I never expected that I would be a stay at home mom. I never dreamed that I would find myself isolated in a city where I know no one because a pandemic has forced us to isolate since we arrived here. I’m not even sure how to begin new friendships with the risk assessment analysisContinue reading “Discernment in Coronatide”
Tag Archives: ministry
Recipe for a Pandemic Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt
Worship is not the only thing that adds flavor to congregational life. We are nourished by times of fellowship and times of service. As we approach the season of Lent again, I’ll be sharing more recipes for ministry. If you read my newsletter, you might have caught on to the fact that I have hadContinue reading “Recipe for a Pandemic Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt”
Toward Transformation This Lent
The holy season of Lent begins in just a few short weeks on Valentines Day, if you can believe it. Even if you can’t quite fathom this holy and profane confusion, get ready. Easter will fall on April Fools Day six weeks later. Maybe it’s appropriate for this year in American Christianity where we areContinue reading “Toward Transformation This Lent”
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 gone on Neighborhood Walks and then we looked at the numbers. We looked at the statisticsContinue reading “The Concept of Mu”
The Rise of the Consultant
I can’t remember when I first heard the term. I do remember how I felt about it when I heard that there was such a thing as a church consultant. It was not pleasant. I was of the impression that it wasn’t anything that a pastor couldn’t do and I was a pastor. I knewContinue reading “The Rise of the Consultant “
Everything is New
Last week, I had an interview with a church seeking an interim pastor. I knew what would happen even before that meeting. I knew it because it’s what always happens. As I sat there talking to these faith-filled, hopeful people, I came to love them. It wasn’t even a slow progression. It basically walloped me from theContinue reading “Everything is New”
Premonitions of Grief
Yesterday, another United Church of Christ pastor dared to ask a group of her colleagues and friends if we share in her experience of receiving premonitions. Stories bubbled up from within this trusted circle as much as they bubbled up in me. I have had writer’s block. I have struggled every day this week toContinue reading “Premonitions of Grief”
How We Write Clergy
I am a character in a book. I learned of this news from a Facebook message. A member of the community had written a book and he wanted to know if it was alright to name the church in the book. That wasn’t my call anymore. I was no longer the pastor there, except that IContinue reading “How We Write Clergy”
More Questions Than Answers
It wasn’t that long ago that started serving as an interim pastor at a small church celebrating 200 years amid questions of whether or not there will be a future beyond this anniversary. This morning, before worship began, one of the members called our attention to a news story about a church in a neighboring community that at leastContinue reading “More Questions Than Answers”
Starting Over Again
My sermon ended yesterday with the bold proclamation that God is just beginning to do a new thing. The words have been ratting around in my head since I first typed them. Pushing and prodding and nudging toward this amazing possibility that no one really understands. I have to be honest. The whole idea makes meContinue reading “Starting Over Again”
Cooking with Elsa 