Rev. Dr. Jeff Garrison
Jeff GarrisonBluemont and Mayberry ChurchSeptember 18, 2022Galatians 1:11-2:10 At the beginning of worship Why do we tell our stories? What purpose do they serve? Well, they can be entertaining, which is important. I like to laugh. It’s good for the soul. But there are more important purposes to our stories. I have heard about the … Read more God’s Call and Church Unity
I am trying to catch up on reading reviews. Below are four reviews that contain fiction, poetry, philosophy, and history. I will start with the lighter books and move on to the more heavy ones. There’s something here for everyone! Aaron McAlexander, This Old Store (Stonebridge Press, 2014), 95 pages including photos and maps. There really … Read more Catching up on my reading
Jeff GarrisonBluemont and Mayberry ChurchesSeptember 11, 2022Luke 10:1-20 At the beginning of worship Do you ever want to do something big for God? You know, when we try to impress someone, we often try to do something that’s over the top. We buy our sweetheart the largest and best decorated heart filled with chocolate for … Read more Subsistence Discipleship
Dave and my introduction to Blue Hole Canoes In the winter of 1976, I was a freshman at University of North Carolina at Wilmington. One night, I attended the local Sierra Club meeting. The hot topic at the time was the protection of the New River, a river I’d paddled and felt I should become … Read more Dave, Blue Hole Canoes, Bill, Bob, and a book review
Jeff GarrisonMayberry and Bluemont ChurchesSeptember 4, 2022Luke 9:46-50 At the beginning of worship: Supposedly, the great 19th Century “Prince of Preachers, Charles Spurgeon, was met at the doors of London’s Metropolitan Tabernacle one Sunday by an older woman. Greeting the preacher, she bragged that she had been very careful all week and hadn’t sinned at all. … Read more Called to Service, Not to Privilege
Montreat I’ve been on vacation this past week, which is why I didn’t post a sermon on Sunday. Instead, I spent five days at Montreat, a Presbyterian conference and retreat center in the mountains of North Carolina. While there, I caught up with an old friend from the time when we both lived in Hickory, … Read more Catching up and two book reviews
Jeff GarrisonBluemont and Mayberry ChurchesAugust 21, 2022Luke 9:37-45 At the Beginning of Worship: What is the most faithful way to pray? Do we tell God what we want and need? Or do we turn to God with open arms and allow God to do what is best? I supposed most people tell God what they … Read more God Knows Best
Recently I have posted memoir pieces of my years in seminary: Professor von Waldow: the German Tank Commander Dean Mauser and his secretary The Great Seminary Hoax of 1986 I took the school year 1988-89 off in order to be a student pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Virginia City, Nevada. Over the years since, … Read more Matt, Virginia City, 1988
Jeff GarrisonBluemont & Mayberry ChurchesAugust 14, 2022Luke 9:28-36 At the beginning of worship: What do you think of doubt? Do you think of it as the opposite of faith? Can doubt be a means God uses to draw us closer and help us trust more? I recently read a book based on the later position. … Read more Listen to Jesus
Two weeks ago, in a sermon, I told about the “duck parties” held at seminary. Today, I am posting a story about some nonsense that occurred during my first term at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Other recent posts include memories of Professor von Waldow and Dean Mauser and his secretary. Good memories. My only experience in … Read more The Great Seminary Hoax of 1986