The pastor and the clerk
Pastors often talk about the value of colleagues. Those folks listen to our concerns, share ideas and help guide us when we..
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Food allergies and practicing the love of God
I love peanuts. I love peanut butter, chocolate-peanut-butter ice cream, peanut puffs and peanut butter cookies. My kid gets peanut butter in..
Say this, not that
Our words matter. It matters that we speak about God’s call when the nominating committee gets to work. A phone call that..
Embodying parenting and faith
Before my daughter arrived at toddler-hood, I read a lot about healthy toddler interactions. I read how to talk about sharing. (One..
Sailing the waters of discernment
The desired end of most any discernment process is a clear choice; a decision made. Our goal is for the decision to..
Grace and gratitude and Presbyterianism
We asked our bloggers to share why they are Presbyterian. These are their responses. As I was discerning my call to ministry,..
It’s hard to wake up
Editor’s note: This week we’re sharing stories of Presbyterian congregations who have answered the invitation from co-moderators Denise Anderson and Jan Edmiston..
Dear purple church pastor
Dear purple church pastor, These are hard, strange times for pastors who serve churches with members on the political left and right...
Rethinking hope
In the Faerie Tale Theater version of Cinderella, which I watched innumerable times as a child, Jean Stapleton plays the Fairy Godmother...
All of it counts: Rethinking spiritual practices
My 1-year old daughter is finally starting to enjoy it when we read a story together. Or maybe it’s actually me..
Words from the Spirit
Volunteers are hard at work carefully cutting out this year’s Epiphany stars, to be given out at our Epiphany worship service. Now..
When life imitates Advent
Even outside the church, I think people know what it means to live with Advent hope. Advent means expectant waiting. It means..
Interim pastors: In the congregation, but not of the congregation
My confirmation class mentor was the first person to teach me the notion that Christians are called to be in the..
Practical skills: What I wish I learned in seminary
This week we asked our bloggers to share three things they would have liked to tell themselves before starting seminary. Here are..
Driving with Jesus
For someone whose parents truly thought she might never master driving a car, I have spent a lot of time driving. I..
Growing into God’s call
Over the last 10 years, educators and armchair psychologists have focused on the mindset required for success. Carol Dweck, in her..
Holy, sacred space
The offer of a cup of tea and a muffin can be just what a new mom needs in the days after her..
Palm and Passion Sunday liturgy: Hearing the story through Matthew’s Gospel
Call to Worship A reading from Matthew 21:1-10 One: Rejoice, rejoice, you children of Zion! Shout for joy, you daughters of..
Stoles that remind and connect
This month we asked our bloggers to share their thoughts on wearing vestments in worship. Here’s what they think. One of my..
Pastoring, pregnancy and parenting
Ever since I announced my pregnancy to my congregation in March, I am greeted multiple times on Sunday with the loving and..
Wedding drama = marriage training
I am that strange pastor who prefers officiating weddings to funerals. I have always been told such pastors were like unicorns in ministry;..
5 tips for new seminary grads
This month we asked our bloggers what they wish they’d known as they graduated seminary and began their ministry. Here are their..
Lenten fasting
This week we asked our bloggers what they had learned from spiritual practices and disciples. This is how they responded. In Matthew..
Why membership?
This week we asked our bloggers to consider “membership” – How is our understanding of membership changing? Is membership important? What are..
Closing a church
In the ninth season of the ABC show Grey’s Anatomy, Dr. Mark Sloan is on life support due to injuries sustained in..