The last eight months have been brutal for the world economy. If any of us ever doubted the truth of globalization, we no longer doubt. What started out as a subprime lending crisis in our own country has ballooned into…
Read MoreCENTERview: Not So Fast!
They need to decide tonight. That’s the message. The church governing board is deciding whether or not to enter into an unofficial partnership with the public school located next door. The after-school arts program needs more volunteers. Would the church…
Read MoreWho Else Needs to Hear This? Turning Pastoral Visits into Opportunities to Practice Faith Sharing
We were seated in her sweet, 1950s-style living room when Eleanor evangelized me (Nancy). Of course, she wouldn’t have used that term. She was a Yankee and a lifelong member of a New England Congregational church. In that setting, evangelism…
Read MoreGetting Neighborly: Finding Abundance in the Gifts of the Spirit
Laura and I stood at the back of her apartment complex, located just behind the church I serve. Fast food wrappers from nearby establishments had caught in the long grass and settled on a tired old couch leaning against a…
Read MoreMuch Is Given:Practicing Generous Faith in Uncertain Times
While I generally use the lectionary texts as the basis for my sermons and worship preparation on most Sundays, I occasionally depart from that structure and craft my own series. Currently I’m working my way through a nine-part series on…
Read MoreThe Art of Governance
Religion transforms people; no one touches holy ground and stays the same. Religious leaders stir the pot by pointing to the contrast between life as it is and life as it should be, and urging us to close the gap….
Read MoreAnd the Two Shall Become One
Congregational Mergers Present Opportunities for Growth–As Well as Unique Challenges With a slew of bad economic news for businesses lately, it’s no surprise that faith communities are also feeling the effects of the poor economy. Although there are few statistics…
Read MoreMaundy Thursday
During the years when they did not have their own pastor, the people of St. Timothy’s became ingenious at finding ways to celebrate church holidays. On Maundy Thursday the congregation held what it called an “agape feast.” Loosely based on…
Read MoreJordan: Building Bridges to Interfaith Understanding
The Jordan River winds through the desert scrub like a muddy drainage ditch. Still, the tourists take their pictures. They reach down to touch the water. A man stands waist deep in the dark current, trembling with emotion, and is…
Read MoreTending the Embers
Some years ago, our family built a home heated by a wood-burning stove. Each night I’d load the stove, carefully set the damper, and hope the fire would last until dawn. Each morning I’d clank open the door, hoping glowing…
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