It is blessed to receive

Today I had the good fortune to hear a wonderful sermon by the Rev. Bill Samford. On the few Sundays that I've been in the area, I've made a point to go out and hear somebody else preach.

That is one of the occupational hazards of clergy. When Sunday comes, one of the only voices you hear is your own.

Bill is the pastor of the Hawley Presbyterian Church. Today is the 25th anniversary of his ordination as a minister. I won't be able to attend the party this afternoon, but I enjoyed the sermonic banquet this morning. And it was good to have a taste of bread and wine to go with it.

Thanks to Bill, and all the other fine preachers that I've been able to hear thus far this summer: Virginia Miner, Jim Thyren, Iain Campbell, Linda Morgan-Clement, Bill Carl, Cynthia Campbell, Prior Christian Leisy, and the youth team at Iona. Additional thanks to Barbara Brown Taylor, Fred Craddock, and John Galloway for their taped sermons which have kept me company in my travels.