Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost — August 9, 2026
Teri McDowell Ott reflects on Elijah's encounter with God in the silence, exploring what exhausted leaders can learn about rest, perspective and returning to the work God has given them.
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Horizons — Listen as if the other person might be right
Rosalind Banbury's first reflection on the 2026-2027 Presbyterian Women/Horizons Bible Study.
Church, country and the crisis of moral imagination
Jennifer Butler argues that mainline Protestants must reclaim a public, liberating faith to counter Christian nationalism and help heal a fraying democracy.
Polity Matters: What’s in a title?
As more congregations adopt the title "senior pastor," Carson Rhyne asks whether the language reflects Presbyterian theology or imports assumptions about hierarchy from the corporate world.
When Ella Langley and Lil Wayne join the benediction
"Class of 2026, receive this final blessing with some help from George Strait, Sabrina Carpenter, Ella Langley, Wendell Berry, Pope Francis, the prophet Micah and Lil Wayne," writes chaplain Maggie Alsup.
Becoming Neighbors
Loving our neighbor sounds simple — Aram Feinberg reviews Amar Peterman's "Becoming Neighbors" and asks if it's as easy as it sounds.
PC(USA) membership decline slows, but congregations continue to close
The denomination remained above 1 million members in 2025, even as 127 churches dissolved.
John Witherspoon and the hope for a more perfect union
The juxtaposition of virtues and sins of John Witherspoon and other founding Fathers can lend wisdom for our own moment, writes James Calvin Davis.
The state of our union
On America’s 250th anniversary, faith communities model a fragile but hopeful vision of unity grounded in truth, repentance and shared responsibility, writes Teri McDowell Ott.
New ministry books for preaching, pastoral care and congregational life
Whether crafting sermon series, accompanying grieving people or forming communities of radical welcome, these books offer practical wisdom for church leaders, writes Amy Pagliarella.
Order of worship — August 2, 2026
You are welcome to use this liturgy in your online worship services and distribute it to your congregation.
Tenth Sunday after Pentecost — August 2, 2026
Matthew's story of the feeding of the 5,000 invites us beyond skepticism and scarcity toward a vision of God's providence, generosity and everyday miracles, writes Baron Mullis.
New website will enable churches and mid councils to easily prove their federal tax-exempt status
Obtaining a group inclusion letter now requires just a few keystrokes.
Amid ICE killings, more than 100 clergy from across the US stage protest at Delaney Hall
'I am sick and tired of waking up every morning to see another loved one is dead,' said Charlene Walker, head of Faith in New Jersey.
God’s Homecoming: The Forgotten Promise of Future Renewal
Rocky Supinger reviews N.T. Wright’s "God’s Homecoming," exploring the provocative claim that Christianity’s ultimate hope is not escaping to heaven, but God’s promised renewal of creation and coming kingdom.
Why Christians should care about science denialism
When misinformation fuels disease outbreaks and deepens inequality, science denialism becomes more than an intellectual debate. It becomes a social justice issue that Christians cannot ignore, writes Elizabeth Haswell.
Books for Christians rethinking theology, Scripture and grace
These new releases explore biblical interpretation, process theology, suffering, forgiveness and the enduring mystery of God through conversation, scholarship and lived faith. Amy Pagliarella offers a review.
Presbyterian patriotism: Honestly honoring our history
In the wake of the PC(USA)'s condemnation of Christian nationalism, Matthew B. Warren explores how Presbyterians can love their country without confusing it with the kingdom of God.
Summer fiction about memory, healing and second chances
In new novels by Jessica Brilliant Keener and Ann Patchett, characters wrestle with fractured relationships, buried truths and the long work of making peace with the past. Amy Pagliarella offers a review.
One hundred volunteers, one presbytery: The people of Milwaukee Presbytery and COLA
From airport greetings to worship planning, members of the Presbytery of Milwaukee worked behind the scenes to make the 227th General Assembly possible.
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost — July 26, 2026
From invasive mustard plants to hidden treasure, the five parables in Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 challenge familiar readings and reveal a kingdom that subverts expectations at every turn, writes Matthew A. Rich.
Order of worship — July 26, 2026
You are welcome to use this liturgy in your online worship services and distribute it to your congregation.
Summer reads for weary souls seeking meaning and renewal
From birdwatching as prayer to resisting smartphone distraction, these new books invite readers into deeper spiritual practices, resilience and renewed attention to God’s presence.
A service of lament and hope
First Presbyterian Church of Kerrville, Texas, worships one year after the devastating Hill Country floods.
Assembly declines to send proposed confession to presbyteries
Instead, commissioners approved an additional churchwide study before deciding whether the draft should become part of the "Book of Confessions."
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