What’s right about Tustin Presbyterian Church?
Tustin Presbyterian Church — Tustin, California Though known for his friendly sense of humor, pastor Steve Ranney felt that a “sign of..
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Hope in Disarray: Piecing Our Lives Together in Faith
Grace Ji-Sun Kim The Pilgrim Press, 160 pages Reviewed by Eunjin Jeon Grace Ji-Sun Kim, an ordained Presbyterian minister and a professor..
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On a hot summer Friday night, 30 millennials, a few seasoned saints and a couple of kids gathered in the basement of..
German shepherd theology
In Ana Menéndez’ book ‘’In Cuba I was a German Shepherd,’’ Máximo, a Cuban immigrant, tells a joke about Juanito the dog..
Let’s connect: Menucha
Menucha Retreat & Conference Center | Corbett, Oregon We believe that people are better emotionally, spiritually and physically when they are gathered..
The challenge to forgive
Guest commentary by Glenn Burkland In leading and attending Bible studies over the years, I have noticed one topic that eventually makes..
Cotton-Eyed Joe: A Tale of Grace
Bob Lively Treaty Oak Publishers, 425 pages Reviewed by Thomas Currie At the present time, there are 27 states that have capital..
A special kind of village
“Will you take care of this child?” The question caught DeEdra Clinkscale off guard. As a teacher, she had phoned the..
The bind of courage: Family systems theory for church leaders
In the tradition of Murray Bowen’s systems theory, Peter Steinke authored “Congregational Leadership in Anxious Times: Being Calm and Courageous No Matter..
On gratitude
This past year has been marked by loss: Loss of loved ones and friends, loss of community and social gatherings, loss of..
Wanting to know
Guest commentary by Jim Chatham When I was in high school, I occasioned now and then into the home of a woman..
Resurrecting Church: Where Justice and Diversity Meet Radical Welcome and Healing Hope
John Cleghorn Fortress Press, 224 pages Reviewed by Cyndi Wunder Our world is intersectional. Increasingly we discover that our neighbor, our friend,..
Connecting ideas with action: Asa J. Lee, new president of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
This spring, the board of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary named Asa J. Lee as the seminary’s new president and professor of theological formation..
What’s right about Gayton Kirk Presbyterian Church?
Gayton Kirk Presbyterian Church — Henrico, Virginia Since 2018 our small congregation has assisted refugees from Democratic Republic of Congo and Afghanistan —..
Keys to Bonhoeffer’s Haus: Exploring the World and Wisdom of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Laura M. Fabrycky Fortress Press, 275 pages Reviewed by Lisa D. Kenkeremath Laura Fabrycky’s book is a captivating melding of genres: part..
When the way forward is uncertain…
It happens every time I talk to a call center in the U.S. At some point the weary, remote-working call center employee..
Grace endures from Zion to Zoom
Guest Outlook blog by Katy Shevel Each Wednesday morning, I make a piping mug of tea, click a Zoom link and..
Mnemonic devices and the desires of our hearts
When I was a child, our Sunday school was large enough to have six separate classes for children in the primary grades:..
Canadian Indigenous group says more graves found at new site
CRANBROOK, British Columbia (AP) — A Canadian Indigenous group said Wednesday a search using ground-penetrating radar has found 182 human remains in..
Please, pastors, postpone the post-pandemic pushiness
Guest commentary by Susan Presley In many parts of the United States, life is returning to some semblance of normalcy. The CDC..
Just Us: An American Conversation
Claudia Rankine Graywolf Press, 360 pages Reviewed by Jon Nelson Not long after the murder of George Floyd, I was in conversation..
Self-control: Balancing order with ardor
Self-control! It sounds so very Presbyterian, doesn’t it? This is the final fruit of the Spirit listed by Paul in Galatians 5:23...
Gentleness: A chaplain shares her story of learning to step back and listen
Interview by Jay Blossom In more than 20 years as a hospital chaplain, Beth McKee has ministered to people in many stages..
What’s right about Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church?
Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church — Mauldin, South Carolina In January 2021, Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church began a partnership with Root & Rebound..
Late night hosts, you’ve got nothin’ on us pastors!
Guest commentary by Nancy Jo Dederer In mid-March 2020, late night television hosts found themselves in a new situation. No live audience. ..