discuss the movie “Amistad”. This was a part of our denomination’s Reconciliation Ministry focus. Reconciliation is our ministry to end racism. The movie “Amistad” has been around for several years, however this year’s focus is rooted in the 200th anniversary of the abolishment [...]
The Summer Worship Dip
Posted in Open and Affirming Congregation, Religious Community, Spiritual, St. Louis City, Urban Church, Worship, community, progressive church on July 3, 2007 | 1 Comment »
These are the days of the summer worship dip — when it seems that half the congregation is off taking a dip in the pool at the time of worship on Sunday mornings. I know that this happens every year. I know that a couple of months ago I was feeling encouraged by the [...]
“Praying My Clothes”
Posted in Divine Hours, Lectio Divina, Mental Illness, Prayer, Religious Community, Sacred Spaces, Spiritual, St. Louis City, Urban Church, community, progressive church, women on June 22, 2007 | 1 Comment »
The congregation I pastor is located on a busy street, South Grand in the city. We have a food pantry, clothing room, health services, and employment counseling and emergency services. Many people come each weekday for some kind of care. A number of these are people living on the streets with untreated mental [...]
Healing Prayers
Posted in Divine Hours, Iona, Lectionary, Prayer, Sacred Spaces, Spiritual, St. Louis City, progressive church on June 19, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
As the clock moves past midnight and on to Tuesday morning, I am preparing for my lectionary study group, knowing that tomorrow’s time will be a bit different. A colleague and friend was in a bicycle accident this last Thursday and has a broken collarbone and ribs. He has asked me for prayer [...]
Noon Prayers
Posted in Divine Hours, Prayer, Religious Community, Spiritual, St. Louis City, Urban Church, community, progressive church on June 15, 2007 | Leave a Comment »
This past week we started a new “Wednesday Noon Prayers.” Each week hundreds of people come to the church for care of some kind. People come for food, clothing, health screenings, emergency referrals, utility assistance, employment counseling, computer training, community youth programs, and pastoral care. And, of course, we gather on Sundays to worship, share [...]
Not Just a Newsstand
Posted in Religious Community, Sacred Spaces, Spiritual, St. Louis City, Urban Church, community, progressive church on June 1, 2007 | 1 Comment »
I was meeting a friend and colleague for lunch today at Liluma, a favorite restaurant in the Central West End. I was early so I asked for a table outside along the sidewalk. As I waited for my friend, my attention was drawn to the man who ran the newsstand on that [...]
