A year ago this week, I was buying a new suit to interview for the position of Senior Minister at the church where I had spent most of my adult life. (In case I needed new clothes to impress you!) My stomach was in knots. I was hopeful and excited. I still feel butterflies as I remember the night the board voted to call me. I was pinching myself and my heart was pounding in my throat!
By Dr. Dina Pannabecker Evans, Director of Operations and Co-Director of Music In the place of my perspective, I offer this letter from my parents (with their permission): Dear Dina, How excited we were to hear that Country Club Christian Church was going to livestream its Sunday morning worship service! It would Read More...
The life and legacy of Rev. Billy Graham has been on my mind since his death. When anyone dies it is natural to pause and reflect on his or her life and what we learn from their triumphs and missteps. In Rev. Graham’s case, his ministry is so interwoven with history that it beckons us to look back on our collective journey during his 99 years.
Do you remember the story about the woman sitting in a lecture when the speaker announced “that the average Episcopalian invites a friend to church once every 21 years”? And the lady exclaimed “Oh, good, I don’t have to do that for another 11 years.” There are good reasons for not inviting folks.
By Lisa McLeish, Director of Early Childhood Programs The week(s) leading up to February 14 were full of excitement as children picked out cards and treats to share with their classmates, created all kinds of Valentine art and worked extra hard on being kind to others. The culmination was parties that involved Read More...
Space does not permit me to name the differences between serving in the seminary and the local church, although as Fred Craddock used to rightly remind folks, the seminary is the education wing of the church. One year ago, I began my time at Country Club Christian as the interim guest preacher. A year later I’m on staff full-time. Many of you have asked how it’s going, do I like it, those sorts of inquiries.
During these 40 days of Lent, many of us look for ways to deepen the spiritual journey. One way is to pray, to have a conversation with the Divine One. But getting started with prayer isn’t always so easy. First you need to get yourself in the right frame of mind. One way that I like to pray is to first open a book
By Elizabeth Pfalzgraf, Assistant Director of Children and Student Ministries Ash Wednesday holds an additional purpose in our Student Ministry; the start of Pastors’ Class for our 6th graders! Through the season of Lent, these students, along with their faith mentors, meet each Wednesday night to gain a deeper understanding of faith Read More...
Life has a way of taking us back to places we thought we once said goodbye to. There is in some way a ritual when leaving a place – we begin to take in the sights, the smells, the tastes, the memories of laughter and crying, the ways we have grown and changed.
I don’t ever remember this happening before. Ash Wednesday will fall on Valentine’s Day. And Easter will fall on April Fool’s Day. Or perhaps I should say the reverse: Valentine’s will fall on Ash Wednesday and April Fool’s will fall on Easter. Surely the observance of the Christian traditions of Ash Wednesday Read More...
By Anne Haraughty, Ministries Coordinator The schools my children attend are promoting a Kindness Challenge this week which prompted me to give acts of kindness some extra thought. It sounds easy to be kind, but, in reality, being kind often takes thought and effort. I often miss opportunities to be kind because Read More...
By Rev. Catherine Stark-Corn, Interim Minister of Children, Youth and Families The sounds of trotting feet and nervous giggles came from behind the curtain as the 1st graders moved into place to perform their song and dance. The music filled the large room and the curtains drew back to reveal 20 decked Read More...
As I write, it is the 25th anniversary of a snow day in Telluride, Colorado, where the temperature hovered around zero, I took that risk we call marriage. The first year was the most difficult.
At Country Club Christian Church we don’t just talk about it, we Celebrate Membership! Last month we held our first Celebration of Membership and welcomed 13 individuals into our faith community. This is a celebration because we know the benefits it brings to each person as well as to our community. Membership is taken seriously here because it really does matter.
When my son was 10 he refused to practice the guitar. I told his teacher he wanted to quit. “Good,” said the teacher, “I want him to quit also.” This was not one of my finer “mother” moments. Should we push harder, I wondered?
