Denominations might be headed for death. But for Christians death is not the end.
Author
Jenny Williams
The Rev. Jennifer C. Williams is currently the pastor of Wesley United Methodist Church in Kingwood, West Virginia. She was born into a large urban congregation in southern California, and has previously served and worked in a variety of church settings. In North Carolina she was an intern at rural small-membership churches and an associate pastor at a large suburban church, and in West Virginia she was the pastor of a two point charge in small towns and later a station church in a small town. Her lectionary reflections have been published in the Christian Century and Homily Service. She has a B.A. from the University of California at Santa Barbara, and an M. Div from Duke Divinity School. Currently, Jenny is the “mean mom” because she won’t yet permit her 7-year-old daughter to read Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire due to its theme of adolescent romance and because she is opposed to her 5-year-old son’s habit of picking his nose during the children’s sermon.
Jenny Williams: Love from those who leave
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Jenny Williams
I’ve often preached that we ought to love others who are different from ourselves. But it is humbling to be on the receiving end of that love.
“Idiocracy” and “Fahrenheit 451” both predict a future without reading. The church can be another future -- through resistance, treasuring wisdom, and dirt.
Jenny Williams: Is it 'the holidays' or Advent?
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Jenny Williams
Small practices can allow us to reclaim Advent as a preparation for Christ rather than ‘the holidays’ consumerist busy-ness.
“What distractions in your life are pulling you away from God?” It was a transformative question for me. My distractions are not tasks but attitudes.
Jenny Williams: Our interruptions are our work
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Jenny Williams
What did Jesus do when he was interrupted? Or Simon of Cyrene when ordered to carry this man’s cross?
Jenny Williams: You can't lead without others
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Jenny Williams
For SEVEN years, when my accountability group asked if I engaged in daily devotion, I reported “No.” It was the patience and prodding of my fellow clergy brothers and sisters that helped me actually do it.
Jenny Williams: When NOT to lead like Jesus
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Jenny Williams
Should not leaders take their cues from Jesus? When dealing with the bully in an organization, perhaps not.
Apply for a Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grant
Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grants from the Calvin Institute for Christian Worship are designed for worshiping communities. These grants allow a wide range of Christian worshiping communities to focus on projects that connect public worship with Christian discipleship and faith formation. Funding awards range from $8,000 to $25,000.
The grants support year-long projects that show promise in fostering renewed or strengthened worship practices within worshiping communities in the United States or Canada. Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grants for teacher-scholars are also available. Applications for the October 15 deadline will open on July 15, 2026.
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