by Erin Robinson Hall | Aug 21, 2018 | Reflections, Uncategorized, Wonder |
Yesterday, was a promise keeping day. The promises were made over our son years ago. We stood at the front of a sanctuary with our infant. The minister took him from my arms, and walked down the aisle. He said “This child is not your own. He is a gift from God, and you will spend the rest of your days giving him back to God.” I could not breathe as I whispered yes on that day. He asked us: Do you promise to bring him to know the loving community of the Church? Do you promise to teach him language of faith, until that day when he can say yes to God on his own? We promised that we would. We have, as much as we know how. Every day, in prayers and actions and kindnesses modeled. Every chance we can, in Sunday school and meals and worship and songs. Yesterday he received a gift. He was so excited to receive his very own Bible. With his name engraved on it, he’ll have you know. Our congregation gives a new Bible to first graders, marking the entrance into a new season of faith. Our boy is quick to note that this means donuts, guitar songs and Jenga in the “big kids” Sunday school class. We know it means he is stepping further along in his own journey of faith. The choir sang “Ancient Words,” and I found myself again whispering yes. “Holy words long preserved For our walk in this world. They resound with God’s own heart Oh let the ancient words impart. Ancient words ever true Changing...
by Erin Robinson Hall | Apr 4, 2018 | Reflections |
Today marks fifty years since Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. Many organizations and people are remembering today, calling us to “come together for a day of remembrance, activism, and social change, honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” When I hear the voices today calling us to remember and work for change, the word I hear for myself is LISTEN. Listen to the voices calling for recognition and change. Listen to the people of color standing at pulpits and podiums and PTA meetings and community center tables and City Council meetings who are saying: We have work to do. We have inequities that must be addressed. We have brokenness that needs tending. We have neighbors who cannot breathe, who live in fear, who live in fear for their children. Beloved Community is not yet realized. I hear these sisters and brothers. I want to lean in to listening today. I ask you to do the same today. Here are a few of the voices that have mattered to me lately. Be The Bridge LaTasha Morrison is a force and I am so in awe of her work. She shared about her work with Be the Bridge on Jen Hatmaker’s last podcast. Good stuff, and hearing her story will be a gift to you. I’ve followed this group for a while, and am in discernment about starting a local group. Take a look at “Be The Bridge.” Really good resources here: Danielle Slaughter I first became acquainted with Danielle when her story with Listen to Your Mother broke my heart. I was thrilled to invite her for this...
by Erin Robinson Hall | Mar 7, 2018 | Reflections, Uncategorized |
Oh, these faces. This picture is four generations of strength and sass: my Mama Eller, Nana, my mama, and me. When I hear my own voice these days, I catch little bits of their voices in mine. I sound like Mom. On the phone, Mom sounds more like these two. For International Women’s Day, I find myself thinking about places I have heard women’s voices this year. I joked with my friend Jessica that I should be called the “Monogrammed Feminist,” because that name captures so much of both my sweet, Southern raising and my firm belief in upholding equality for women and girls. We’ll just tuck that name away for another day. This year has been an amazing chorus of voices, with sisters and friends finding their way in new adventures and endeavors. I have voiced conversations that mattered, and practiced #lettinggo with Nikki on our podcast, Glass Half Full. I have preached and led retreats in new places, gathering new friends into my circle: The voices of powerful novels have held new meaning for me in my book club. The Color Purple, Big Little Lies, and The Handmaid’s Tale have taken us into some fascinating conversations. I have learned to celebrate how #Moxie, welcoming Jen Hatmaker into our Macon circle. I have listened to my own Mama try out new skills and shine in the beauty of herself. So, on this #Internationalwomensday 2018, here are FIVE things to inspire. Have a listen, read up, and tell me what inspires you: 1. Gospel Gothic, and that time I joined the gentlemen for Episode 49, when the ladies had...
by Erin Robinson Hall | Nov 13, 2017 | Resources |
What a gift it was to share with the women First Baptist Church of Christ Macon. When I lead retreats and events, I like to share links and content here. Our theme was Hilaritas, Voices on the Journey. Session 1. Exodus 15:11-21 invited us to think about Voices We Know By Heart We laughed with Adele in Carpool Karioke, wondering how songs can take us back to moments that have formed us. The Secret Language of the Heart is a book that tells more about neuroplasticity. Brene Brown reminded us that “what we are learning moves from our head to our heart – through our hands and feet.” Of course, we would add – through our voice and our song. Session 2. Matthew 15:22 invited us to think about Voices We Need to Hear. We confessed there are voices that we do not hear in the Church. I shared about the feeling of throat-ripping fury I had as a new mom. That feeling has always stayed with me as the first true realization I had of what it feels like to love that deeply, in a way that would move me to disruption. “It makes absolute sense to me when I see women who love their people crying out for their people. What in all the power of this world would stop me for the people I love? It wouldn’t be some convention of who is allowed what scraps at what table. No matter how many scholars have fallen all over themselves trying to re-story this so that Jesus is not really calling her a little dog, she is...
by Erin Robinson Hall | Nov 8, 2017 | Prayers |
Today’s Wednesday Prayer is brought to you by one of my favorites – favorite writer, favorite truth teller, favorite singer. She just happens to be my favorite sister, too. She led in worship on All Saints Day last week, and wrote this gorgeous prayer. I’m told that her instructions were, “Yes, you can be yourself. Put in enough Ashley that it’s you, but not so much that you scare the Methodists.” Now, I know Methodists don’t scare easily, and neither does God. I’m thankful that Ashley put her whole self in the prayer. Methodists – and Baptists – would do well to realize what a gift they have in counting Ashley among their own. A General Thanksgiving for All Saints Day by Ashley Robinson Blessed Comforter, we thank you for the lives of the poets, the prophets, and the profane; the well-behaved and the rabble-rousers, the peacemakers, the music makers, the noisemakers, the caramel cake makers and the mess makers; the list keepers and the delightfully scattered, and even the unnamed, undocumented, and unmentionable people who have gone before us. We thank you for the great cloud of witnesses that shades us with comfort as we continue to walk each other home. We thank you for the saints still among us who awaken us to the possibility of your kindom here on earth. We thank you for the borrowed breath that sustains us from dust to dust. We find hope that you hear every damning why, every shattered Hallelujah, every tear-ragged thank you as a groaning to be filled with your life-giving spirit that welcomes us into community with the...
