Hope Presbyterian Church — Springfield, Illinois Something that continues to be right about Hope Church is Gardeners with Hope. They are a faithful cadre of gardeners who farm a small plot on church grounds. All produce from this small plot is planted, tended, harvested and delivered to the local food pantry at Kumler Outreach Ministries. Gardeners with Hope began in 2007 as a dedicated group of members, friends and neighbors who combine their love of God and their joy of gardening to plan, prepare, pray, plant, compost, weed, fertilize, water, pray, harvest, wash, clean, bag, weigh, pray and deliver over 400 pounds of produce every year. Although the pandemic required some changes to the process, the outcomes have been remarkable. Last year’s annual report noted: “Despite the COVID-19 restrictions, we were able to get most of the seeds and plants into the garden at the correct planting time. We wore masks and attempted to maintain social distancing.” To date they have been able to … [Read more...]
Books you need to know — Dec. 6, 2021
The best books are like good friends — offering comfort and new perspectives. As we enter the long, dark months of the year, here are some new "friends" to keep you company. Whether you are a practicing pastor, armchair theologian or avid reader, we have the perfect devotion, fiction, memoir or theology recommendation for you in our livingly-curated list. Click here to read the digital issue in the Uberflip reader. Book reviews Seven in-depth book reviews will help you plan your winter reading. Books briefly noted Outlook book review editor Amy Pagliarella appraises many new books you may want to add to your reading list. Looking deeply Through the writings of Thomas Merton and Thich Nhat Hanh, Catherine Knott explores the transformative spiritual practice of deep listening. "Fulfillment" Reflecting on Alec MacGillis' book, Christian Iosso writes about America's new capitalism and wonders how the church should react. … [Read more...]
A vital congregation changes hearts and lives
Your vital congregation journey puts you on a route that is a superhighway from the perspectives of both contemporary organizational theory and Scripture. The three most significant levers for influencing a church understood as a system are: Influencing the mindset of the individuals making up the system, Shaping the vision for the system as a whole (the congregation), and Fostering self-organizing within the system. The first of these three is the most influential and is also foundational to the other two. If the first occurs, it will shape authentic development of the next two. Changing the mindset of people means changing the paradigm that is the foundation for their actions. Influencing their mindset is the most direct and effective agency of change in a community of people. The vitality of a congregation grows as the mindset of its members is influenced toward new values, assumptions and beliefs regarding living as a child of God. Changing one’s mindset, or … [Read more...]
Pastoral transition: A better way?
A key bit of dialogue from a scene in the television series “ER” has stuck with me for a long time. Mark Greene, the emergency medicine specialist played by Anthony Edwards, has just told the ER staff that his application to the space program has been accepted and he will be leaving for training as an astronaut. As Greene walks away from the hospital at the end of his shift, the head of the hospital runs after him. Breathless, he catches up with Greene and says: “Please stay. I don’t want run this hospital without you.” In several decades as an administrator, I used that line several times. “Please,” I have said to valued colleagues who were considering positions elsewhere, “I don’t want to run this institution without you. What would it take for you to stay?” Conversations ensued about both life and work. In a couple of cases, the decision was to remain in place with some changes to responsibilities or working conditions. In all cases, however, the result was more vocational clarity, … [Read more...]
A prayer in response to the verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial
“I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” Amos 5:21,24 I lift my eyes to the hills, Holy God, from where will our help come? We pray for those confused and demoralized by our system of justice – an indiscriminate system that is just for some, but not for all. We pray for those who watch the news, who can’t keep themselves from following every trial, who can’t keep from hoping and praying for justice, yet who also can’t forget our history. We pray for those who can’t forget Jacob Blake, Ahmaud Arbery, or the Black boys who lost trials and decades of their lives in prison. God of Glory, may these brothers and sisters know the peace only you can provide. We pray also for those with the luxury of forgetting history, those whose privilege protects them from the pain of this moment, those whose lives need not be interrupted by controversial trials, or … [Read more...]
What’s right about First Presbyterian Church?
First Presbyterian Church — Red Wing, Minnesota When Jane and Ron Ward moved to Red Wing in 2004, Jane was training her first service dog. First Presbyterian Church welcomed the Wards and their service dogs to church for training purposes. Helping Paws, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that has been training service dogs for about 33 years. The dogs learn about 75 cues that can be used for people with physical disabilities, veterans with PTSD and more. Peyton, the last dog Jane trained, was well-loved by the church. He was placed with an Afghanistan veteran last spring. During worship in April, Peyton was commissioned for his work, which included a laying on of hands by children. Jane’s current pup is Brinley, a gentle dog who loves everyone. She will likely become a facility dog — maybe in the court system. — Greg Bolt, pastor, and Jane Ward … [Read more...]
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