The gift of small churches
“I just wish we would grow.” “We don’t have enough young people.” “There’s not enough money.” “We are too small …..
Latest Posts
Emailing beyond the walls
I recently taught at Kenyon Institute’s writing seminar for religious professionals. Most of the work was about writing well: effective essays, blogs,..
Seeing the kingdom (Horizons 2)
Horizons Bible Study 2016-2017 Who is Jesus? What a Difference a Lens Makes Lesson 2: Matthew 5-7, 13 A high school teacher changed..
Rules
Every four years, the United States Sailing Association publishes a document called “The Racing Rules of Sailing.” It’s the Form of..
Mission Agency board to vote on plan to transfer responsibility of Ghost Ranch
LOUISVILLE (Outlook) – The Presbyterian Mission Agency board will be asked to vote at its upcoming meeting Sept. 13-16 on a..
Americans view pastors’ political endorsements as ‘inappropriate’
(RNS) Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has said his pledge to let churches and other religious institutions endorse political candidates without losing their tax-exempt status..
Remembering 9/11: Fifteen years of healing
LOUISVILLE – For the Rev. Jon Walton, September 2001 was supposed to mark the start of a new ministry. He had just..
Though punishment and suffering be the consequence
Guest commentary by Carlton Johnson On Wednesday, August 3, two stories consumed my social media timelines. Two stories that would sink..
Transitions (from the Oct. 10, 2016 issue)
David Cozad, to interim pastor, Central Presbyterian Church, Atlanta, from interim pastor, Shandon Presbyterian Church, Columbia, S.C. Laurie Hill, to pastor, Community..
September 11, 2016 — 24th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Luke 15:1-10 Ordinary 24C; Proper 19 “The world never looks as big as when someone is lost.” This is the last sentence..
Presbytery of Northern Plains sends support to pipeline ‘protectors’ in North Dakota
LOUISVILLE (PNS) – As the protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline continues near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, the Earth Care Team from the Presbytery of..
Changing the way we think of suicide
Within a few days of my son’s death by suicide, a chaplain said to me, “You can’t stop people. If they..
Small budgets = Sizable faith
When I was 10, I found a pigeon in my apartment, cooing, hiding and relieving itself behind an old behemoth speaker. I..
The Christian Wallet: Spending, Giving and Living with a Conscience
by Mike Slaughter with Karen Perry Smith Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, Ky. 200 pages REVIEWED BY MIKE LITTLE When I see..
Knit Wits teach children the lost art of knitting during summer camp at Presbyterian Village North
DALLAS (Presbyterian Village North) – Presbyterian Village North (PVN) recently held Camp PVN, a summer camp held in partnership with Preston Hollow Presbyterian..
Trusting stewardship
I think it’s safe to assume that no one believes a “give us money to keep the lights on” campaign is..
Night Comes
by Dale C. Allison Jr. Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, Mich. 184 pages This is an honest book. It is also a compassionate book written..
Hunter Farrell announces plans to leave World Mission in October
LOUISVILLE (PNS) – After 30 years of service to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.,) Hunter Farrell has announced plans to leave his position..
The future of Ghost Ranch: Discussions taking place on responsibility for finances, oversight
Presbyterian leaders are in conversation about the future of Ghost Ranch Education & Retreat Center in northern New Mexico – and..
Digger
by James R. Kautz CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. 340 pages Reviewed by John C. Bush “Which is better: to..
Tales from the Wild West: Mid council leadership
by Sallie Watson Almost 200 years ago, a trail was charted between Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Independence, Missouri, that would..
Jesus doing what?
St. Jude Hospital is the gold standard in volunteerism and fundraising. Our church preschool hosts a St. Jude Trike-A-Thon each year..
The Perseid Again (Mid-August 2016)
Not what I’d call a shower, exactly, but I did number twenty two of them, within one – past-midnight – hour, the..
10 tips and tools to tithe more
One of the biggest objections I hear to giving 10 percent of our income to the church (that is, tithing) is that..
Mother Teresa now officially ‘Saint Teresa’ as Pope Francis canonizes her
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Mother Teresa, the tiny nun who devoted her life to the poor, was declared a saint by Pope Francis..
Page 424 of 894