Comments for Rev. Scott Wells

Comment on At Lent: less meat, less Google by Boy in the Bands - Dabbling with web fonts

Boy in the Bands - Dabbling with web fonts — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 14:37:51 +0000

[...] fonts for websites easier to implement — pushes up my interest. And this, despite the Google diet I’ve put myself on. (Once I learn more about web fonts, it’ll be easy to replace their [...]

Comment on Shutter: “Progressive Changes in Universalist Thought” (1895) by Rev. Scott Wells

Rev. Scott Wells — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 23:34:30 +0000

Wow — what an interesting question. I’m tickled to be noted, but that name isn’t at all familiar. A John Samuel Thompson was a Universalist minister in Massachusetts — Hosea Ballou preached his ordination — but the dates would be too late.

Comment on Shutter: “Progressive Changes in Universalist Thought” (1895) by Ginny McAninch

Ginny McAninch — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:39:38 +0000

Hi Scott,

Here is a challenge from Roger Butts and Tony Lorenson

I am a lay leader at First Universalist in Mpls MN. I am preparing a sermon for our 4th of July service. I came across a reference to Samuel Thompson in a recent book by T.H. Breen, American Insurgents, American Patriots. Per Breen, Thompson was a Universalist and his teachings influenced the insurgency, giving authority to individuals rather than institutions. I cannot find anything on Thompson.

I found Tony and Roger in the GA exhibit hall and was discussing this. They said you’d be the man for this. I must admit they delighted in the possibility of my inquiry to you!

So I ask, do you know anything about this early American Universalist minister, Samuel Thompson? Breen’s notes cite Jack P Greene, Imperatives, Behaviors and Identies, Essays in Early American Cultural History and James Leamon Revolution Downeast.

Thanks!

Ginny McAninch

Comment on Universalists in “Who’s Who in America” (1899), part 2 by Dan

Dan — Sun, 23 May 2010 20:54:20 +0000

Very interesting. Thanks for this, Scott.

Comment on I’m back, but not quite ready for blogging by Bruce

Bruce — Wed, 19 May 2010 15:08:40 +0000

Not sure what to “say” here? Here are some ideas.. (1) why did you first decide to blog about Universalist Christianity in the first place? and have your reasons changed from when you first started in 2003? (2) I have not heard you comment much on organized Universalist Christianity (especially the newly founded Christian Universalist Association), what do you think about organizations like this? Are they worth it, or are they just temporary winds that eventually blow out? and (3) I’m curious about your thoughts on the art of giving sermons.. do you favor scripted sermons, or extemporaneous? or in between? and do you think the art of giving sermons is outdated or that it must change? and here’s idea # (4) – why not just blog with no plan? just talk. start blogging about your spiritual thoughts, your spiritual concerns, your spiritual interests, do a spiritual memoir or journal, etc. If all else fails, why not post Bible readings or hymns or passages from classic Universalist writers? what makes you mad about your faith? what makes you joyful about your faith? etc. etc.

Just some ideas. Hope it helps.

Comment on At Lent: less meat, less Google by Blog roundup: Racial diversity, observing Lent, running for Congress « uuworld.org : The Interdependent Web

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:14:35 +0000

[...] Rev. Scott Wells connects Lent, vegetarianism, theology, and Google. If not eating animals is an experience of realized eschatology, then my concern about Google is [...]

Comment on My take on “the cost of ministerial formation” by Hanging out, paying to be a minister, and more « uuworld.org : The Interdependent Web

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:59:02 +0000

[...] (“Liberal Faith Development,” November 24) and the Rev. Scott Wells asks, “Is a seminary education an essential qualification for ordained ministry? Or rather, is it a one formation opportunity among others?” [...]

Comment on Capacity and the Unitarian Universalist Christians by Credentialing, choosing video, "death and glory!" and more « uuworld.org : The Interdependent Web

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:58:38 +0000

[...] institutions, other than congregations (and perhaps even them, to a point) have depended on a ministry of identification. That is, the simple fact of their existance shows that Unitarian Universalist Christians exist, [...]

Comment on At Lent: less meat, less Google by Ever considering giving up/reducing meat? Great article to think it through. « Elizabeth’s Little Blog

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:37:31 +0000

[...] Hat tip to CT for sharing the link (on the blog of Rev. Scott Wells where he blogs Lent, Google, Animals, and Meat). [...]

Comment on At Lent: less meat, less Google by Derek

Derek — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 21:27:46 +0000

At Lent I do not always abstain from something (some years I fast, and donate the un-used food money to charity). Most years I add a special spiritual practice. This year, as in most years, I am spending Lent reading and thinking about Doris Grumbach’s book “The Pressence of Absence; On Prayer and an Epiphany”. The book struggles very honestly with the struggle of feeling God’s pressence in your life, and not feeling God’s pressence in your life. The absence/pressence of God is an issue I struggle with on a regular basis. And each year Doris helps me to see something I didn’t the year before.