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Waves of Grief after Waves of Nausea
Grief is my constant companion. It is there every day and every moment even when there is a smile plastered to my face. Sometimes I choose not to acknowledge it. I don’t want it to dominate and there are still… Continue reading
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10 Observations for Right Now
It seems to me that there are so many great teachers out there. It’s why TED is so popular. There are just so many people that are pulsing with wisdom and creativity. It isn’t a select few that have these… Continue reading
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Recipe for Gratitude
Many congregations, including the one that I am working with right now as a consultant, care for their members by putting in the mail cards full of love and support when someone has fallen ill or is bereaved. Some congregations… Continue reading
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Prayers for Palm and Passion Sunday
Years ago, when I was still pastoring in Maine and also writing liturgy for the United Church of Christ’s Worship Ways, I wanted to find some way to honor both Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday. The church was accustomed to… Continue reading
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The Concept of Mu
Feeling frustrated and confused, I went for a walk last week. I had spent the morning trying to imagine the next gathering in this adventure in consulting. The last time we were together, we focused on the numbers. They had… Continue reading
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Self-Care is Not Just for Clergy
In the wake of the presidential inauguration, with the tsunami of executive orders that immediately followed, I have watched as my friends on social media have retreated. One by one, they’ve announced they are taking a break. They need to… Continue reading
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Bit By Bit
It is the First Sunday of Lent and I’m missing church. I miss good preaching. Today I could not push myself out the door to find some place to relish in the mystery of these holy forty days because I… Continue reading
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Recipe for Discernment
I had the honor of meeting Elizabeth Liebert last month in San Anselmo where I began my studies in spiritual direction. I had read her book The Way of Discernment way back when I was discerning whether or to leave… Continue reading
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What I’m Up to Now
Holy threads are hard to see. They are as invisible and hidden as God. Even when we can see threads stitched through the fabric of our existence, they are often jumbled and knotted. We try to pick up those threads but we… Continue reading
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Good News for Today
It has been a long time since I was in the pulpit. My friend Elizabeth Hagan reminded me of this fact in her recent inquiry into why preachers should be political. It’s something I’ve wondered often. If I were to… Continue reading
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Featured
Let’s get cooking
Cooking is always about imagination and possibility. It’s about what these things can become together and I don’t think using words to attempt to approach God is any different.
We need each other to find inspiration. We share recipes and try new things. We wonder about what else could work even when don’t feel the least bit creative.
These pages are all about helping each other to cook up some good trouble. If you don’t find what you’re searching for above, please drop me a line to see if we can stir up some goodness together.
WELCOME TO MY KITCHEN
There are stacks of cookbooks in my actual kitchen and probably a sink full of dirty dishes leftover from another delicious feast but my virtual kitchen is full of liturgies and resources to pepper the worship experience in your congregation with love and hope. Find something new over in my kitchen.
“Cooking [up good worship] is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all.”
— Harriet Van Horn (adapted)
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Cooking with Elsa 