Hi! - from Scott Nichols

Welcome to my little corner of the blogosphere. Feel free to look around. Ask questions. Handle the merchandise. Just remember if you break it - you bought it!

Allow me to introduce myself...Scott Nichols, currently senior pastor of Faith Reforemd Church of Midland Park, NJ, a position I have been privileged to have for almost 12 years now. I am a transplant from the Midwest. Born, raised and educated in Iowa. I worked at churches in Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan and South Dakota...Read more.

The Pride of the Pulpit and the Pride of the Pews - from Tim Ten Clay

As far as I'm concerned, the word “pride” is a rather unfortunate word. On one hand it can refer to something healthy and appropriate (to be “proud” of one's accomplishments) on the other hand it can refer to a sin so deep that in the Roman Catholic tradition, it's referred to as a “deadly sin.” While I certainly don't believe in “deadly sins,” there is a certain amount of wisdom in the recognition that pride can be powerfully destructive.

Eventually maybe I'll write about a “healthy pride” in the pews and in the pulpit but for now, I'd like to note the later kind—the kind that's destructive and, yes, sinful...Read more.

Paradise on Fire!!! Please PRAY!!! - from Ron Spence

I live a few miles from one of the big fires here in Southern California. We are asking everyone to pray for all of the people who are in harm's way, and for those who have lost homes as well.

Times like these bring us to our knees and closer to God and then the next question is, WHY? What an impossible, pressing and crushing question. We see the TV coverage of various natural and human created disasters and we shake our heads and feel bad...Read more.

Mission Consultation - from Stacey Midge

I'm currently in Grand Rapids, coming down the home stretch of a three-day consultation on the future of global mission in the RCA. It's a pretty fascinating group of people, as diverse in geography, ethnicity, age, citizenship, background, and perspective as any I've ever encountered in our denomination. I find myself wishing General Synod looked more like this (preferably with a little more gender balance, but I guess we can't have it all). Not all of us are entirely sure why we were invited. I thought I knew why I was invited, but now that I've experienced the process, I'm not so sure...but I'm glad...Read more.

Classis Identity Crisis - from Mara Joy Norden

This is a follow-up post to my last entry, "Are Ministers employees of the church members they serve?"

I want to tell you that I felt sad as I finished my previous entry. As I reviewed sections of the BCO and wrote that piece, the way things could be came into clear view, particularly as it relates to classes and their potential to provide advocacy and wise counsel between congregations and ministers. But not all classes live up to that call. It’s a big job, and often geographical, financial, and people-power constraints prevent classis from being what it could. I have recently moved to...Read more.

Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 46 - from Kevin DeYoung

Since January I have been writing a weekly commentary/devotional on the Lord's Days of the Heidelberg Catechism for my congregation. This Sunday is Lord's Day 46. If you are interested in reading other weeks, go to http://www.urc-msu.org/devotions.cfm...Read more.

Are Ministers employees of the church members they serve? - from Mara Joy Norden

This question came up in a family discussion recently. As is my custom, I couldn’t articulate my thoughts about the topic well when the conversation was actually happening, but have thought about it alot since then. So here is my delayed part in that conversation. I would like to hear other people’s thoughts on this as well.

For parish ministers on a day-to-day basis, the reality is that different individuals and groups have varying agendas (spoken in varying volumes) for the pastor’s work...Read more.

Introduction - from Mara Joy Norden

I'm pleased to be part of this Church Herald blog and am curious about how these interactions could contribute to our life together in the Reformed Church in America.

I would like readers to know me, inasmuch as that is possible. To that end here are some dry facts. Hopefully you'll be able to put some meat on these facts as time goes on.

I am Rev. Mara Joy Norden...Read more.

Hello! - from David Vandervelde

Hello. My name is David Vandervelde and I am the pastor of Bethel Reformed Church in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. I have been pastor at Bethel Church for almost nine years. I am happily married to my wife Heather, and have twobeautifulgirls. Hannah is seven and Rebekah is five. I very much enjoy ministry...Read more.

Heavy is the Crown - from Erik Buteyn

William Shakespeare often wrote about the weight of leadership. In many of his histories, Shakespeare depicted insomniac rulers that struggled with the responsibility of serving as King. The image of the crown as the mantle of leadership was often described as a heavy weight. In Richard II, King Richard reveals his struggle with kingship to his rival and eventual successor Henry Bolingbroke with this phrase, “Heavy is the Crown.” Henry repeats this sentiment...Read more.