Many of our churches will have in-person and online worship services this Friday. We have included all that we know of, but if your church is not listed, please email us the details and we will add them to our list. Email communication@glpby.org Share with anyone who might need this special worship connection on Christmas Eve. All of our churches…
When I was much younger, I thought that being a pastor would be a pretty good gig. Limited hours – Sunday mornings and a few meetings now and then – relatively decent pay, and sometimes it even came with a house. How hard could that be? I went a different route but still thought that this Pastor job looked pretty…
On Sunday I had the opportunity to preach via Zoom at Glendale Presbyterian Church. This is only the third time I’ve preached since the pandemic. Each church has been very different in its technology, liturgy, and location. Twice I’ve preached from home, and once inside of a church. Twice has been by Zoom and once by Facebook live. On Sunday…
Blog Post by Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard Presbytery Leader choward@glpby.org The polity of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) presupposes the fellowship of women, men, and children united in covenant relationship with one another and with God through Jesus Christ. The organization rests on the fellowship and is not designed to work without trust and love. G-1.0102 At the last Presbytery Gathering,…
Rev. Craig M. Howard Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy Transitional Leader choward@glpby.org I’m going to need my Thesaurus to find the proper words to describe the job our Committee on Local Arrangements (COLA) is doing at General Assembly. I will need help finding words to thank all of the volunteers who are participating in GA. Let me start with outstanding, and admirable.…
Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy Rev. Dr. Craig Howard, Transitional Leader choward@glpby.org Passion Drives Membership Since arriving in St. Louis, I’ve heard so much about the Missouri Botanical Garden. Last week I and a group of people volunteering at the office went over for lunch at Sassafras Café. The volunteers talked up the garden on the trip over. The place was filled…
Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy Transitional Leader Rev. Dr. Craig Howard choward@glpby.org Blended Church Imagine a congregation holding worship in a multi-use space instead of a traditional sanctuary. The ceiling shows steel cross beams and large round lighting. The walls are concrete block with sound proofing to offset the tile floor. Instead of pews bolted to the ground, the movable chairs…
Giddings-Lovejoy Transitional Presbytery Leader Rev. Dr. Craig Howard choward@glpby.org Lenten Feast I spent my Christian development in the Pentecostal church. Lent was a time of fasting and prayer. The pastor would challenge us to fast for 40 days (one meal a day, not including weekends). The church would be open each day for prayer. It was a time to seek…
Giddings-Lovejoy Transitional Presbytery Leader Rev. Dr. Craig Howard choward@glpby.org First Lesson: Mathew 7:24 – 27 Second Lesson: Hebrews 11:1 – 3 Rebuilding Foundations Our lessons today are concerned with building upon foundations. In the gospels, Jesus is saying that if we build a house without a foundation, when the rains come and flood rises, and the wind blows, the…