Last week I discussed Rebecca Solnit’s, “When the Hero Is the Problem” on retreat in Colorado with pastor friends. Her argument is genuine transformation occurs not as heroes rise above the crowd to pull the rest of us up and along with him or her. Real change happens as deeper bonds are forged among people, […]
Benches, Flowers, and Rooms
The presence of the serving never really leaves the place they served. Their handprints, words and actions; their presence at the bedsides of the sick and dying; the sermons and writings proclaimed to their people. All this and more is engraved into the heart of the ever-shifting body known as the Church. Pastors and spouses, […]
That One Thing Changes Everything
Traveling to an unknown city with a paintbrush is low on the to-do list for most 8th-12th graders (and most adults!) But for those who have taken the chance already, the decision to go again is a no-brainer. Let me do the prep-work for you and tell you why we send our students on work/mission […]
REACHING INTO THE HEART OF YOUR FAMILY AND HOME
This Sunday, the last of September, the sabbath closest to the feast of St. Francis, we celebrate the Blessing of the Animals. Francis was known for his communion with the entire biosphere, his kinship with various beasts, and his kindness toward them. You can tell a lot about a man or woman by how they […]
Theological Book Club: Mapping Our Journey
Friends, Here are some documents explaining the theology book club that begins this Sunday around 11:20. I also want to take this moment and thank Christopher Fatherly for his tremendous assistance in this endeavor, editing my words and supplying the helpful introduction to Henri Nouwen below. I am excited to start our journey through these […]
“Tradition is the living faith of the dead; traditionalism is the dead faith of the living.” –Jaroslav Pelikan
Homecoming Sunday pointed us forward into the new church year. With over 200 worshipers present, we felt the Spirit move in a way that gathered us back while also propelling us forward. Our numbers on Homecoming Sunday far exceeded recent years. As I looked out on the lawn where that picnic was, a robust gathering lingered […]