The inconvenience of sabbath
Intentional rest is inconvenient, writes Linda Kurtz. How can embrace the challenge?
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A year with the Bible
It was my second year of seminary when I had the distinct honor of taking New Testament 1 with Frances Taylor Gench...
A continuing education in permission-giving
Like many of my clergy colleagues, my “terms of call” (a very Presbyterian term that essentially means compensation package) sets aside two..
Maundy Thursday prayer
Glorious God, There was a time – centuries ago – when the Word became flesh and moved into the neighborhood. The Word..
I’m wrestling with the COVID-19 vaccine…
I’m a 32-year-old pastor serving a wonderful congregation in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. As of the time of this writing, I have..
This is not who I thought we were created to be
At first, the pandemic seemed as if it was bringing out the best in humanity. Healthcare workers were cheered during shift changes...
Revolution of Values: Reclaiming Public Faith for the Common Good
Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove IVP Books, 216 pages 2020 has been a year of tumult. (Perhaps the understatement of the year.) A global pandemic...
16 months out of seminary
Sixteen months. That’s how long ago I graduated from seminary. I had to count twice, because it doesn’t seem possible that I..
Energy, intelligence, imagination and love: A first year of pastoral ministry in the time of corona
“Will you pray for and seek to serve the people with energy, intelligence, imagination, and love?” It was one year ago (on..
Confessions of a relocated pastor
Being a Virginian never mattered to me as much as it did when I moved to Kentucky. As of the day of..
The Spirit and a clerical collar
The first time I wore my clerical collar, I felt squeezed. I was just a month into my ordination as Minister of..
A prayer for the singers
Creator God, Since You formed us in Your image, we humans have been singing. After You led them out of slavery, Moses..
Ministry moves virtual
It was a Wednesday. I was just four days off a plane from Virginia for a wedding shower with my fiancé’s family...
Field notes from a first call
Start date: August 26, 2019 Location: Lexington, Kentucky Observations: The past three weeks (only three?) have been a whirlwind. On a Friday..
What boxed wine taught me about community
This week we asked our bloggers to consider their experience of alcohol and church. Here are their reflections. Boxed wine gets a..
Moving ahead without knowing what’s next
I graduated from seminary a few weekends ago. It was an amazing day: a fitting culmination of countless written words, late nights,..
I’ve forgotten how to read for fun
When I was a kid, reading was my hobby. Other kids played soccer or did gymnastics or participated in Scouts. While I..