Circulating pastoral letters among churches is as old as Peter and Paul, Titus and Philemon. I saw one a month ago from the President of the United Church of Christ, John Dorhauer. May I share it with you here and ask for your reaction?
A CULTURE OF HOSPITALITY, Part II
What would it mean if we valued first NOT our own comfort, ease and standing at First Congregational? But if we focused more on the visitor or guest who won-ders if she could ever belong here, and asks herself that at our periphery? That would make us more of a church—the body of Christ–than a hermetically-sealed club. That would speak loudly about how we elevate hospitality as a spiritual gift.
STARS IN OUR EYES
Looking at the night sky has always made us wonder deeply about our human life and destiny. Noticing change in the night sky makes us ponder change, not afar, but down here on the earth.
Sometimes nighttime change signals fear, like the appearance of comets. Other times change prompts wonder at what joyous things might be possible.
PEACE ON EARTH, GOOD WILL TOWARD ALL
Can we talk for a moment about the relationships of different faiths? If we do it right, it will be an exchange of views done with respect, awe, wonder, patience, expectation, curiosity, and joy. As Will Willmon describes, a widespread misperception is afoot that religious differences are the worst sort of possible differences, and the most deadly.
THE TANTRUMS OF GROWN-UPS
This Sunday we light the Second Advent candle, that of peace. And peace is always contextual, isn’t it? The stolid German household of my youth contrasted with my friend’s effusive Italian home. “Why do you all shout at each other?” I once asked him. “What? We are not shouting.”
GUIDING YOUR ADVENT JOURNEY
Everyone knows what Christmas is, or we used to know before layers of mass commercialism and nebulous celebration emerged to replace it. Few know what Advent is about, even those of us in the church, who attend these Sundays, and see the four candles lit each of the Sundays. Hope, peace, love and joy are candle-themes, right? It is about anticipation, preparation, right?