Faith250: Healing the nation’s soul through words
Reviving America’s moral language — Faith250 invites faith leaders to heal divisions through study and community, writes Becca Messman.
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How do we move past the logo to the logos?
"Lord, help us be the people your grace thinks we are." — Rebecca Messman
The hospitality of vulnerability
Becca Messman's view of hospitality changed after ministering to a young, dying woman who lived with one foot in heaven and one on earth.
Grief as innovation
“Grief makes all things new, just in the way no one wanted.” — Becca Messman
Called to Reconciliation: How the Church Can Model Justice, Diversity, and Inclusion
"Churches in the U.S. have not seen the kind of reconciliation efforts at the same level we’ve seen in the South African church wrestling with apartheid, but Augustine has faith reconciliation can still happen and provides resources to push this effort along."
Fruits of the Spirit
Before this pandemic, when I’d think about the fruits of the Spirit, I would picture apples and bananas dotted with raindrops. Joy..
Blessing of the vaccine
When you have been struggling for a very long time in a battle against an unseen viral enemy, and your life feels..
Who tells our story?
“Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?” This is the haunting refrain in the musical “Hamilton.” The question, the entire musical,..
White Picket Fences: Turning toward Love in a World Divided by Privilege
Amy Julia Becker NavPress, 240 pages Amy Julia Becker grew up in Edenton, North Carolina, a town whose racial divisions were prevalent..
Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I’ve Loved
Kate Bowler Random House, 208 pages “I have loved you forever. I have loved you forever. Please take care of our son.”..
Believing in the holy catholic church, little c
Maybe you’ve had to explain this part of the Apostles’ Creed before. “Catholic, with the little c, comes from the Greek words..
Advent: The waiting place
I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the desolate pit,..
The jolt of leadership
Presbyterians don’t really do snake-handling outside of a property committee accident, and most of us aren’t quite sure about speaking in..
The room where it happens
Our church was having one of many conversations about Christian education. Parents were gathered in the Fellowship Hall, eating sandwiches and..
The sandwich of life and ministry
The alarm goes off on Sunday mornings at 5 a.m. In the dim light, I choose my dress, aiming for something not-too-sexy,..
Ghosting the church
This week we asked our bloggers to reflect on criticism they have received. Occasionally, someone leaving the church wants to let the..
Preaching to the Internet congregation
Over the last 8 years, I have listened to hundreds of sermons online. As a preacher myself, it is a way to..
What to expect… the Reverend Mother years
The pregnancy. The Reverend Mother should be able to: “Get into a standing position,” despite morning sickness that kicks in by middle..
Dear Seminarian,
This month we asked our bloggers what they wish they’d known as they graduated seminary and began their ministry. Here are their..
Membership: “If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it”
This week we asked our bloggers to consider “membership” – How is our understanding of membership changing? Is membership important? What are..
Lent and the gym
Would you continue to go to a gym where many of the personal trainers seemed out of shape? What if those trainers..
Three habits of highly effective pastors
1 - Remembering names. We sing, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound!” But, Dale Carnegie wrote that the sweetest sound to a..
Longest night of the year: Pain and redemption during Advent
Psalm 130 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the..
Accompanied
“Why does our country want you here but your country doesn’t want us there?” This was the innocent question that Panchito, my..
Church is out in summer
It is summertime in the church. The days are long but the to-do list is a bit shorter. The congregation is traveling,..