It has turned chilly here in Kansas, which means it is time for me to make a batch of chai tea mix. The mix has proven popular among friends and family, so I thought I would share the recipe with you all: 3 oz jar or instant tea 15 oz jar of vanilla creamer 15…
This Sunday I will be preaching on Martha, the busy hostess and astute theologian. But I know many of you are working on World Communion services, so here are some links to previous posts: Artwork and Call to Worship A Great Thanksgiving Liturgy A sermon on Ephesians 2:11-22 Other communion calls to worship are here…
I thought that the night of the first presidential debate might be a good time to share this prayer activity with you all. It’s from the Fruit of the Spirit retreat materials–from Wednesday of Peace week. It was a good prayer practice for me this morning. (Maybe every day until I no longer have teenagers…
In all of the news coverage of the anti-Muslim video and the world-wide reaction to it, I’ve been thinking quite a bit about offense–both giving it and taking it. I’ve wondered where exactly the lines of blame should be drawn. Do we have a right to offend each other? With a lot of contemporary moral…
Our disciple of the week is Peter! I love the Peter stories . . . maybe because I have a highly impulsive child who would totally step out of the boat, offer to build houses on the mountain, and make big promises with the best of intentions and the worst follow-through. So, here is our…
I’m excited to begin the Fruit of the Spirit Creative Arts retreat in daily life this weekend! All those who ordered materials should have received a welcome email with links to our Facebook page and the retreat blog page. You can find out more about the retreat here. And it is not too late to…
A few weeks ago I was a guest in a church. A church of kind-hearted, hospitable people, I’m sure. At some point, as is to be expected, my tiny bladder and I needed to use the bathroom. I did not use the main bathroom with stalls and fake flowers and smelly lotion. I used the…
This week, the disciple we are focusing on is Thomas. It is interesting to note his three speaking parts in the Gospel of John. In chapter 11, when Jesus suggests they go to back to Judea the disciples remind him that the last time he was there people tried to stone him. When he insists…
God of justice and compassion, God of Republicans and Democrats and Independents, God of the poor and the 1% and the middle class, in the heat of this election year we pray for our nation, our churches, and ourselves. In the midst of meanness and deception, may our words be kind and true. In the…
I’ve had an intense and fun weekend getting the Fruit of the Spirit retreat books and materials put together. What I thought would be a one-hour editing/copying job yesterday turned into three hours. And the question is, when will I learn that those types of one-hour jobs always take three hours? It’s not like I’ve…
Spacious Faith 