“Beloved Children, I am dedicating this book, which I intend to be my last, to you. To my own astonishment, I have become an old man; and like most grandparents I spend a good deal of my time these days wondering about the future – your future – which I shall not see.” This is […]

A colleague of mine was recently telling me how he is working with his church to develop a plan for his upcoming sabbatical. I asked him what his theme is going to be.  He said that he didn’t know yet.  He knew that he needed some rest and renewal, but he wanted to work with […]

“For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6 It is mid November as I write this little article. We are moving toward our big “Consecration Sunday” pledge-giving celebration, the […]

The Great Thanksgiving Once a month we have a Prayer of Great Thanksgiving, which is offered when the offering plates are brought forward.  At the same time a Communion chalice and a paten with bread are brought forward.  The white cloths that cover the elements that are already in place are removed so that all […]

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For all of us make many mistakes… The tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits.  How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire!  And […]

What Are You Looking For? During my week of spiritual renewal I attended Sunday worship at a nearby congregation. There was much about the experience that I appreciated: someone greeted me at the door and held it for me as I entered.  The narthex was clean and had a display of materials that visitors might […]

In her book, Real Good Church, Molly Phinney Baskette offers a top ten list of reasons you should be going to church.  My favorite is number 2: “Taking a break from our hectic lives to come to church is accepting the gift of Sabbath.  Wayne Mueller says, ‘[Sabbath] dissolves the artificial urgency of our days, […]

“Among her research subjects, those who were most in touch with the fact that they could be hurt – could lose, could get it wrong – but went ahead seeking connection anyway were more likely to be happier, to have more satisfying relationships and a higher sense of self-worth.” (Ayanna Johnson Watkins quoting the research […]

Do the signs of the times alarm you? I was stuck in a long line of traffic that stretched from the Throg’s Neck Bridge up I95 all the way to Route 8, which gave me almost 3 hours to listen to NPR. The dominant story was President Obama’s impending decision about immigration reform. The Republican […]