Whatever they thought they'd be doing right now, they're probably not. So many plans of our children and youth have been upended by this global pandemic. All of their activities, travels, competitions, and diversions have been interrupted. Normal things like play-dates, parties, dances, and "going out" look different. Their school year ended weirdly last spring, and even though some sports started up again in June, we've seen many instances of this team dropping out of the competition because of a member with Coronavirus, or that league suspending its season for the same reason. I don't … [Read more...] about Looking After Our Young
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Co-Conspirators with the Truth
On a recent morning I found myself in John 3--a book of the Bible that I don't know well. My practice has long been to work with a handful of verses in a simple lectio divina pattern, reading and listening and responding, with the expectation that God will have something to say to me through them that day. Here's what I read that morning: Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the friends, even though they are strangers to you; they have testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on in a manner worthy of God; for they began their journey for the sake … [Read more...] about Co-Conspirators with the Truth
Change Not Change
When someone new shows up, do things change? You could think of that new family in the neighborhood, that new in-law in the family, or that stranger that started joining in worship a few weeks ago. Does their presence change things? Or are they expected to fit into how things were before they got there? These questions feel particularly relevant to me right now because I'm switching to a new clergy appointment; I'll be serving as pastor to a different church. As I move my work and, in a few months, my residence to a new community, will things change because I'm there? I titled this post … [Read more...] about Change Not Change
The Lure of “Back to Normal”
After months of physical distancing and extreme surface-cleansing, it's no wonder we'd like to go back to the way things were. Some of us have jumped in with both feet upon cancelled executive orders that are "reopening the economy." Snapshots of people in restaurants, at rallies, and in grocery stores could almost make you think we're done with the Coronavirus. Cue our collective sigh of relief. Finally. As a pastor, I'm watching a range of conversations about when and how we return to our church buildings. I hear the cries of church folk who long to be back in worship, "back to normal," … [Read more...] about The Lure of “Back to Normal”
My (Tentative) Turn
After two weeks of really trying to listen to the voices of persons who are black, indigenous and people of color, as I outlined in my first and second posts on this subject, I'm going to step out with some trepidation to share a few of my own thoughts and experiences. Not because it's time to stop listening; it most assuredly is not that. But because at some point we are called to use our voices, and enter a conversation we're nervous about having. I have to start somewhere. Please don't hesitate to call me on anything I say here that feels misplaced, inappropriate, or otherwise … [Read more...] about My (Tentative) Turn
More Listening
Last week I tried to mute myself and I urged you to listen to some of the voices of black, indigenous and people of color. I was challenged to do this by a friend, because those voices have much more relevant things to say than I do about what's happening in this country right now. Part of the challenge I described last week included reflecting on what that experience was like, and I will do that, but it's late on Wednesday and I can't do justice to that question tonight. I want to encourage you to click back to last week's post and listen to some of those voices, or others that you are … [Read more...] about More Listening