Friends, the summer solstice is upon us. On Friday, June 21, those of us living north of the equator will experience the longest day of 2019. Not that this is particularly earth-shattering news. As my house has been flooded with light earlier and earlier each...
What comes to mind when you hear the word Timbuktu? Growing up in the South, when someone said something was “out in Timbuktu,” they were referring to something being a long way away, or out in the middle of nowhere. It was a long time...
The Pentecost story often interests children, but can be difficult for them to follow as presented in Acts 2. The opening events of verses 1-4 (especially in the NRSV) catch children's attention. But the long list of unfamiliar ethnic groups (vss. 8-11) can distract them...
A mass shooting in Virginia Beach, leaving twelve people dead. A Catholic bishop spending millions of the church’s dollars on an extravagant lifestyle. A heat wave in India recording eye-popping 120-degree temperatures. A proposal to discontinue funding for educational and physical activity programs for unaccompanied...
New Sermon Series: Coming June 16, 2019. Embark on a journey with us as we meet Hosea, Haggai, Zephaniah and friends this summer and hear how God speaks into our contemporary lives through these ancient prophets. Click here for more info about our Worship Services....
The unofficial start of summer is here! Picnics and parades, flags and fireworks, hot dogs and hamburgers, watermelon and waterslides—this weekend we will remember and celebrate our freedom, our country, our family and friends, and our many, many blessings. Memorial Day reminds us that no matter...
There is a magnet on my refrigerator that says, “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.” It has felt a bit like I am standing under a rain cloud of late. So far this week I’ve...
This Sunday is Mother’s Day. If you reside in the United States, you practically have to live under a rock not to know this. Florists are in high gear, restaurants will be in “all hands on deck” mode, and I can only imagine what the...
Whew! Easter Sunday is over. Every church musician, support staff, and pastor is breathing a sigh of relief this week. Don’t get me wrong—it was awesome, jubilant, over-the-top, fabulous, joyous. Even the superlatives need superlatives to describe our Day of Resurrection festivities. I was thrilled...
Resurrection. New life. Second chances. Redemption. A fresh start. These are all good ways to talk about the meaning of Easter. Last Sunday, what churches call Palm Sunday or Passion Sunday, marked the beginning of Holy Week. During this week Christians trace Jesus’ journey from his...