[Below is an excerpt from a sermon I preached on All Saints’ Day a few years ago.] This vision John gives us is a beautiful vision. A necessary vision. It is a vision that Christians have clung to through persecution and war and slavery and untold numbers of personal sorrows and tragedies. “And I saw…
Sometimes, it’s just too much. The death and injuries caused by the bombs at the Boston marathon are heartbreaking. The talk of terrorist plots is deeply frightening–both because of what it means might happen to “us,” and what such talk might lead “us” to do to “them”–whoever “they” are. And then there was an earthquake…
Can decluttering be a spiritual practice? I’m sure it can. But I’ll be honest, my decluttering efforts these days are spurred on more by anxiety than spiritual maturity. My husband and I are hoping to buy a house on some acreage just out of town. He wants to have (more) chickens and gardens and fruit…
At Peace, we are beginning a worship series on virtues as outlined in 2 Peter 1:3-11. Our call to worship comes from Psalm 1: Blessed are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; Blessed are those whose delight…
*Below is the last part of my Easter sermon from this past Sunday (Luke 24:1-12). You can find the entire sermon here. I know that Easter sermons usually focus on the women–their faithfulness, their witness. Or maybe on the men and their disbelief. Or, if we preachers just want to go for the obvious, we…
The church I serve is pretty non-traditional, but we do have some traditions. One of them is that the children are invited to color the bulletins every Easter. We have a potluck breakfast before worship, and when the kids finish eating they can gather around a table with a stack of bulletins and assorted crayons,…
About a month ago, on a Sunday night, my mom took my dad to the emergency room because he had a fever that wouldn’t go away. After discovering his blood pressure was extremely low, they admitted him to the hospital. Then they sent him to another hospital. By the time I got there three days…
I’ve decided to cancel Lent next year. I’m pretty sure, as a (still) ordained part-time Mennonite pastor, I have that kind of power. I mean, I have a card in my wallet signed by the conference minister. So be looking for the headlines: No Lent Next Year. Last year a dear church member and friend…
With Matthew 28:1-10 The earth is shaking. Are angels descending? The tomb is before us. Is the stone rolling back? It’s bright as lightning, blinding as the sun reflecting off of snow. Of course we are afraid. But we need not tremble. We need not become like the dead. Because the tomb is empty and…
If you know me, my church, or my blog well at all, you know that I support gay rights. I think God supports gay rights. I think the sacredness of marriage is about mutual love, commitment, and respect. Period. And if you have had the opportunity (or misfortune?) to talk with me about “the issue”…
Spacious Faith 