Reformed, Hopeful, Always Reforming
While I was in college, I asked Philosopher Nicholas Wolterstorff if I could sit in on his liturgy class. I knew I didn’t have time to do the homework, but still wanted to peek in on what he was teaching. He let me! And it was wonderful. We learned about Orthodox liturgy, in particular, and […]
Read More Open TableOur pastor had just finished up his sermon on falling – on admitting we are powerless and broken – when my son dropped his entire cup of hot chocolate on the church carpet (and my new shoes). I had just heard, written down, and whispered, “Amen” to these words: “Instead of the safest place to […]
Read More Hot Chocolate and Other MessesChrist arose… so now what? The blaring organ processional of “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” has finally stopped ringing in your ears. The last scraps of Easter ham have been tucked away into sandwiches, and the dog finally found that last Easter egg out in the lawn… and did you the courtesy of trampling […]
Read More Christ arose… so now what…?Water: crashing, rushing, lifting, tossing, drowning seeping and eroding, unstopped, because ashes marked us Wednesday; but here comes the water, unrelenting, penetrating, blessing in drops, sprinkles, dunkings, saving from death, through death, not thwarted nor denied by death: God’s love.
Read More Lent 1, 2015Love, coming as a baby, placed us upon a throne. Weak and self-insufficient, that Love became our own, all inhibitions shed, a meal for all creation served in the House of Bread. Love we were not expecting (though it had been foretold) finds us afraid, defensive, so angry, empty, cold and offers warmth instead: the […]
Read More A Love Song in Hungry DaysMy calling is centered around language, as language is the way to communicate, to express. In my pastoral role, it is my charge to speak to the community and for the community — to express the experiences and life of the community and to help us all find meaning in our individual and shared experiences. […]
Read More When you can’t find the wordsMy life seems to be a study in these verses lately: I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate, I do. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good […]
Read More The Balancing ActThe smells of beef and onions, cilantro and salsa waft through the air. The sound of conversation and laughter fills the back yard on this cool summer night as dozens of people sit at a single long table sharing food and life. It is a community gathering to celebrate the upcoming birth of yet another […]
Read More The Family TableLast week I was getting ready to leave a coffee shop after spending the morning worship planning when I overheard a conversation between two men. They were having a lively conversation over coffee, complete with hand gestures and animated facial expressions. I could tell that they were talking about religion from the few words I […]
Read More Forgiveness Hocus Pocus