Free Stuff
My sheet music and other free resources are available here. Just follow this link, and enter your Merry Mystic password when requested.
These things are under a Creative Commons license that allows you to download them and copy them freely—for any non-commercial use.
Enjoy!
Store
I have books, CDs, and a video series for sale from my store page. (I wish I could just give everything away, but one must eat!)
I’m especially excited about my new book, now available: My Burden Is Light: A Pastor’s Plea for Rationality, Honesty, and Humility.
About
Merry, Mystical Missives
Here you’ll find everything I’ve sent out to the mailing list for The Merry Mystic.
An Evening Wasted with The Merry Mystic
Hello friends,
I’ll be emerging from my cave next month to give a live concert. The dates are Friday, October 18th, 7:00 p.m., and Saturday, October 19th, 2:00 p.m. The location is the Open Prairie United Church of Christ, which is at 25 E. Marion Street in Princeton, Illinois—behind the Apollo Theater. (Long ago, the Apollo had a stage for vaudeville shows. That’s fitting: my songs are vaudeville-adjacent!) Admission is free, with a free-will offering to support the host church, and refreshments will be offered at the intermission.
The Merry Mystic's head is packed with all the songs he'll spout. That's why his hair is growing thin: To flee the madcap mess within, the crew is bailing out!
Hope to see you there!
Bright blessings,
Adam
The Buddha Kicked My Butt
My little church, the Open Prairie United Church of Christ, is probably the only church for a hundred miles where I could sing this song on a Sunday morning. (It followed my sermon.) Be the Light, Merry Mystics!
Love Small
I love my small town: Princeton, Illinois. At least, I love it now. Hated it when I first moved here…
Me and Joe and What’s-His-Name
Here’s a song I wrote, inspired by a story from the Gospel of Luke. I performed this at the close of our Sunday morning soulcare at the Open Prairie United Church of Christ on Palm Sunday, 2024.
These are the (mostly video) messages sent out to The Merry Mystic mailing list.
Sermons and Such
Every week, I preach in the Open Prairie United Church of Christ in Princeton, Illinois. I’m not sending most of these out to The Merry Mystic mailing list; but on the outside chance you’d like to see a sermon, here they are.
Cherishing the Harmony (Week One)
The start of a sermon series on cherishing the harmony of the natural world. This week: why it’s so important, and why Christianity has so often neglected it.
Lies Light Fuses
This is a reflection on the recent presidential debate, with help from the Book of Proverbs and the Epistle of James. (Every now and then, the lectionary readings and the events of the week seem made for each other.)
The Deep Fault Line
There’s an endless (and often acrimonious) debate within Christianity: what do we have to do to get right with God?
Bread Month
The Gospel of John spends a whole chapter on Jesus as the Bread of Life.
Mary the Tower
Here’s a beautiful piece of recent biblical scholarship—something that speaks to the heart as well as the head.
Serve and Shine
Jesus sometimes served with humility, and sometimes let his light shine. So should we.
Remnant’s Hope
I’m thinking about the biblical concept of a “remnant.” Speaking of remnants: did you know that birds evolved from dinosaurs? Maybe there’s a lesson for us in there somewhere!
Church and State
Thinking about what I’ll do when the DNC asks me to run for President.
Authority
Here are two authority challenges: recognize Jesus’ authority, and claim your own.
Peace! Be Still!
Calming the storm: the storm outside, and the storm inside.