Deacon Sil's Blog

Pericopes for June 15

2008-06-11T19:43:00.002-04:00

I have completed a check of all the links for this week's gospel text (alleluia!!). Will now look at the other texts and complete my upload of new links. Hope you find it all helpful!!
Sil

readings for June 8

2008-06-06T23:06:00.003-04:00

After doing a complete review of links for last week's readings, my good intentions were sabotaged by a computer crash on Tuesday. It took me all of Wednesday and into Thursday to get all of my programs up and running again even though I use several back up programs (Norton Ghost, Norton GoBack, Norton 360 and Storage Sync). Anyway, it put my schedule way behind.
Please be assured that I should be able to work my through everything again next week. Many thanks for your patience!!
Sil

illustrated links

2008-05-26T10:25:00.003-04:00

At last, we have reached the point where I began to separate out my illustrated materials for each week's gospel passage three years ago (alleluia!!). Now I will just have to add a short synopsis of any illustrations for those links and double-check the remaining links for accuracy. This will leave me more time to update each week's other Scripture pages for illustrated materials, if there are sufficient links to warrant the breakout.
I hope you are finding the breakout of illustrated materials helpful (in speaking to some of you on the phone or via email, many had indicated that all they were looking for was a relevant story, which is what motivated the breakout in the first place). And I do appreciate your patience as I worked through this time-consuming process.
Sil

Illustration Summary for Ordinary 3 (Epiphany 3)

2008-01-21T13:40:00.000-05:00

Having just completed my update of the illustrated material for this Sunday, I thought I would put a few thoughts together. Several authors used the illustrations from "Tucker" the movie (including Lee Griess in
The Chance of a Lifetime), the Awakening Prisoner (see sermon of the same name by Jim McCrea), Jim Egan and founders of Apple (see Catch of the Day by Billy Strayhorn) and a woman who sends flowers every month for her dead son's grave (see Evangelization Frees Us by Michael Phillips). Two sermons focus on hymns (see Lord, You Have Come to the Lakeshore by John Ewing Roberts and Have You Heard? by Mark Trotter, which focuses on "Dear Lord and Father of Mankind").
As usual, there is some excellent exegesis from Brian Stoffregen and also check out Fishing at the Time of Jesus by Elizabeth McNamer.
Finally, several authors focus on the theme of apprentice (including sermon of the same name by James Standiford and Jesus on Tour by Billy Strayhorn) and leaving our comfort zones (see Benjamin Sim).
Anyway, hope that helps. Happy sermonizing!!

audio files

2008-01-05T19:12:00.000-05:00

Question: I was wondering how helpful you, my members, might find audio file links. Personally, I wouldn't use them, but perhaps you all might. Let me know what you think!

Epiphany2

2008-01-03T20:05:00.000-05:00

There are several very well known authors who have tackled this passage of the Magi which you can find under "Illustrated Resources from the Archives" including O. Henry, T. S. Eliot and Henry Van Dyke. You may want to check them out if you haven't done so already. As usual, I would recommend Jerry Fuller's efforts from several years also in that section of the page. FWIW!!
Sil

Epiphany

2008-01-02T10:33:00.000-05:00

There are a couple of songs that you might find of interest this weekend: Home by Another Way by James Taylor and one you probably have not heard of before, Miracle by David Wilcox. Until I get the hang of this blogging, the links are in the "Hymn Suggestions" section of this week's front page. You might also enjoy Dan Bollerud's "Christmas Wrap" in the "Illustrated Resources from 2005 to 2007" portion of the Matthew text. Until next time!

initial welcome

2007-12-31T21:17:00.000-05:00

I have started this blog to inform you, my members, of things on the site which may be beneficial in a more informal way than on the page. For example, some members have asked that I note the denomination of contributors to the site. I have not done so because I firmly believe that we can find inspiration from others not of our own denomination and should peruse the site with as open a mind as possible. I have always maintained that after a few weeks of use, you will start to gravitate to certain authors whose work you have enjoyed in the past. For example, if you are looking for illustrations, you might want to check out Jerry Fuller's contributions which are in the illustrated materials from the archives. Jerry's contributions always included several illustrations which he had culled from the numerous subscription services to which he belonged.
Likewise, I do not assign titles to contributors since I believe that, as clergy, we are all on an equal footing. Again, for example, I always go by "Sil" unless I believe someone will not recognize who I am unless I identify myself as "Deacon Sil".
Anyway, I would also welcome any comments you might have about the site and who your favorite contributors are. Let's go blogging!!