South Elkhorn Blog

Callie Olson serves as South Elkhorn’s 2018 Student Minister and is a 1st Lieutenant and Chaplain Candidate in the U.S. Army Reserves. The following blog was first published for the Academy of Preachers based on her experience preaching and ministering in a military context. Before I begin I want to preface this article with this: my experience with preaching in the military has only been with the Army. Preaching for those who serve in the Air Force, Navy, Marines, or Coast Guard may look slightly different than what I am going to speak on today. I felt called to military

A new residential and business development is underway to the north of the church, including an extension of Madrone Way from the Palomar neighborhood to the stoplight at Harrodsburg Road. As the new road is completed, traffic to the church will be diverted to the Historic Sanctuary entrance off Old Harrodsburg Road (See the image below). More updates on the timeline and pictures will be forthcoming as the project continues.

The middle school and high school youth rooms are getting a facelift: new furniture, new paint, new decorations, new blinds, curtains, and more are on the way in May 2018.  This investment in South Elkhorn’s youth ministry will support the continued spiritual conversation, learning, and connection of students in grades 6-12. This is a vital and growing ministry. Over the next couple of years the youth ministry is set to double, even triple, as elementary school students graduate and enter the program. The furniture that is currently in the youth rooms have been damaged by extensive use and major church

The loft in the Christian Ministry Center, where the media booth is located, is now transformed into additional storage. Worship Supplies, Drive Through Bethlehem, Consignment Sale, Discipleship, and more will benefit from the construction of secured, designated storage space. This project will greatly improve the cleanliness, order, and organization of the previously used closets and rooms. Each ministry that has a specified storage space is responsible for the shelving, organization, and maintenance. The project will be completed with fresh paint at the start of the summer. Thank you to Beth Daugherty, 2017 Facility Enhancement Team Leader, and Ron Wigglesworth, 2018 Ministry

Allison began Palm Sunday (2018) and brings years of piano and church music experience to South Elkhorn. She works as the accompanist for the Scott County High School choir and teaches middle school mathematics.

“I don’t know how to put this but I’m kind of a big deal… People know me… I’m very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany.” My friend didn’t expect this quote from the movie Anchorman to do much besides provide a chuckle. But the restaurant host who asked if he had a reservation immediately looked embarrassed, apologized profusely, and whisked him away to a special table… Now it was my turn to be shocked. It can be fun to pretend we are super important, even if we don’t expect anyone to believe us. Why

The most meaningful thing I’ve ever “fasted” during Lent was Words with Friends. Because it sparked a lasting change. Like so many absorbed in their digital devices, I found myself sneaking open my smartphone at every spare moment (and at the kitchen table during dinner) to score words like “kerfuffle” and “cantankerous”. This clever game app, like so much social media and gaming, was designed to addict–and it had this word nerd hook, line and sinker. I deleted Words with Friends from my digital devices because Lent historically involves fasting: giving something up. It’s not fasting to show off spiritual

Dear friend, I couldn’t help but chuckle. I was caring for a little one this week who, like so many others, couldn’t go to school due to sickness. I took her with me to the church office, set up a napping station and an iPad, and turned my attention to the long queue of emails awaiting my attention. When I looked up, there she was: Yes, that’s the work of Max Weber she decided to pluck off my shelf and thumb threw. After a good long rest, sipping on her water cup, and bored of Pound Puppies, she decided to explore

Beginning in January 2018, Callie Olson will join the South Elkhorn team as Student Minister. She is a native Wisconsinite, a former college basketball player, a student at Asbury Theological Seminary, and Callie shares a bit more about herself below: What impact did going to church as a child have on you? I grew up in a large United Methodist Church in Madison, Wisconsin. Going to church as a child had a significant impact on me growing up.  I would not be who I am today if it weren’t for my supportive church family.  They always encouraged me to go

By Michael Swartzentruber On Sunday, June 5th, I preached about my napping. If you missed the stories which book-ended my sermon, you can listen online (here). After sharing my varied experience of mid-day sleep, some of you shared with me your stories of napping, Sabbath rest (or lack thereof), and deep desire to experience soulful rest.  My favorite story was about a man, who will go unnamed (you know who you are, dear friend), who decided to do some spiritual study on Sunday afternoon and then take a nap. He doesn’t normally nap. But, perhaps inspired by a recent sermon

In youth ministry, it can be a good idea to ask for phones at the beginning of a small group discussion. Turning off phones and stacking them on the table next to the group leader helps focus everyone’s attention. No one is overly concerned that their leg is buzzing with a text message or missed call. Some youth ministers even collect telephones and objects that are distracting in a special box until the group time comes to an end. This isn’t just a youth ministry idea. It’s a strategy employed by those who practice Sabbath, too: Make a Sabbath Box–perhaps

Intentional silence is a very enriching, though trying activity. Choose a period of time or an activity–like walking or hiking, either alone or with a loved one. Refrain from talking at all. Notice what happens in the silence: the desire to talk, the need to respond to what you see or hear or feel, the discomfort from the restriction of communicating. When author Wayne Muller first started practicing Sabbath silence he was utterly convinced that everyone was angry at him. He couldn’t rely on his typical charm, wit, or brilliance to engage and “win them over.” He resented the silence

June 5 – 12, June 19 – 26 (4 Sermons)  An overwhelmed schedule leads to an underwhelmed soul.  We work hard, try hard, study hard, even love hard… we seem to live from one breath to the next, from one vacation to the hope of the next. No matter how much we pack into our lives, something seems to be missing.  Explore the beauty and spiritual grandeur of Sabbath in its wondrous way of quieting our restless hearts. Experience the delight of slowing down, resting fully, and embracing a spiritual practice that just might change your life. Sabbath Blog (here):

Associate Minister Holly Fuqua has a hair prayer. Each morning, when she dries her hair in preparation for the day, Holly prays.  It’s a rather mundane, regular moment on the face of it–something many of us do in the morning. Holly transforms this simple act into a holy moment, an opportunity to connect with God, give thanks for those in her life, and orient her soul for the day. Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese monk, rings a mindfulness bell on occasion.  Everyone who hears the bell in his Buddhist community, Plum Village, pauses from their work, movement, and conversation. The bell signals a

One of the most intimate and beautiful of all our daily habits is meal time. When a meal is an expression of love, attention, and spiritual preparation it can be a soul satisfying experience. Choose a meal to share with friends or family. Shop for the ingredients. Choose food and items that you delight in, that bring you pleasure and satisfaction. What you prepare is not for survival and getting by, but instead to enjoy and savor. Feel the meal. Don’t rush the preparation. Instead, treat your time cooking as a spiritual moment. Turn on some music, turn down the lights, put your phone on

The traditional Sabbath practice, in both the Christian and Jewish faith, begins with lighting a Candle. We light the Christ candle at the start of worship at South Elkhorn to remind us that Christ is present with us. The candle is a hallowed marker of sacred time. We can light a candle at any point in our day and during our week. Find a candle, perhaps one that holds some meaning or beauty for you. Light the candle. Perhaps at a quiet time to begin the day, or before a meal (by yourself or with your family), or to commence