The upswing possibility
Visiting my local library, I found an endcap displaying Robert Putnam’s new book, “The Upswing: How America Came Together a Century Ago..
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A prayer for a hurting world
God of mercy, as wildfires and wars rage, earthquakes shake the planet, tropical storms threaten, we are at a loss as..
A prayer for the start of the school year
Merciful God, We are grateful for the resilience, innovation and determination our students, teachers, school staff, parents and administrators demonstrated and developed..
10th Sunday after Pentecost — August 1, 2021
Ephesians 4:1-16 Pentecost 10B; Proper 13 “I’m baffled,” one of my pastor friends recently wrote on Facebook. “Worship attendance and church engagement..
The practice of creating
A few years ago, when I found myself creatively stuck, my writing coach encouraged me to visit the art gallery on the..
Order of worship — August 1, 2021
You are welcome to use this liturgy in your online worship services and distribute it to your congregation. It is free for..
9th Sunday after Pentecost — July 25, 2021
John 6:1-21 Pentecost 9B; Proper 12 Unique among the Gospels, John replaces the scene of the last supper with a foot washing...
Order of worship — July 25, 2021
You are welcome to use this liturgy in your online worship services and distribute it to your congregation. It is free for..
8th Sunday after Pentecost — July 18, 2021
Mark 6:30-34, 53-56 Pentecost 8B; Proper 11 “Anyone else experiencing ‘The Great Resignation’ in your church?” I read this question and the..
A new call, a new journey
I couldn’t have been more excited to wake up at 3:30 a.m. to catch a 6 a.m. flight that would land me,..
Order of worship — July 18, 2021
You are welcome to use this liturgy in your online worship services and distribute it to your congregation. It is free for..
7th Sunday after Pentecost — July 11, 2021
Amos 7:7-15 Pentecost 7B; Proper 10 Who are the prophets in your life? Whose critique do you listen to? Who do you..
Order of worship — July 11, 2021
You are welcome to use this liturgy in your online worship services and distribute it to your congregation. It is free for..
6th Sunday after Pentecost — July 4, 2021
2 Corinthians 12:2-10 Pentecost 6B; Proper 9 There have been times over this past pandemic year, when I’ve found myself wishing we..
Order of worship — July 4, 2021
You are welcome to use this liturgy in your online worship services and distribute it to your congregation. It is free for..
20 minutes with Teri McDowell Ott
On June 1, Teri McDowell Ott started as the editor of the Presbyterian Outlook. A minister member of the Presbytery of Great..
Our college’s calling goes beyond the classroom
COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter protests have clarified that the calling of my small Presbyterian Church-related college goes beyond the classroom...
Threshold of Discovery: A Field Guide to Spirituality in Midlife
L. Roger Owens Church Publishing, 200 pages Reviewed by Teri McDowell Ott With his 40th birthday just two months away, L. Roger..
Dear church: Please ask me about my college students
Guest commentary by Teri McDowell Ott As a college chaplain, local churches and pastors have asked me how they can reach out..