This week we continue our pilgrimage home to the self and to God through the eyes of 4th century mystic Evagrius Ponticus. The past two weeks, we have discussed demons that attack through the body and the passions. Now we arrive at the reasonable demons: vainglory and vanity, later known together as pride. I say reasonable demons because, according to …
CitC folk out and about
Always nice to see our people pursuing their passions and working for a better world. Jann Aldredge-Clanton was awarded an honorable mention in a hymn writing contest with the Alliance of Baptists, the organization to which our church belongs. The hymns were written to celebrate 25 years of ministry and mission by the Alliance and were intended to give voice …
Demons of Resistance (Sermon and Program)
Some have requested that I make the opening and closing comments to our conversations available as well as our programs. Bear in mind that the conversation is a conversation, so the middle part is just questions that may or may not have been asked on Sunday. I hope they are questions readers will find fruitful to consider. Program Opening Comments …
Demons of Desire (Sermon and Program)
Some have requested that I make the opening and closing comments to our conversations available as well as our programs. Bear in mind that the conversation is a conversation, so the middle part is just questions that may or may not have been asked on Sunday. I hope they are questions readers will find fruitful to consider. Program Opening Comments …
Demons of Resistance: Sadness, Anger, and Acedia
One of my Lenten practices this time is to fast on Mondays. The hunger is not the worst part. Rather, I find myself watching the clock and wondering when dinner is. When I realize that I’m not going to eat dinner, it is devastating, not because I want the food, but because I want to get away from what I’m …
Demons of Desire: Gluttony, Lust, and Avarice
As I’m sure you all remember, dear readers, we are spending Lent with 4th century mystic Evagrius Ponticus, taking a pilgrimage back to the self and God. Sadly, our journey is thwarted by adversaries, demons that seek to distract us from our task. This past Sunday, we met our first adversary in the story of Jacob wrestling in the night. …
When Demons Attack
I struggle with sin. Not so much the doing of it, though I do my fair share, but the naming of it. I struggle with how to talk about sin or think about sin. Like many of us, I grew up in a church that used guilt and shame to win conversions. And, after the conversion, the guilt and shame …
Celebrate Mardi Gras CITC style!
If you don’t find yourself in New Orleans this year but are in the mood for some Creole cooking, zydeco rythms and eccentric company then come out and celebrate Mardi Gras with Church in the Cliff tonight! 7pm at the Shirleys, 221 S. Edgefield Ave.
Fronagetarstuin
Our lectionary brings us to what is called The Transfiguration, where Jesus transforms into a divine figure on a mountain top to Peter, James and John. Traditionally this story has been understood as a reminder of Jesus’ divine pedigree due to thegrowing disbelief of Jesus as the Son of Man. The timing of this passage, after all, takes place along the journey to Jerusalem where we know Jesus’ fate. …
Wake up!
We don’t do a lot of preaching at CitC, but if I were to preach, I might say something like this. I wrote it for my preaching class. I hope that it becomes good news for someone. Scott ———————– Matthew 8:18-27 (NRSV) 18 Now when Jesus saw great crowds around him, he gave orders to go over to the other …