Wednesday, July 04, 2018
Happy July 4! Also, coming up on Sunday...
What makes it an even bigger day for me is that I'll be inducted as the first holder of the Ruth E. Mattox Chair of Preaching at that church. They are naming it after someone important, the kind of person who too rarely is recognized for the role they play in making the world a better place. Here is how she is described in the program:
Ruth Mattox has been a lifelong member of First Covenant Church who embodies the best of the church over time and through its most epic cycles of renewal: a passion to explore new ideas, a commitment to connecting Christian faith to everyday life, and a steadfast willingness to lead a courageous life of love for Christ and on behalf of others.
Ruth is a nurse and has travelled the world as a humanitarian worker. She has a photo album filled with images of over 80 babies that she has fostered in their most vulnerable moments of early life. And, Ruth has always loved outstanding preaching in worship, as well, considering it an essential task in community and to inspire Christ followers to action.
The Ruth. E. Mattox Chair of Preaching shall be appointed to women and men with demonstrated commitments of bridging their Christian faith to real life and courageously on behalf of others. They will bring a high level of skill to the preaching task, and yet do so for the purpose of leading the congregation into the world with humble generosity.
If you can, please come!
