Anti-racism as a spiritual practice
One of the things I connect with most in Reformed theology is the understanding of sin not as an individual act, but..
Latest Posts
Emulating the shepherd boy
Across my dining room table, through the beveled glass of the cabinet, a pair a soft eyes greet mine. They are painted..
World Council of Churches Christmas Message (20 years ago)
20 years ago — December 18-25, 2000 It has been a centuries-old unwritten rule that at Christmas a ceasefire be observed in..
How will congregations observe Epiphany in the year of COVID-19?
With many churches worshipping remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, church leaders have come up with some creative approaches for distributing Star Words..
Beginnings — Christian ed at home
We’re again on the cusp of a new year, though this one seems quite different. Yes, there have been years when we..
Horizons 5: “Into the Light: Finding Hope Through Prayers of Lament”
Lesson 5: Lamenting Life Anxiety, anger and turmoil stalked us in 2020. With millions of people out of work and infected with..
This is not who I thought we were created to be
At first, the pandemic seemed as if it was bringing out the best in humanity. Healthcare workers were cheered during shift changes...
Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents
Isabel Wilkerson Random House, 496 pages Isabel Wilkerson explains “systemic.” “Systemic” racism isn’t a blanket accusation against non-Black people. Rather, it encompasses..
Arson suspected in fire at a PC(USA) church in Springfield, Massachusetts
(PNS) Massachusetts State Police, local arson investigators and the FBI are investigating the cause of a Monday morning fire that heavily damaged..
Order of worship — January 3, 2021
You are welcome to use this liturgy in your online worship services and distribute it to your congregation. It is free for..
Power Alert
A modest little note, it was, on the side of the box at the foot of the tree. BATTERIES NOT INCLUDED! But..
Epiphany gifts
This time of year, many congregations share Epiphany words printed or written on star-shaped pieces of paper. Like the Bethlehem Star guided..
’Twas the day of Christmas
’Twas the day of Christmas, and all across the land, church members were trying their best to understand. Oh, some things were..
Emmanuel, be with us: A Christmas Day prayer
A prayer that seeks God-with-us.
For hospital chaplains, being vaccinated first brings a mix of emotions
(RNS) — Jennie has tried to keep it together, she really has. Her job demands nothing less. As a hospital chaplain for..
Expecting in the unexpected: Make it beautiful
Pastor and professor Samuel Wells tells a moving story in a recent issue of the Christian Century. He recalls a time when..
Christmas Eve prayer
A Christmas Eve prayer based on Luke 2:1-14 and John 1:1-14 by Roger Gench.
December 27, 2020 — 1st Sunday of Christmas
Galatians 4:4-7 Christmas 1B The year 2020 has been a chaotic one by any measure! And as we have grappled with formidable..
What’s right about Unionville Presbyterian Church?
Unionville Presbyterian Church — Unionville, Pennsylvania When COVID-19 closed the doors of the church building, we looked for ways to keep the..
Video: 2020 Christmas worship service from the PC(USA)
(OGA) Join the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for an online Christmas Service as we celebrate the birth of the Christ Child. ..
Meditation for Christmas Eve/Christmas Day
You are welcome to use this liturgy in your online worship services and distribute it to your congregation. It is free for..
December 27 — Good news of great joy: Family faith formation @ home
Welcome Bring your family’s Advent wreath to the center of your gathering. Make sure you have matches or a lighter. One:..
Now we go a-caroling — Christian education at home
After the hustle and bustle of Advent and Christmas Eve services, most congregations take a decidedly simpler approach to the worship service..
Jack: A Novel
Marilynne Robinson Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 320 pages Reviewed by Sarah Kiewitz Young couples sometimes slip into cemeteries at night to have..
Advent — A poem
The darkness falls around me like a cozy comforter. Wait! says the voice of the divine to my soul. I light the..
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