An update from the gift task force, reflections on worship at Reveille
, and much more. Get it while its hot.
Reveille UMC Newsletter for August, 2017
28 Friday Jul 2017
Posted in information, worship
Author Archives: Douglas Forrester
Dr. Melvin Ely’s Sermon for June 18, 2017
21 Wednesday Jun 2017
Posted in from others
Dr. Melvin Ely, a lifelong member of Reveille, preached on Annual Conference Sunday and he did such a tremendous job. Do yourself a favor and listen to it, and learn about imagining a better, just, equitable, and loving world. Then go work for it.
Hope
31 Wednesday May 2017
Posted in from others
In this video, Fl
orida Conference Bishop Ken Carter shares “7 Reasons” why he believes that The United Methodist Church will remain united.
Some Thoughts on my Alma Mater
13 Saturday May 2017
Posted in from others
My friend and colleague Alex Joyner has a blog that you should be reading. Seriously, close that tab with cat pictures on it and go read it now. In this post, he offers a characteristically measured reflection on a controversy at Duke University Divinity School about why context in theological reflection matters.
Thoughts on the Trial of Bishop Oliveto by Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson, North Georgia Conference UMC.
29 Saturday Apr 2017
Posted in from others
I found this letter by Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson of the North Georgia Conference to be a thoughtful, detailed, pastoral response to Friday’s Judicial Council ruling.
Sermons Page Updated
27 Thursday Apr 2017
Posted in worship
Our sermons page has been updated. If you would like to hear this year’s Easter sermon 
(“The One Thing You Cannot Do”) and the first sermon of our “Gospel According to Calvin and Hobbes” series, you can do so by clicking here, or by following the link to the iTunes Store.
The Richmond Preaching Fellowship at Reveille United Methodist Church
23 Thursday Feb 2017
Posted in information
What
follows is a dream I have had for the last couple of years, as my time on the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry was drawing to a close. The premise is simple: what if there were a facilitated gathering of persons on the Provisional journey who covenanted together to give each other feedback in love around our respective pulpit ministries, so that we can become the best preachers we can be.
Details can be found below, as well as registration information. If you are preparing for Provisional or Full Connection membership, check it out. I’d love to see you in Richmond. Groups will begin meeting in April.
The Prayers of the People for 29 January 2017
01 Wednesday Feb 2017
Posted in worship
This is, in full, the prayer I prayed at 11:00 on Sunday. It includes words from the sonnet “The New Colossus” by the American poet Emma Lazarus (1849–1887) which was written in 1883. It also includes a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from his “Letter From Birmingham Jail.”
Righteous, just, and merciful God, we gather here in your name this day to praise you for your goodness, your generosity, and your love for all of humankind, and for your affectionate, intimate love for each of us. You truly know us as we are, and still you love us. We turn away from you, yet in your grace, you pursue us.
We gather here, in the sure and certain hope of your steadfast lovingkindness, to lift up our needs before you. We pray for those who are sick and in need of your healing. We pray for those who are grieving and in need of your comfort, those who are dying and in need of your hope. We pray for sinners in need of your redeeming, and for those who doubt who are in need of your light. We pray for the anxious who are in need of your peace. We pray for men and women in the armed forces, especially those who are deployed away from loved ones, and we pray for all people who work for peace and justice throughout the world.
The Sermon for January 8 (Snow Day)
07 Saturday Jan 2017
Posted in worship
Well, it’s happened again. Richmond is covered with snow and we had to cancel worship. This video is the sermon that begins our new series “God’s Plan for Your Life” and is titled “Your Credentials for Ministry.” Check it out. You are more powerful than you think.
New Year’s Resolutions: Managing Email
23 Friday Dec 2016
Posted in information
About ten years ago, I was on a Board of Ordained Ministry seminary visit to Union Presbyterian in Richmond when I asked Beth Downs if I could create and lead a workshop at Conference residency events on the management of time, information, and technology. She agreed.
For the uninitiated, residency events are designed for people who are seeking ordination in our church, people who in the “provisional journey” between commissioning and ordination. These events are provided to offer these nascent clergypersons helpful tools for ministry.
In these workshops, one thing I would discuss is how to manage email, and in this post, I would like to share with you what works for me, as email management is something at which I think I am actually pretty good.
So then, if your New Year’s resolution is to become more organized, read on.
Going on to Imperfection 