Words from Washington

Thoughts, questions, and reactions from the pastor of Mount Vernon Place United Methodist Church, Washington, D.C.

Friday, August 17, 2012

Saying Goodbye to a Bishop

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In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul writes, "He gave some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers. ...
Saturday, August 11, 2012

That's Where I Come From

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This morning we watched a carefully planned introduction of a candidate for Vice-President of the United States of America. The stage was ca...
1 comment:
Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Lessons from a Construction Company

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Our church, Mount Vernon Place United Methodist , is surrounded by new activity. There are condominiums, apartments, a grocery store, some...
Friday, July 13, 2012

Becoming a Bishop

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I cannot recall any of the specific lessons taught during our confirmation class but I'll never forget the day we met the bishop. I wa...
Monday, June 18, 2012

Bowing to Nebuchadnezzar vs. Dancing with God

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I introduced myself to the first-time visitors who were in worship with us last Sunday. I learned their names and told them how good it wa...
5 comments:
Thursday, May 24, 2012

Defined by Generosity

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The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each ...
Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Setting the Stage

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I went to the gym at 4:45 today with expectations of spending 20 minutes on the elliptical trainer followed by a half hour of squats, sit-...
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

But I'm Not a Mother...

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While the church never seeks to do harm, I see the church sometimes adding salt to the wound. We ask first-time visitors to stand and intr...
4 comments:
Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Going on to Perfection

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I remember standing on stage in the heat-filled auditorium at Lake Junaluska, North Carolina alongside the other candidates for ordination. ...
Thursday, April 05, 2012

Wash Feet

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He told me he comes to the church on Tuesday and Thursday mornings for coffee sometimes but chooses not to shower. "My feet got hurt,...
Monday, April 02, 2012

Quarters and Laughter

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My morning devotional from "Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals," ended yesterday with five ways to become an answer to...
1 comment:
Monday, March 19, 2012

Getting to the Heart of the Matter

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I cannot lift one of my arms right now. My thighs ache each time I climb the stairs. My back has felt tighter than it ever has before. My st...
Friday, March 16, 2012

It's Really, Really Hard

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I'm in the process of preparing to meet three admitted seminary students this afternoon who are all willing to explore the possibility o...
7 comments:
Thursday, February 23, 2012

Enslaved

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I came across a quote from Stanley Hauerwas' commentary on Matthew while preparing for yesterday's Ash Wednesday sermon. Hauerwas, i...
2 comments:
Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Making the Most of the Journey

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My husband and I spent the last four days in New York City. The trip was part of Craig's Christmas present and part of my efforts to ke...
1 comment:
Sunday, January 22, 2012

A Loss of Purpose

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There is no way I can begin to comprehend the pain that fills the Paterno home today. If I were to imagine the pain, I imagine a series of ...
Monday, January 09, 2012

The Faith of Tim Tebow

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I made a comment a couple of weeks ago on Facebook about how Tim Tebow makes prayer look so easy. I stated how I wished prayer were as simpl...
1 comment:
Tuesday, January 03, 2012

A Commitment for 2012

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In 2012, I will... slow down choose carefully trust God simplify my life So that I might... see clearly listen carefully think deeply enjo...
1 comment:
Friday, December 30, 2011

Lessons in Living and Dying

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As a Methodist, I have been taught to believe that I am going on to perfection. I even told the bishop on the day of my ordination that I ...
1 comment:
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Donna Claycomb Sokol
Since July of 2005, I have had the extraordinary privilege of watching an old church find new life. I have had a front-row seat to lives being changed, property being redeveloped, and God working in surprising ways. I ponder here about who God is, how God seems to work, why I love the church, why I'd love to change the church, and a variety of other things. I have been told that I am an external processor - perhaps this place is where I externally process what's on my heart and mind in hopes that some of what I share can be helpful.
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