Seeing the elephant: A war story
Veteran Chris Bell shares his writing.
Latest Posts
Afghanistan
Veteran Eric Hanson shares his writing.
SITREP: Veteran perspectives on combat and peace
Jacqueline Wilson creates a safe space and community for veterans to share their stories through the written word.
Remembering Richard Poethig
The Rev. Richard Poethig, who died on November 22 at the age of 96, cared passionately about history. As a fraternal worker in..
Advent, race and the intimacy of Incarnation
(RNS) — Just ahead of the first Sunday of Advent this year, a painting depicting Mary cradling the body of the crucified..
As COVID continues, church-run food pantries, ministries adapt and expand
WOODSTOCK, Ill. (RNS) — On a cold, cloudy afternoon in late November, two dozen volunteers were busy unloading a truckload of food..
Weeping with those who weep
I remember being shocked by the fact that Mrs. B., my third grade teacher, was crying. It must have been April 30,..
Advent poetry reading — A poem
An invitation to go deeper, to penetrate the hard-worn surface of our habitual this-and-that, permit entry to images, suggestions, even fears that..
A Surprising God and Beyond the Tinsel
The following short reviews were published in our Dec. 6, 2021 magazine.
Order of worship — December 12, 2021
You are welcome to use this liturgy in your online worship services and distribute it to your congregation. It is free for..
Third Sunday of Advent — Family faith formation for December 12, 2021
Welcome Invite various persons to bring a designated item and use this liturgy as a way to begin your time of learning..
Rejoice, rejoice — Weekly Christian ed lesson
Joy is a concept that children are quite familiar with, whether they realize it or not. There is a constant undercurrent of..
3rd Sunday of Advent — Dec. 12, 2021
Isaiah 12:2-6 Advent 3C Many of us distrust our physical selves, focusing too much on our minds, too much on our ability..
Tech watch: Obsidian app
A note-taking app that I’ve just started using is Obsidian. I use Obsidian to capture notes and ideas as I’m reading. I’ve..
Christian Ethics in Conversation
Edited by Isaac B. Sharp and Christian T. Iosso Cascade Books, 258 pages Donald Shriver used to ask his students: “What can..
A Q&A with PC(USA) minister and professor Rebecca Todd Peters about reproductive rights
Rebecca Todd Peters is a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) minister, a professor of religious studies at Elon University, and the author of "Trust..
Before there was Roe: Religious debate before high court’s historic ruling on abortion
(RNS) — Testifying in California in 1964 before the state Assembly, the Rev. William J. Kenneally, president of St. John’s Seminary in..
As Supreme Court debates abortion, dueling theologies protest outside
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Religious supporters and opponents of abortion rights demonstrated outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday (Dec. 1), giving voice..
It’s back: Purity Culture 2.0, Gen Z style
(RNS) — “Who was the most excited?” Nate asks Sutton, a beautiful woman with wavy brown hair. The couple are sitting on..
World AIDS Day service seeks to remove the stigma while remembering HIV/AIDS still affects millions
(PNS) — The Rev. RJ Robles helped the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) commemorate World AIDS Day Wednesday by taking chapel service attendees on..
Advent in Plain Sight
Beth Waltemath reviews Jill Duffield's new book.
7 marks of vital congregations
What does it mean for the church to be vital? Brian Christopher Coulter thinks about this question while overviewing the PC(USA)'s “7 Marks of Vital Congregations” list.
Build Back Better or quit? Time to choose
(RNS) — One year — 12 short months — can make all the difference in the world. At this time one year..
What’s right about Hope Presbyterian Church?
Hope Presbyterian Church — Springfield, Illinois Something that continues to be right about Hope Church is Gardeners with Hope. They are a..
Breaking the silence: Progressive Christians work to support reproductive rights
In many churches, it’s the subject people never talk about. Yet the Guttmacher Institute estimated in 2017 that nearly one in four..
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