I have been privileged to spend some time recently with a woman in our church who is in the final days of her life. She is on her journey home, and her cancer ravaged body is shutting down. It is a beautiful thing to see the love that her family shares with her and…
Based on some of the responses to the story I posted yesterday, I want to make a clarifying note here before I get on with my Saturday morning. I do not feel shamed. And I am not a victim. I did what I did of my own free will, understanding the potential consequences. While many…
Almost two years ago now, I received a tentative email from a young woman asking if she could have her upcoming wedding at our church. She and her fiance were Christian. They wanted a church wedding, and a friend had told her that she might be able to get married at Peace Mennonite in Lawrence.…
This call to worship draws on Acts 8:26-40 and I John 4:7-21. (Leader reads plain text, congregation reads bold, everyone reads bold italics.) We come like Philip: following the angels, waiting for a word from the Spirit. So breathe your Word into us, O God, that we might have boldness to speak to the…
Driving home from my retreat last weekend, a billboard caught my attention. “When you die,” it asked, “will you go to heaven or hell?” At the bottom was an 800 number you could call, presumably to find out whether you’ll need your flame-retardant pajamas in the afterlife. I would love to listen in on these…
As part of my Super Spectacular Sabbatical blog redesign, I hearby implement a series of Monday prayer practices. (Thanks for the nudge, Sandi!) Each Monday I will post a suggestion for a creative arts prayer practice–in the spirit of the activities that were part of our Lenten Retreat. If the practice appeals to you, make…
In my misguided attempts to get Google Webmaster Tools to cooperate, I recently posted a very cryptic message–which my mom thought meant someone had hacked into my account. Just in case anyone else is concerned, I want to assure you that all is well here at Spacious Faith. Blessings to you, Joanna
I will admit that I was a bit skeptical going into the Mennonite Women’s retreat this past Friday evening. In my experience, women’s retreats are kind of like that little girl who had a little curl right in the middle of her forehead. You remember the rhyme? When she was good, she was very very…
I was just about to settle into bed with a good book last night when I heard, “Love. . . . Love?” drifting up from downstairs. “Love” is what my husband and I call each other when there is a problem. Pretty much only when there is a problem. My mind raced. The kids were…
“So the dove was talking?” asked one child. “No,” I replied. “That’s weird,”said another child. “I never heard of a talking dove.” “The dove wasn’t talking,” I said. “The dove came down from the sky and there was a voice from heaven.” “From the dove?” asked another child. “No,” I said. “The dove did not…
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