More Than Fair

The mother of a friend of mine is a brilliant pastry chef in the grand Southern tradition, producing insanely sweet and luscious desserts:  pecan pie, sweet potato pie, Mississippi Mud Pie (which, take my word for it, tastes a LOT better than it sounds), and so on....

Pastor’s Message: May 12, 2023

A MESSAGE FROM THE REV. J.C. AUSTIN: THE MANY FACES OF MOTHER’S DAY This coming Sunday is Mother’s Day. For many people, it’s a beloved day in which we celebrate the mothers in our lives, especially our own mothers. We give thanks for their dedication, their love,...

The Gospel of Deep Breathing

Last Monday, my son Liam officially accepted admission to Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service to pursue his undergraduate degree. I’m telling you this, in part, because unlike most parents, I have access to both a microphone and a crowd to shout it to,...

Pastor’s Message: May 5, 2023

A MESSAGE FROM THE REV. J.C. AUSTIN: A DELIGHTFUL AND MOVING SURPRISE  Last Sunday, I was completely surprised by the celebration of the church’s worship staff that had been planned for weeks, as I understand it. One of my good friends is pastor of a church that is in...

Mirror, Mirror

Let’s remember that it’s been pretty rough going for Jesus recently. At this point in his ministry, his friend, mentor, and cousin, John the Baptist, has been executed. Since then, Jesus’ ministry has really taken off, but that has its own challenges:  he has been...