A Prayer for Us

Loving God, we know there are tremendous problems facing the world – natural disasters, civil wars, violence, disparities in resources, and sickness. We confess that there are days when we look the other way, change the channel, or pretend the problems don’t exist. We say that the problem is someone else’s concern or displace the [...]

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What I Believe

"What I believe is not what I say I believe. What I believe is what I do."    Donald Miller in Blue Like Jazz.
Ouch. If the above statement is truth then I believe:

my needs often come above the needs of others.
my time is more important than other people’s time.
God didn’t make me beautiful enough on [...]

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June 25th Sermon

“Why Can’t You Trust Me?”
Mark 4:35-41Rev. Melissa Hatfield

There are times in life when we are a little bit glad to hear of other people’s failures.  Come on – let’s be honest.   If we can’t be honest in church, where can we be?   There are times when looking at some peoples failures makes you feel better [...]

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Greatest Fear, Greatest Dream

My friend, Charles, presented a great idea.  I shared yesterday about my asking complete strangers (or friends I hadn’t met yet) two questions:  his or her greatest dream and greatest fear.
So, I invite you, all who pop onto MelissaHatfield.com, you lurkers out there who never or rarely leave a comment ….  share with us your [...]

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Friends I Haven’t Met Yet

Each week I meet with some college students and this summer we are doing a book study on Donald Miller’s book Blue Like Jazz.  It provides some great discussion for us on non-religious thoughts on faith.  By that,  I mean the text helps move us to think upon relationships, not religion.  Our relationship with God [...]

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Chewing

Chewing

I’m working on my sermon for this Sunday and chewing on the Gospel lectionary text – Mark 4:35-41.  This is that great little tale of Jesus taking a nap in the boat while the disciples are fighting a huge storm.
When I prep for a sermon, I read the text over and over again [...]

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Miller Light

I’m listening to a sermon by Donald Miller that a new friend of mine sent to me and it is a great message. Miller is the author of "Blue Like Jazz" and "Searching for God Knows What".  Miller is such a great communicator and makes you feel like you are good buddies sitting around over [...]

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One Handed Volleyball

I’m tired tonight.  I played volleyball tonight for three hours – with one arm.  Intense.  I’m going to feel it tomorrow . . . wait, I feel it tonight.  My right arm took the brunt of every hit tonight and my elbow is a little tight.  Only once did I forget that had an injured [...]

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Baccalauereate Sermon

“Loved More Than You Can Imagine”Jefferson City High School Baccalaureate SermonThursday, May 25, 2006Rev. Melissa Hatfield

At 5:30 am on a cold January 2 morning, two carts of miners were making their way into the depths of the Sago Coal Mine, in Sago, West Virginia.  The first cart pulled out about 5:30 and the second cart [...]

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Hand Update and Love Fest

Here is an update on my hand since I know you all are concerned and anxiously awaiting updates.  (cough, cough).  It is some wonderful shades of color as of late and a little larger than normal.  Major pain only comes when I hit it against something and that typically occurs when I’m clumsy and forget [...]

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