Words from Washington

My former professor, hero, mentor, and spiritual giant is coming to speak at Mount Vernon Place on this Thursday, June 25 before continuing...

Earlier today, my colleagues and I were in a staff meeting when we heard a door open. As a downtown church, we try to make sure we are alway...

This afternoon afforded some of those moments when my only response is to think, "I cannot believe I get paid to do this work."   ...

A statement in the newest issue of Time Magazine, the June 1 issue, caught my attention today. The article is about the large wall that is...

I'm in Atlanta this week, soaking in several sermons a day at the Festival of Homiletics.  So far, I have heard preaching giants like De...

Several weeks ago, prior to wedding season, when I was blogging regularly, I clipped an article from the Washington Post. The article appear...

I started a new book this week, "How Starbucks Saved My Life." It is an extraordinary story, writte n by Michael Gates Gill, that...

A Whole New World! John 20:1-18 April 12, 2009 Easter Sunday Donna Claycomb Sokol Mount Vernon Place UMC, Washington There have been a few t...

I set my alarm for 6:30 this morning but could hardly get out of bed - even when the clock said 8:15 a.m.  My body, mind, and spirit seem to...

It's cold and rainy in Washington, DC today.  It is not the kind of day when you rush to step outside, go for a long walk, marveling at ...

"But is this not what we covered last year?" Father Mark asked, after a period of silence in which he appeared to be looking deep ...

I caught a glimpse of the church yesterday. I was not at the church. In fact, I was several blocks away from any church. I caught a glimp...

We are working on a job description for a "Director of Music and the Arts" at Mount Vernon Place . As part of the process, I wrote...

I had conversations this week with another friend who has left the church. Jason grew up in the United Methodist Church. He spent years in y...

Earlier this month, I gathered with a group of my clergy colleagues as I do on the first Tuesday of every month. The topic of conversation ...

I wore a clergy collar today.  Tucked underneath a black suit jacket with a long black skirt, I looked very smart, if I do say so myself.  I...

It's Lent.  For me, Lent is always a time to try to re-program my life.  Similar to the start of a New Year, I try to spend the days bef...

I have just returned from my second 'retreat' as a member of our Conference's Board of Ordained Ministry.  I spent two days this...

An article on the front page of today's Metro section reads, "D.C. school officials have registered about 462 homeless students thi...

I'm thinking of wearing jeans to church tomorrow.  I know that I won't, but I am tempted to trade my normal suit and heals for jeans...