How Your Congregation Learns: The Learning Journey from Challenge to Achievement
Tim Shapiro Rowman & Littlefield, 187 pages Reviewed by Allen D. Timm How can a congregation get unstuck? When a congregation keeps..
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Church educators delve deep into hospitality
LOUISVILLE – Deep and wide — that’s the theme of the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators (APCE) 2018 annual event, held Jan...
Leadership and power and prayer: A stated clerk envisions the calling of the church
Early in the morning of November 9, 2016, the day after the presidential election, my phone rang.It was our presbyter, Cindy Kohlmann...
Church leadership amid a cultural storm
Gary Charles’ perspective: Leaders reformed by God according to the Word of God Leadership theory is a popular topic on seminary campuses..
David Joy
“It wasn’t that I was oblivious to class. I recognized some folks had more than others, that I had a little more..
Volume 160 and B. Gildersleeve (40 years ago)
40 years ago — January 2, 1978 The change in our volume number with this issue to 160 is the reason for..
The Spirituality of Wine
Gisela H. Kreglinger Eerdmans, 304 pages Reviewed by Blake I. Campbell Gisela Kreglinger was raised on a small family winery in Bavaria..
Welcome to the Memory Café
On a Tuesday morning, James Bernhardt stops by a church room to say good morning to a group that gathers twice a..
The Word became flesh: Movement as prayer
Spiritually is physicality, and physicality is spirituality. Our Christian tradition is an incarnational faith in which our bodies are meant to be..
Chaplains and congregations together: Meeting spiritual needs of continuing care retirement community residents
The best retirement home chaplains cannot be all things to all residents, nor can they provide an authentic religious experience outside their..
What’s right about Lake Seminole Presbyterian Church?
Lake Seminole Presbyterian Church —Seminole, Florida During Sunday morning worship, as the pastor I use lots of spoken words – but that..
Learning to accept the gift of prayer
“Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1b). This heartfelt request of the disciples still resonates within us today. Their desire to know..
Pray like a Reformer
The anniversary is over – now down to business. Welcome to 2018 – the year after the 500th anniversary of the Reformation...
Prayer and practicing the presence of God
While a Young Adult Volunteer (YAV) in New Orleans, I started reading Brother Lawrence’s “The Practice of the Presence of God.” I..
Culture Care: Reconnecting With Beauty for Our Common Life
Makoto Fujimura IVP Books, 160 pages Reviewed by Emily Berman D’Andrea Who knew that a bouquet of flowers could change everything? Makoto..
Lenten devotions — Year B (2018)
Are you looking for theologically sound, inspiring and affordable Lenten devotions for the congregation? 5 weeks of Lenten devotions plus bonus prayers..
Midwives in our midst
The story in Exodus 1:1-22 tells us that the powers that be wanted to maintain the status quo. The “establishment” was afraid..
Nina Coomes
“Silence made us more patient, more creaturely, somehow truer to ourselves.” – Nina Coomes, writing about her family’s annual Thanksgiving silent retreat..
The year in religion – 1987 (30 years ago)
30 years ago — January 18, 1988 The Religion Newswriters Association selected the top 10 news stories of 1987 in the field..
Musings on home: Jesus’ words in the Gospel of John
When you enter the United States from abroad, you have to clear passport control. Typically, an agent checks your passport, asks..
Building Naomi’s House: Faith communities unite to offer rapid rehousing
About a year ago, a young woman walked into my office at First Presbyterian Church in Vero Beach, Florida. She was..
Pastoring a purple church
The steaming mad email arrived Sunday afternoon. The subject line read: “Leaving White Memorial.” The writer, a member whom I had..
Behold the Dreamers
Imbolo Mbue Random House, 416 pages. Reviewed by Leslie A. Klingensmith “I have no problem with immigrants, as long as they come..
Moana: A parable for the modern church?
Guest commentary by George Love As a pastor with a responsibility for preaching each Sunday, I always have my antenna up. Every..
What’s right about Brown County Presbyterian Fellowship?
Brown County Presbyterian Fellowship —Nashville, Indiana What can I, as a two-time visitor, say is right about 34-member Brown County Presbyterian Fellowship..