In 1955 the beloved Christian author, C.S. Lewis, published a partial autobiography entitled Surprised by Joy. That title has stayed with me for decades and comes to mind frequently when I experience an overwhelming sense of God’s grace, presence and joy, like I did this...
I did not grow up in a liturgical church. By that I mean that in my congregation we did not celebrate the “church seasons” or follow set patterns of prayers. There was no “Great Thanksgiving” that preceded communion or specially colored paraments and clergy stoles...
As I mentioned last week, on Sunday we launched a new initiative at Calvary: the RACK campaign—Random Acts of Christmas Kindness. The idea is to share the Christmas spirit throughout the month by performing random acts of kindness for others—strangers, neighbors, family members, friends. Little...
Christmas - just say the word and we all have different reactions. So often we race through December, checking the boxes and frantically trying get it all done. (I love to say that perfection is the enemy of done!) I love to SAY it. Putting...
This is a re-post from Thanksgiving in 2016, but it is so timely with our children once again collecting money for the Presbyterian Mission Agency: On my desk, right in front of me, is a picture that one of Calvary’s second graders gave me. It is...
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Lord Most High. Psalm 9:1-2 One of the most common answers to the question about...
In the aftermath of the midterm elections, I was speaking recently with a member of my extended family. As with many families, mine is “split.” My relatives and I share blood and histories and memories, recipes, holiday meals and inside jokes. But we do not...
This past weekend I was invited to attend Shabbat at a local synagogue as the guest of one of the members. It was the first Shabbat since the tragic events in Pittsburgh the previous Saturday, and it was a privilege to show my support for...
Last week was a low point in American life. Thirteen homemade pipe bombs mailed to prominent U.S. citizens, all mercifully intercepted before they could achieve the carnage for which they were intended. Then Saturday morning, another mass shooting, this time at a Jewish synagogue, and before...
Last week I was RAK’D, and it made quite an impression on me. Not familiar with being a RAK recipient? Let me explain…. Last month my family did a three-way car swap. As part of the intra-family horse-trading, my mother and brother drove a vehicle from...