Today’s hope comes from the vision of the possible. I am grateful for the hope that comes from taking actions both small and large to create the world of which we dream. Barbara Kingsolver offers us this guidance. #31daysofhope
On Facebook, my colleague the Reverend Meg Riley invited everyone she knew to join her in expressing #30DaysOfGratitude during the month of November. I thought it would be a good practice for me and so I did it. Then this morning, she let us know that she was going to continue on but with a … Continue reading Hart to Hearts: A Hopeful December
The cranberry chutney has been loaded into a jar, the pie is still cooling in anticipation of eating tomorrow. We have gathered up all the ingredients and are now in the place of waiting for tomorrow. My gratitude seems endless at this moment: for my family, my friends, my congregation, work that is satisfying and … Continue reading Hart to Hearts: AND — A Thanksgiving Message
The long, brutal election season has ended. We have a new President-elect, and new circumstances to become adjusted to. We each come to this news and new reality with our own experiences and stories. I know many in our community are experiencing fear and grief as we gaze into the unknown of what this next … Continue reading Hart to Hearts: The Day After and an Invitation to Healing
Back in the early days of my parish ministry life, I had the opportunity to preach the homily at an ecumenical Thanksgiving service in the little Vermont village where I was serving. I searched through books, looked at various notes and all those odd bits of paper that preachers of that era kept for inspiration, … Continue reading Hart to Hearts: The Story of Our Land
In my first or second year in parish ministry, I was approached after the service by the wife of the emeritus minister. With a wry look on her face, she said, “I see from today’s service that you took that class in seminary, ‘How to Pick the Unsingable Hymns.’” I admitted that the hymns that … Continue reading Music, Music, Music
That’s what I’ve been telling people, preaching about. The message is in invitation to stay awake and pay attention to the dynamics of white supremacy and racism that are all around us all the time. Those of us who are white can easily lose track and slip back into that little bubble of privilege that … Continue reading Stay Woke
Recently I hopped into my little car, stopped at my favorite coffee kiosk near my home in Olympia, and turned onto I-5 North and headed towards Tacoma. I had plenty of time to get to the church for the session of Pathways to Membership. I was a little proud of myself for getting on the … Continue reading Hart to Hearts – March 2016
