a pastor’s perspective

New Location

Sun, 4 Jul 2010 23:25:03 -0400

Sammy’s Blog Has Moved to sammywilliams.wordpress.com

Donald Miller

Sun, 2 May 2010 23:06:57 -0400

Donald Miller spoke at Northminster last Wednesday night, and it was an amazing event! Logan and Ronnie found us backstage and Ronnie took this picture. Logan has on his official “Event Staff” t-shirt.

It takes a village to host an event like this. Mary Beth coordinated a great group of volunteers. You guys are the best!! Don and his manager Brett were lavish with their praise for how well everything ran. We welcomed about 450 people into our sanctuary. That’s pretty amazing when you think about it: 450 people paying $12-15 to hear an author speak for an hour and a half.

I got to introduce Don (more about that below). First, I picked him up at his hotel, and we had about an hour together before he spoke. What a humble, kind, thoughtful guy. He asked questions about Richmond as we drove, and he was especially interested in VCU, so we detoured through the campus on the way to Northminster. At the church several folks snuck backstage before the show, and he was extraordinarily gracious with everyone—autographs, pictures, the whole bit.

I figured that since I was introducing him I would have the chance to tell the audience a little about Northminster. I guessed that 30 seconds was my limit for a commercial if I wanted it to have a positive impact. So how do you describe our church in half a minute? Here’s what i came up with:

What distinguishes Northminster is our diversity: this congregation is racially diverse, socio-economically diverse, generationally diverse. And there is a richness in this diversity. Our calling is to love God, to love people and in the process to see lives transformed. Our focus is action and contemplation, we build relationships by participating in worship and working together for social justice. If this sounds like good news to you, and you are not connected with a congregation, we would love for you to check us out on Sunday.

Then it was on to the introduction. I have enjoyed Don’s books a lot. I appreciate how he has been open about his life, his journey, his quest for an authentic faith. During the introduction, I mentioned a couple of obscure facts about him, and then I referenced a recent blog in which he suggests that from time to time it is good for pastors to ask people to leave the church if they’re not serious about living out their faith. It was good for a laugh. Here’s how I concluded the introduction:

As I prayed about out how to introduce Don, this is what I was given. About 40 years ago Glen Hinson wrote a book called Seekers After Mature Faith. This title describes Don Miller. He is searching for what it means to follow Jesus authentically in this culture, at this time. While he is searching, with his books, he has constructed a window into his life. As I’ve stood at his window, looking in at his life story, I have laughed, I have cried, I have been challenged to rethink and reframe categories, and then I have walked away wanting to write a better life story. Through his writing, Don’s books encourage me to follow Jesus more authentically, and that, my friends, is not a small gift.

I am grateful to be part of a community that is willing to step out in faith, to try new things, to risk failure.

3W (Earth Week Edition)

Mon, 19 Apr 2010 21:33:43 -0400

“The earth is the LORD’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it.” Psalm 24:1

This week is Third Wednesday. You don’t want to miss it! Bryon and Nicole are preparing another delicious meal, we will worship together and learn about the Donald Miller event next week, Elizabeth Lott and I will lead the adult Bible studies (we’re calling the study “God is Green”), the children will be planting flowers, and the youth—I’m not certain of all the details but water balloons are involved.

3W has been fun. And what I enjoy most is the energy you bring when we gather. One thing Northminster has taught me is: where there is energy, the Spirit is present.

Thursday is Earth Day, and I’ve found myself thinking about 20 years ago. We had been in our house about 5 months. Free was 10, Aaron was 5. Lynda had the idea that we celebrate Earth Day by planting trees in our bare front yard. (Full disclosure: the boys and I were not exactly thrilled at the idea. And, yes, we did complain. A lot. But thankfully, even though she was outnumbered by hard-headed males, Lynda refused to back down in the face of pressure.)

We went to Costco and bought two trees—a Bradford Pear and a Japanese Cherry. Well, they were hardly trees at that point. They were about this size:

We brought them home in the van, and the boys and I dug the holes. As we covered the root balls with topsoil, we had a little ceremony of blessing, and then we went about our business.....for two decades.

Sometimes the small things we do grow beyond our expectations.

I honestly didn’t think the pear and cherry trees would live long. Costco isn’t exactly known for selling quality trees. But they have thrived.

We have to trim the cherry every year to keep it from growing into the house. And the pear lost a huge main branch 5 years ago. It’s looked a little lopsided ever since, but it has valiantly filled in its bare side.

I just walked out into the street and snapped a picture of our Earth Day trees which are now taller than the house.

Sometimes the small things we do will surprise us.

Thanks to Mary Beth, there is now a large, green dumpster in the back parking lot. It’s for recycling paper, cardboard, bottles, cans, etc. It’s a small thing. But in time the difference we make just might surprise you.

See you Wednesday night at 3W. I promise, you don’t want to miss it!

Who We Are

Thu, 15 Apr 2010 12:05:08 -0400

We’ve been saying for awhile that our purpose at Northminster is to love God, love people and transform lives. I really like the way this phrase comes to life in the drawing above (thanks Logan and Mary Beth!). What a neat picture of who we are called to be.

And for another picture of who we are, check out this video from our friends at VCU:

About 8 years ago Lynda Weaver-Williams, a professor at VCU, and Jeannie Murdock, the mother of Northminster’s food ministry, put their heads together about how VCU students could volunteer in the Food Pantry. Jeannie spoke to some classes, students began to volunteer, and now the VCU connection is crucial to our Food Pantry, Free Market and Weekly Tutoring.

It’s another way that we love God, love people and in the process see lives transformed.

New Message Series

Tue, 6 Apr 2010 14:35:36 -0400

Since ancient times, the church has celebrated Easter not just as a day but as a season. The gospels report that after Resurrection Day Jesus appeared to his followers numerous times, teaching them important truths about living in a world changed forever by the resurrection.

Join us at Northminster as we spend the next month listening to the stories of people who had face-to-face encounters with the risen Lord.

When Easter Happens…

4/11 Conviction Arises
Followers from Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35)

4/18 Hope Emerges
Mary Magdalene (John 20:11-18)
(We will hear from our four members who recently traveled to Haiti.)

4/25 Doubts Resolve
Thomas (John 20:24-29)

5/2 Forgiveness Takes Root
Simon Peter (John 21:15-23)