Tag: religion
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Refusing to let God Vanish
A poet friend posted this quote to Facebook last week. It was the anniversary of a difficult miscarriage and she posted this as a prayer that her grief enlarges instead of diminishes her. This struck me as a beautiful sentiment and so typical of a poet. I keep turning to the poets for the way…
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In the realm of the nones
I’m excited to share my most recent essay published in The Christian Century that highlights my work as a college chaplain. The “Nones” are defined as those who claim no religious affiliation and I meet many of them in my ministry. Here is a link to my article entitled, In the realm of the nones: Reflections of…
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What happens when we die?
A few years ago a student was referred to me because he was getting in a bit of trouble. He was drinking and partying too much and making some poor decisions. This behavior was out of character for this student and his professors thought it had something to do with the fact that his mother…
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When Worship Works
Worship doesn’t always work. It doesn’t work when your student pianist can’t get through a whole hymn verse without stopping and starting three times. Or when the toddler, who accidentally bumps his head, drowns out your sermon’s climactic crescendo with his screams. Or when your congregation, who faithfully shows up Sunday morning after a long…
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What I Know and What I Don’t
“Why did this happen to me?” She looked directly and desperately into my eyes as she asked, tears welling and spilling from her own. I had moved to her good, right side so she could see me after her husband had slipped out of the room to speak to the doctor. In this brief moment…
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A New Mantra: No Big Deal
I preached a dog of a sermon this past Sunday. Walking that dog for fifteen minutes in front of my small congregation was exhausting. I was working hard to connect—but since I was disconnected from my sermon, so was the congregation. Some people politely feigned attention, which I appreciated. Others stared out the church windows…
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Following a Star–A Christmas Sermon
What follows is my sermon, “Following a Star” from our Monmouth College Christmas Convocation based on Matthew 2:1-12. Writing a sermon for me is like following a star that has suddenly risen in the night sky. When I begin this journey, scripture text in hand, I have no idea where I am being led. I have…
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Death of a Preacher
The grandson’s voice was hesitant on the phone. He was calling on behalf of his grandmother who expected her preacher husband to be buried in the quiet cemetery behind the first church he had served decades ago. I was the pastor now. Perhaps the widow assumed I was younger and less experienced than I looked. …
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Stuck in Sheol, the Place of the Dead
Two Sundays ago we had fifty-five students come over to our college’s Presbyterian House for our first program of the year. It was great. We made ice cream sundaes, sat around in the grass, and listened to live music. After a little while, I led a brief devotion. To match the casual tone of the…
Teri McDowell Ott 