Montreat Conference Center | Montreat, N.C. For ministries built around gathering people and showing hospitality, the COVID-19 pandemic has been incredibly challenging, but the conference center has focused on ways to be missional in the present. We added new online programming last spring during the initial shutdown, and shifted to an online format with our major programs — such as the annual youth and middle school conferences, Montreat Institute for Church Leadership and antiracism trainings. We have provided heat-and-eat meals to people in our community and partnered with local ministries. We’ve also been preparing to hit the ground running when people can revisit Montreat in significant numbers. Moving conferences online allowed us to flex new muscles and strengthen relationships with partners like the Presbyterian Mission Agency and Presbyterian Association of Musicians. We were also the recipient of a “Thriving Congregations” grant from the Lilly Foundation, which will … [Read more...]
Looking forward to a post-pandemic era
Now, in early 2021, many people, including some who once doubted, know that the COVID-19 pandemic is deadly serious and distressingly persistent. There is good news: vaccines have been developed in record time, medical personnel and hospital workers continue to care for patients compassionately and bravely, treatment regimens have improved with additional knowledge and experience and some countries have succeeded in keeping case numbers low. There is also bad news: surges in the number of cases threaten to overwhelm hospital capacity in the United States and elsewhere, wealthy nations snap up vaccines and leave others with short supplies, distribution of personal protective equipment and vaccines is beset with difficulties (some of which reflect government failures), public health guidelines are met with mixed responses and mutations of the virus are emerging. A genuine Reformed theology claims neither to solve the current crisis nor to equip us to avoid all others in … [Read more...]
Our Daily Bread Café: Staycation Bible School 2021
Presbyterian Outlook Staycation Bible School 2021 Our Daily Bread Café: Where God provides Are you looking for a way to engage children this summer, but struggling with how to connect during social distancing? The Presbyterian Outlook has you covered with Staycation Bible School! Christian educator Kelly Kaufman has crafted a week of VBS lessons and activities that can be done from home. Theme verse: Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the Lord is good! Families of elementary-aged children will go on a journey exploring the places Jesus traveled and discovering the ways we can travel and share God’s love while staying right in our own homes! This year’s Staycation Bible School will make your family imagine that you're at your favorite restaurant or café as you explore together five food stories of the Bible. Using stories from the Old and New Testaments you will see the ways that God provides food for the world and how God uses us to help feed a hungry world. The … [Read more...]
Love, joy, peace — April 5, 2021
The life of the church is grounded in the Holy Spirit and finds expression in the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace kindness, generosity, patience, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. In this issue of the Outlook and the next two, each fruit will be considered in turn. This time, we explore how the Spirit works through love, joy and peace. Click here to read the issue in the Uberflip reader Transforming power and presence of God’s Spirit This introduction by Frances Gench highlights key concepts that frame Paul’s discussion of the fruit of the Spirit. Love Roger Gench explains why he considers love to be the foundational fruit of the Spirit. Joy James Taneti explores joy and grace during a triple pandemic. Peace Peace can be found in the balance God creates, writes Martha Sadongei. … [Read more...]
After Evangelicalism: The Path to a New Christianity
David P. Gushee Westminster John Knox Press, 242 pages Reviewed by Don Meeks As one who joyfully identifies as an evangelical Christian, it was with no small interest that I read David Gushee’s newest offering, “After Evangelicalism: The Path to a New Christianity.” Gushee wastes no time identifying his intended audience: “This book is for people who used to be ‘evangelicals’ and are now post-evangelicals or ex-evangelicals or #exvangelicals or somewhere painfully in between. I am one of them. One of you.” Written with a polemical and pastoral urgency, Gushee seeks to engage those who may be tempted not only to leave the church, but Jesus as well. I believe readers will deeply resonate, as I did, with the human concern of this book. What pastor doesn’t weep over the wounded and those who walk away? As an insider to the evangelical world (24 of 25 boxes checked – see page 3!), I find myself in broad agreement with many of the excesses and deficiencies he names. He rightly … [Read more...]
What’s right about First Presbyterian Church?
First Presbyterian Church — Sweetwater, Texas Over the years, the neighborhood where First Presbyterian Church is located has gone the way of older neighborhoods in just about every city in our nation. What was once a thriving and highly sought-after apartment complex across the street from the church is now subsidized housing. We wanted a way to reach out to our neighbors with the love of Christ. And so, the Blessing Box was built. There are many children in our area and most live below the poverty level. Food is definitely a priority for these families. We also put gently used shoes, Bibles, new socks and underwear and other items in the Blessing Box. During the height of the pandemic, toilet paper was another highly favored commodity! We are blessed in the giving and our neighbors are lavished with the love of Christ. — Kathy Monroe, pastor Share your 150-word story of “what’s right” with the Outlook by emailing it to submissions@pres-outlook.org. … [Read more...]
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