The generational gap that is killing the church
I am 39 years old. I am on my final year of my 30s, and it may the last time people..
More Stories from this Author
Spend the holidays with your household: Population one
You’ve seen the pleas from the CDC: “Spend Thanksgiving with just your immediate household this year.” My sister called me this week and..
How to approach change?
The newish pastors group in my presbytery is reading “How to Lead When You Don’t Know Where You Are Going” by Susan..
Seminary support
When I made the decision – or I probably should say, when God pushed me into to the decision – to go..
Grateful in a pandemic (not for a pandemic)
In seminary, I used a “character contract” one semester (I attended Denver Seminary and as a part of our individualized learning we..
Creative ministry during pandemic grief
My study leave this year looked different than a conference, or even sermon series planning. I used my study leave to catch..
Caring for all God’s sheep during COVID-19
Take time to read the parable of the lost sheep in Luke 15 this week. The compelling piece of this parable is..
The non-glamourous story of parking lot worship
As of three weeks ago, the church I pastor is now holding weekly outdoor worship in our parking lot! When the congregation’s..
Three pandemic reads
The last time I met with my spiritual director, we talked about how you often hold onto a book until you are..
Gray, thin spaces
During this time of fear, disease and sadness, it seems we, more than ever, desire concrete answers. We want accurate tests for..
Not a hugger: COVID-19 and physical touch
When I went for a walk a week ago, I saw a mom holding her little boy and the leash of her..
Uneasy. Unsteady. Uncertain.
I remember in college I started getting hives seemingly out of nowhere. We never did figure out what caused them. They were..
Burying the alleluias
We “bury” or “lock up” our alleluias on Ash Wednesday in preparation for Lent. This is not my idea, but an ancient..
Work smarter, not harder
I’m still thinking about the parable of the dishonest/shrewd/clever manager (Luke 16:1-3) that I preached on recently. It is a confusing story..
Of pastors and saints
Perhaps being a saint means living somewhere between the holy and the ordinary, writes Julie Raffety.
“All my best”
My other job – besides minister – is teaching math to high-schoolers. As the last school year drew to a close, a..
Millennial is not a dirty word
I am bivocational, so 30 hours a week I teach math to high-schoolers. Whenever they make a silly math error – the..
No substitute for community
I recently attended the PC(USA) Transitional Ministry Conference at the Zephyr Point Conference Center in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. The conference itself was..
Required: Two – five years of experience
I vividly recall the excitement I felt when first applying to ministry positions upon graduating from seminary. I decided that (besides Wyoming)..
Bright spots in ministry
I have found myself complaining far too often lately, so I am pausing to notice the bright spots in ministry. It is..
Thoughts on reflecting God’s image and holding pieces of God
My church recently lost a great man. Actually, I can confidently say that not just our church, but our community lost a..
Ministry hacks: Stay in your lane
This week we asked the Outlook bloggers to share a “ministry hack” they’ve learned. Here’s what they shared. OK… I’ve never really..
A place for God
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in..
The God we are not
If I had to describe myself in three words, I would pick loyal, dedicated and consistent. So, no surprise here – along..
Nothing personal, BUT …
In middle school, I vividly recall when the phrase “nothing personal” became popular. All of a sudden, we all started saying it. ..