Nevertheless

These days have felt especially heavy. A cousin by marriage has walked a challenging path with her spouse after his diagnosis of glioblastoma in 2021 and death on April 19. I know too many people who have struggled with diagnoses, disease and death, loss and challenge of daunting proportions, it seems. Many congregations have had a long season of lament … Read More

Our hybrid lives

  These days, the talk and work around The Church is about hybrid worship, hybrid meetings, hybrid work.  A return to in-person worship and gatherings for those who are already there and for those who are still in the anticipation and planning stages is yet another opportunity for us to flex and learn and grow in these interesting and challenging … Read More

Do Not Grow Weary

  We’re days away from Palm Sunday and Holy Week and Easter.  The congregations of the Presbytery of Wabash Valley, like so many others,  are making plans. Many of our congregations will be worshipping in person for the first or second time in 2021 or longer. And heaven knows we need the Easter hope and joy that a rousing Easter service … Read More

Being at Peace with Oneself

      I’m a huge Mark Sundby fan.  I respect his wisdom and guidance, I appreciate his humility and humor. I am grateful for the work he does in the world to help pastors and congregations learn and grow in their understanding of ourselves and our callings.  The Rev. Dr. Mark Sundby is the Executive Director of LeaderWise, our … Read More

Tidings (the comfort and joy variety)

  2020 has taken us to school, hasn’t it? We’re working and worshipping differently, and we’re thinking in new ways as the Church about what it means to be faithful in a pandemic. Pastoral leaders (and teachers and so many other professionals) have learned (and continue to learn) about the need to stay connected and keep others connected in new … Read More

Peoples Long Silenced

      The words of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) Brief Statement of Faith seem especially relevant in these days of pandemic and politics.  The Brief Statement contains beautiful sentences about peace and hope, and an elegant reprise of the work of the Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer. I’ve been thinking about this part of the statement a lot lately: In … Read More

Good Books About the Good Book

Our colleague, David Crowley,  chaplain at Peabody Retirement Center in North Manchester, has recently published/updated two of his informative and helpful books. Prophets in a Minor Key: The Book of the Twelve,  is a series of bible studies on the “minor” prophets. (They’re minor because they’re shorter books, not less important.) Crowley shows us that they’re a rich source of … Read More

The Antidote Called Yes

  Our granddaughter, Eleanor, will turn two at the end of October. She’s curious and playful and loves to make others laugh. She’s empathetic, musical, and generally fearless. Ella loves books, trucks and her dog, George.  That’s just the beginning of the list of what and who Ella loves. Like most people I know, she gets hangry and sometimes cranky, … Read More

From the Bottom of My Heart

The year was 1976 and Stevie Wonder’s album, Songs in the Key of Life, was at the top of the charts. I was a seventeen year old, beginning college in Boston. I played it ALL the time.  It was the soundtrack of my freshman year. I play his music in the fall because it evokes some wonderful memories. I’ve been … Read More

More fun reading!

    A good friend of mine recently admitted that he has found reading to be challenging in the season of Covid. I expect that weariness, distraction, and other challenges are contributors. I inquired in a prior God Calls article about books you have enjoyed in recent months.                          … Read More