Chris Yaw

Welcome! I’m an Episcopal priest serving a congregation in Metro Detroit... With a passion for gun safety... A zest for online Christian formation... A zeal for video blogging... A budding writer... A heart for those who have unintentionally harmed... A commitment to workforce housing... A love for marrying people... And a wonderful wife, three kids, and a cat... If we have common interests or not, I'd love to connect with you.

Prayers and Resources for Connecticut School Shooting Aftermath

Our hearts are grieving for yet another tragic school shooting - this one, horrifyingly, involving small children.

Many of us have young ones who may be asking about this, either sooner or later. So here's a link to a 2 page document from the National Association of School Psychologists called, 'Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers.'

In the meantime, let us pray:

Almighty God, welcome into your arms the victims of school violence. Comfort families, children, and all who mourn the tragedy of this hour. Help us in our fear and uncertainty. Bless us with the knowledge that we are secure in your love; and strengthen all those who work to bring hope out of loss and comfort out of pain. And give us wisdom and strength as a nation to address the larger issues of gun safety and availability. We ask this in the name of the One well-acquainted with grief, your Son Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit, live and reign, one God forever and ever, Amen.

Good News?

My tux was sharp, my hair was trimmed, and my fly was down.

That’s how I started off the evening as I entered a crowded fundraiser for a well known non-profit.

I mixed and mingled with the well-coifed crowd, appearing with many friends in many photographs that attest to my appearance.

Then, as Master of Ceremonies I took to the podium and was just about to begin my remarks when a dear friend leaned over and finally told me, ‘Chris, your barn door is open.’

Sure enough, white polka dot undies and all, were quite visible as I began the mental calculations: ‘Did this happen at home? How long have I looked like this? Who’s probably seen this?...’

I also wondered what things would’ve been like had I gone much farther – and exposed myself (literally) to TV cameras and a much larger crowd of people.

That’s when the nature of my friend’s comment hit me. While, no one likes to be told their fly is down, my friend had given me the best gift I would receive that night. The truth is good news.

This Sunday you and I will hear the story of crowds coming out to hear John the Baptist who tells them they’re vipers, warns them that God’s wrath is coming for them, belittles their faith, and threatens them with fiery punishment. And this is called ‘good news.

Why? Because it’s the truth.

Good news is not simply comfort, security, relief, and consolation. Good news is when truth comes to town – when we’re shown who we are, where we are, and what’s really happening.

What ‘good news’ are we shunning, avoiding, or choosing not to pay attention to? How is God using our critics to truth-tell? How might we make more time to ponder the hard but true words that are trying to bring us Good News?

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Reading

The Leadership Triangle – Kevin Ford

Paul – Donald Coogan

Naked Spirituality – Brian McLaren

Advent Decluttering

The shortest distance between two points is a straight line.

Duh.

Then how come the things I want to do I never get to do because I always seem to be doing something else?

Life gets cluttered doesn’t it?

Take my bookshelf for example, here’s where I collect the books whose reading I believe will make me a better pastor and Christ follower.

When we put that bookcase there, and hung that diploma there, our décor scheme didn’t really call for me to stack all those books exactly where they rest.

So during Advent I’m clearing them off, one by one, and by Christmas the stack will be gone.

It’s my Advent metaphor. What’s yours?

As we will hear on Sunday, Advent calls us to ‘Prepare the way of the Lord’ by making paths straight. No more meandering and mulling around, just beelines. Advent is the kick in the pants we may need to finish that project, clean off that plate, delegate this task, reassign that chore, or even eliminate it altogether.

It’s because Jesus is coming, not just on December 25^th, but at any moment.

We’re only a grace away from a car wreck, blood clot, or even that great parting of the clouds.

Are we keeping the main thing, the main thing?

What needs decluttering?

Are we just being active, or are we being productive?

How can we shorten the distance between those two points?

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Reading

Small Talk – Debra Fine

The Triumph of Christianity – Rodney Stark

Paul – Donald Coogan

Chris Yaw

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Chris Yaw

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Chris Yaw

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