I wanted to write a statement about what it means to be a person of faith when everything feels uncertain for the service I wrote for the Longest Night in 2020. I did it partially for myself. I needed words to speak to what I believe right now, but I also wanted to provide someContinue reading “Pandemic Easter Affirmations”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Pandemic Longest Night and Christmas Eve Worship
If you’ve been clicking around From My Kitchen or found my newsletter earlier this week in your email, this is old news to you. You are busy, dear pastor. You have already seen this. You can go do the many other things on your list. If you were not so lucky to find these thingsContinue reading “Pandemic Longest Night and Christmas Eve Worship”
Words to Speak to the Unknown
I am as uncertain what tomorrow holds as anyone. I’ve done my part. I’ve cast my ballot and now I can only pray that I live in a land that chooses love over hate. I pray so much and fumble for the right words to speak my hope. I admire you so much, dear pastors,Continue reading “Words to Speak to the Unknown”
10 Things to Celebrate Your Pastor in Clergy Appreciation Month
October is Clergy Appreciation Month. While this celebration may have passed by along with International Buy a Priest a Beer Day on September 9th, it should be something we celebrate this year. We should find every reason possible to celebrate each other this year — but especially for clergy who are working so hard inContinue reading “10 Things to Celebrate Your Pastor in Clergy Appreciation Month”
Stay-at-Home Clergy Mom
On Christmas Eve, my daughter raced back and forth from table to pew, pew to table and back again, to ask for more Jesus. That’s what she called it with both fistfuls full of leavened grace as her little hands signed “more” over and over again. I was so grateful to our pastor, a motherContinue reading “Stay-at-Home Clergy Mom”
Thirty Three Years Later
Last night, my baby girl couldn’t sleep. It has been many months since she was up every two hours but last night she returned to this familiar routine. She wasn’t always hungry. It seemed that she just wanted to know I was there. It had only been a dream. It was only some trick ofContinue reading “Thirty Three Years Later”
An Expert In My Own Grief
Expert was the word that made me laugh in her email. I do not feel like an expert in anything. I’ve rather owned that pastors are the last generalists. We dabble in this and that. We have a lot of theological thoughts (hopefully) and some leadership skills. We know a little of this and aContinue reading “An Expert In My Own Grief”
Prayers for Baptism of Christ Sunday and Epiphany 2C
I attend a church with a super talented and dynamic staff, but as it happens when a lead pastor leaves for a new call, they’re carrying more than they usually do. There’s more work for each and every one of them. I could see it on their faces. It wasn’t obvious but I knew thatContinue reading “Prayers for Baptism of Christ Sunday and Epiphany 2C”
Tell the Children
I sat there with my daughter in my lap turning the pages. Matt de la Pena’s book Love was sent to me by my cousin. She said it reminded her of me. So my heart was already in my throat reading this beautiful poem to my daughter. And then, I turned the page and sawContinue reading “Tell the Children”
To Be Regular in Worship (Or Not)
In the middle of Advent, I joined a church. It was important to me. I wanted to do it. I’m already a member of another church where I never get to attend worship, but I read their newsletter and pray for their ministry. We’ve moved too faraway for regular worship to be possible and I’veContinue reading “To Be Regular in Worship (Or Not)”
Cooking with Elsa 