The delta variant and planning for what’s next
I think it was about this time last year that I confessed here on the Presbyterian Outlook blog that I didn’t have..
More Stories from this Author
Food allergies and the call to provide welcome
The church gets it wrong sometimes when it comes to food allergies. I learned this about 15 years ago. I have a..
Church in the community
I’ve been thinking about what it means to live in intentional community. The congregation I serve strives to engage the community. We..
Summer hopes and Sabbath renewal
Last summer was extra disappointing — and it was also magnificent. Summer has never been my favorite season other than the time..
Countercultural fruit
Every time I think of the fruit of the Spirit, I remember a banner that hung in the fellowship hall of..
New life, new creativity
Last year at the beginning of the pandemic, I brought home my potted succulents from my study at the church. I set..
What has the pandemic taught the church?
The biggest takeaway in pandemic learning for the church is that we can adapt and change quickly. I had just a few..
Creation care — Where to start?
My parents met each other at the dirt track. A dirt oval where cars race, and drivers test their skills as they..
Ash Wednesday prayer for this pandemic year
Holy One, as we come before you on this day with our traditional repentance, we remember those sacred words, ash to ash..
The prayer is in the noticing
Praying through a pandemic has certainly changed the ways in which I find myself praying. I have held the same prayers as..
We need a little Christmas, right this COVID-19 minute
In September I had an awful thought: Even if we are back in the church on Christmas Eve, we won’t be able..
Do you need a heaping dose of big, generous grace today?
I preach about God’s grace on the regular. I make it a point to remind people that this big, generous, expansive grace..
Reflecting on the seminary experience that was … and what might have been helpful
I began seminary the week my daughter turned 2. In retrospect, that sounds like a challenge, but at the time I was..
A pastoral confession about fall programming
Hey, hey you! Yes YOU! Come a little closer (not closer than six feet though) — I need to keep my voice..
The gift of a communion sip of juice
The idea of having communion while we are doing worship exclusively online was an easy theological jump. I quickly wrote up an..
A word for weary parents: God is with us in the pandemic
This summer we have instituted the Friday Funday breakfast picnic. Typical summers, my daughter and I are both off on Friday and..
The Spirit at work in the pandemic
Pentecost is one of my favorite celebrations of the church year. There is just something about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit..
Connecting during coronavirus
In seminary we often talked about being a “connectional church.” This means that none of us are an island — not pastors,..
Incarnation all around us
Incarnation. My first thought when I hear this word is “the Word made flesh.” God taking on a human body in the..
Praying through a pandemic
Last week I posted a picture of the inside of my refrigerator on the internet for all the world to see. This..
Lenten practices
As Lent approaches, I often feel torn between ramping up our opportunities at church and embracing the quiet of this season. In..
A hymn for a hot mess
What’s my favorite hymn? There are two I simply cannot decide between. The first is #525 in the blue Presbyterian Hymnal (the..
Gun violence: Pastoral reflections from a parent
April 20, 1999. I had been out of high school for almost a year when the country stood stunned at what unfolded..
The manifold tools and skills of Pastor Barbie
When I was a young girl, I absolutely loved playing with my Barbie dolls. I loved dressing them and playing out different..
Smaller congregations are great places for kids to grow up!
Everywhere I have lived, I’ve heard similar sentiments about where people want to bring their kids to church. Nearly every parent I..