Merianna Harrelson

I am the Pastor of Garden of Grace United Church of Christ in Columbia, SC and the Director of Consulting at Harrelson.Co. I am always looking for a good cup of coffee and a great book.

Am I Doing this Right?

As I was burning the dead plants from our garden in preparation for our Ash Wednesday services, I was overwhelmed with uncertainty. Am I doing this right? While we practiced baptism, leading communion, and discussed funerals and marriage ceremonies, we never burned ashes. Perhaps it’s because the celebration of Ash Wednesday isn’t all that common …

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Clergy, beware of eisegesis!

Clergy, beware of eisegesis, disguising as prophetic preaching, reaffirming your long held beliefs, tempting as the apple from the tree, reassuring you, you are right.     Clergy, beware of eisegesis, propaganda for the American people, endorsement for political parties, violation of the Johnson Amendment.   Clergy, beware of eisegesis, the people of God in …

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New Shoes

I take my first awkward steps like a fresh born fawn fumbling and uncertain.  How can the cyclical pattern of running, which I had done for so many miles feel like translating a line of foreign prose? It’s the breathable mesh and supportive, synthetic upper materials that actually exists in these shoes unlike the others …

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