Our Racial Justice/White Fragility book group will be beginning on Wednesday, September 26 and the first book will be Ijeoma Oluo’s So You Want to Talk About Race. It’s a pragmatic and practical guide to talking about race. It offers us a common vocabulary and set of understandings to begin our conversations through the year. I’ve … Continue reading So You Want to Talk About Race: Getting Started
The staff (Susie Maharry, Nancy Slocum, Libby Ball and I) gathered one July afternoon to do some planning for the year. There are some exciting opportunities for gathering and connecting coming up this year. Watch the weekly E-news to find out what’s coming up! In particular, there will be monthly all ages game nights starting … Continue reading Watch This Space!
Back in the years when I was in seminary, I heard a story about a colleague of one of the large churches. He had been a successful minister, but knew a lot of grief and loss in his life. One teenaged child had drown when the family was on vacation some years before. At the … Continue reading These Are the Best
“You should say something about that school shooting!” my internal voice scolded. “It’s horrible and people are hurting!” Ministers often face this kind of situation. Shocked and feeling more numb than in pain, I had no words to say, nothing to write, no wise proclamations, nothing of comfort to offer. The sentences that formed in … Continue reading Hart to Hearts: Broken Hearts
I know this will come as a big shock to most of you, but not everything you read on the internet is true. As I begin the long journey of treatment for cancer, I’m discovering again the level of wild tales that out there. “The TRUTH about CANCER,” an article screams. “What doctors don’t want … Continue reading Hart to Hearts: Miracle Cures
Back in the 1990s when I worked for the Night Ministry, we held an annual Christmas dinner. It took place in the basement of a nearby Presbyterian church, and it was a grand event. Churches donated cooked turkeys, buckets of mashed potatoes and stuffing, gallons of cranberry sauce, and enough pies to stack to the … Continue reading The Work of Christmas
I don’t know about you, but too often lately, I’ve felt a total overload in my nervous system. Some of it has to do with the feeling that pretty much everything around me is in chaos. Our government at the top levels seems to be swinging around mindlessly much of the time. There’s a frightening … Continue reading Keeping Sane in Chaotic Times
Spirit of love and of life, come and rest upon us, within us for these few moments of calm. Quiet my striving and allow me a time for breath, for silence, a time to let go of all longings and desire. May I simply be here without worry or wish In the quiet of our … Continue reading A Prayer for Peace
The rally was going to be held at Chinese Reconciliation Park. I was dressed in black and sporting my bright yellow Standing on the Side of Love stole, so I stood out in the crowd. The organizers I asked if I’d be able to open the rally. “Say a few words to begin,” they invited, … Continue reading Keeping On
This morning, our service was Love Beyond Beliefs, and we made special mention of the events in Charlottesville, VA on Friday night and Saturday. To follow on from that service, I offer the written text of the meditation/prayer I shared, and some opportunities to support the community in Charlottesville. First, the meditation, beginning with words … Continue reading Remembering Charlottesville and Living Our Love
