Susan Sparks: Am I Gonna Ride This Thing Or Not?
As a little early holiday gift, I am sharing a chapter from my award-winning collection of holiday meditations, "Miracle on 31st Street: Grinch to Gratitude in 26 Days"!
Ciara Reyes-Ton/Science for the Church: Advent Devotional: Lessons on Waiting from Dividing Cells
We continue our series of science-informed Christmas reflections with an Advent devotional by biologist, writer, singer-songwriter, and coffee lover, Ciara Reyes-Ton.
Walter Brueggemann: Ode to Sammy
Sammy, our cat, came to us by way of rescue. He was a handsome, silky, loud-purring tabby. He died much too soon; and we are left with treasured memories and lingering sadness. I mention Sammy by way of introducing two pieces I have read lately concerning cats.
Frederick Buechner Sermon Illustration: Trust (Isaiah 12:2)
In our blog post every Monday we select a reading from the Revised Common Lectionary for the upcoming Sunday, and pair it with a Frederick Buechner reading on the same topic. Next Sunday we will celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent. Here are this week's readings from Isaiah and Philippians...
Ellie Roscher: A Call for Asynchronous Small Group Ministry
Amid our layered lives, we carve out time to hear each other and allow ourselves to be heard, and in doing so we have created a loving and valued community.
Greg Cootsona/Science for the Church: Joseph--No Ordinary Joe
I’m fascinated by the connections between science and Christian faith. In fact, I believe science-informed faith is vital in our scientifically and technologically saturated world. But some conclude that they can’t believe in the Virgin Birth (or as I was taught, the “virginal conception” of Jesus) because of science.
Frederick Buechner's Sermon Illustration: Where Your Feet Take You, That Is Who You Are (Luke 1:78-79)
In our blog post every Monday we select a reading from the Revised Common Lectionary for the upcoming Sunday, and pair it with a Frederick Buechner reading on the same topic. Next Sunday we will celebrate the Second Sunday of Advent. Here is this week's reading from the gospel of Luke...
Walter Brueggemann: The Strangeness of the Stranger
What follows is a report on two books I have recently read, quite by happenstance, back to back.
Jenny Sung: Permission to Feel More Than Gratitude
We all know there are many things to be grateful for and at the same time there is a deep exhaustion, time feels weird, and trauma is real. We all have people in our worlds we love and others who are at best annoying us, at worst breaking our hearts...
Frederick Buechner Sermon Illustration: Waiting (Luke 21:25-31)
In our blog post every Monday we select a reading from the Revised Common Lectionary for the upcoming Sunday, and pair it with a Frederick Buechner reading on the same topic. Next Sunday we will celebrate the First Sunday of Advent. Here is this week’s reading from the gospel of Luke...
Bishop Elizabeth Eaton: God Has Given Us a Mission
There was and is enough brokenness in the world to go ’round. But the brokenness is not outside of us—in institutions, politics, religion—it is within us. The only way to construct utopia is to get rid of people. Imagine.
Susan Sparks: The Holiday Is Pronounced THANKS-giving
It’s hard for me to believe that New York City (where I now live) is part of the same country as North Carolina (where I was born). Everything is different: food, clothing, the pace at which people walk, and the accents. Oh, the accents.
Drew Rick-Miller/Science for the Church: The Giving in Thanksgiving
For many churches, stewardship season is in the fall. We talk about money a lot this time of year—both pledges for the coming year and reminders to help meet the current year’s budget. This regularly overlaps with Thanksgiving, when we offer thanks for all that God is doing in and through our communities of faith.
Frederick Buechner Sermon Illustration: Truth (John 18:33-38)
In our blog post every Monday we select a reading from the Revised Common Lectionary for the upcoming Sunday, and pair it with a Frederick Buechner reading on the same topic. Next Sunday we will celebrate The Reign of Christ. Here is this week’s reading from the gospel of John...
Bishop Michael Curry: "God so loved the world..." - A Sermon on Climate
"God so loved the world..." Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry preaches at the Liturgy for Planetary Crisis. The service focused on climate change and the need for swift, just action to bring us back into right relationship across the human family and with all of God's creation.
Adam White: Why Campus Ministries Aren’t Streaming Worship
It may come as a surprise to some that the oft-repeated idea that streaming worship will be necessary in the post-pandemic church has failed to gain traction in many communities centered on ministry with digital natives. But it shouldn’t.
Greg Cootsona/Science for the Church: Grateful for Gratitude
While writing this article, I got up from my desk and walked outside. Even in the midst of a lingering pandemic, the autumn leaves seemed to wave and greet me. Before I knew it, I was filled with gratitude.
Frederick Buechner Sermon Illustration: Covenant (Hebrews 10:11-22)
In our blog post every Monday we select a reading from the Revised Common Lectionary for the upcoming Sunday, and pair it with a Frederick Buechner reading on the same topic. Next Sunday we will celebrate The Twenty-Sixth Sunday After Pentecost. Here is this week’s reading from the book of Hebrews:
Eric Barreto: Laugh a Little: Scripture as Instruction Manual or Action Film?
Have you ever found yourself reading the Bible and thought to yourself: Do you know what this story reminds me of? The Fast and the Furious.
Susan Sparks: A Heart of Pyrex Glass
I am the world’s most dangerous person in the kitchen. If something can be dropped, cracked, or knocked down, I will do it. No exceptions. That is why I am a big believer in Pyrex...