Category Archives: Uncategorized

“To You is Born a Savior” Luke 2: 1-20 Rev. Dr. Teri McDowell Ott December 4th, 2012 – MC Christmas Convocation  One of the most often quoted movies in the Ott household is Will Ferrill’s classic comedy Talladega Nights.  I … Continue reading →

 “The Faith of Job” Job 23: 1-9, 16-17 Rev. Dr. Teri McDowell Ott October 14th, 2012 – Monmouth College Homecoming Sunday  In my preparation for today’s sermon I read a commentary that said, “Pastors who preach on Job 23 never … Continue reading →

“One Wild and Precious Life” Ephesians 4: 1-16 Rev. Dr. Teri McDowell Ott September 3rd, 2012 – MC Chapel Service Kneeling prayer-like in a field, poet Mary Oliver contemplates a grasshopper who has flung itself out of the tall grass … Continue reading →

This is the second in a series of reflections written by students who traveled with me to Louisville, KY over Spring Break to participate in a poverty immersion program.  In his reflection, Corbin Beastrom, ’14, thoughtfully integrates two Monmouth College … Continue reading →

Over Spring Break I had the privilege of traveling with four students to Louisville, KY where we spent the week participating in a poverty immersion program.  During this week we got a tiny taste of the way Americans living on … Continue reading →

“The Light of the World” Isaiah 9:2-7, Luke 2: 1-20 Rev. Dr. Teri McDowell Ott Monmouth College Christmas Convocation 2011 On December 3, 1933, the year Hitler rose to power in Germany, Dietrich Bonhoeffer preached a sermon using the image … Continue reading →

I am writing a sermon on Matthew 14: 22-33, the passage wherein Jesus invites Peter to get out of the boat and walk on the water with him…in the midst of a storm.  Peter has always seemed to me to … Continue reading →

Junior Sarah Miller played the organ beautifully during chapel service today.  It was thrilling to hear our music fill the whole chapel.  What follows is my meditation on Exodus 24: 12-18. “Come Up To Me” Exodus 24:12-18 Rev. Dr. Teri … Continue reading →

We’ve begun holding chapel services again every Monday from 12:10-12:40pm in Dahl Chapel.  In a hard-working academic community such as ours, I believe it is important to provide a moment of holy “pause,” an opportunity to catch our spiritual breath, … Continue reading →

People thought we were crazy when we told them we were moving from sunny, warm, North Carolina, to Monmouth, Illinois in the dead of winter.  “What’s taking you there?” people asked, naturally curious.  If the question was asked in passing, … Continue reading →