Luke 19.11-27 by Elsa A. Peters I’m puzzled by this question.You might know the context of this strange little parable where a nobleman seems to flaunt his extravagant wealth all over the place. He rewards the “obedient” slaves who make… Continue reading

A long time ago, I was a missionary.  I didn’t convert souls for Christ.  That’s not our common understanding of mission in the United Church of Christ.  Instead, I hosted church group after church group in the small town of… Continue reading

This morning, I drove through the fog.  I drove further than I usually do.  I didn’t traverse the bridge that leads to the church but wove up the highway on Route 95 all the way to Augusta for a Religious… Continue reading

Two weeks ago, I sat in the chapel of my seminary. I worshiped in that sacred space with other alumni. I don’t know if this sacred space has the same meaning for them. In fact, I heard from at least… Continue reading

I’ve never ever thought of myself as a teacher. Truthfully, I never thought I had anything to teach because a teacher has very specific things that I don’t have — like knowledge.  A teacher knows things.  She has enough wisdom to… Continue reading

This week, I have four friends visiting.  They are all women that I’ve come to know and love through The Young Women Clergy Project.  Last night, we stayed up late talking about the stained glass ceiling — which is this… Continue reading

  As with so many others, my heart has broken again and again this past week — for reasons that this teenager makes so plain.  He is my neighbor.  He lives in the same state as I do.  He lives… Continue reading

Nearly six-in-ten Americans define religion in this way. Not spirituality, but they define religion as something that is very important to them according to a previous survey of the Pew Forum of Religion and Public Life.  Six out of ten… Continue reading

There is this weird tension in the pastoral life.  It’s a tension that I’m never really sure I’ll know how to navigate — but it’s an important tension to me.  It’s one that I was able to clearly identify yesterday… Continue reading

I’m not sure exactly how it happened — though I never really know how the Holy Spirit moves.  I can tell you when it happens.  I can tell you when I feel her.  I can tell you when She appears.… Continue reading