No one needs to be told that this has been a strange, challenging time in the life of the church—not only in the United States, where I live, but all over the world. For safety reasons, in-person gatherings were banned and individual congregations and leaders were left struggling with the question of how to be…… Continue reading A Conversation on Communion amidst Covid-19
Category: Church
The End of White Christian America
Like most of you, I am still reeling from the murder of George Floyd and the tragic aftermath. Unlike many of you, I have not been able to find the words to respond very well; I find that I am rendered speechless and despondent that we find ourselves here again, facing the murder of yet…… Continue reading The End of White Christian America
Lent and Loving
Last Wednesday was Ash Wednesday, the first day of the Liturgical Season of Lent; this is a time that the Catholic Church and most mainline Protestant Churches commemorate as a time of repentance and spiritual reflection leading up to the joyous season of Easter. In my Lenten Devotional this year, “Pauses for Lent,” I have…… Continue reading Lent and Loving
Ash Wednesday & (Cosmic) Dust
It was a very fortuitous circumstance that today, Ash Wednesday, my feminist theologies class was finishing up Ask the Beasts, by Elizabeth Johnson. This is a lyrical, prophetic text, in which Johnson makes a compelling argument that care for creation belongs at the heart of Christian faith, and that God Herself is deeply present in…… Continue reading Ash Wednesday & (Cosmic) Dust
Buddhism & Christianity on Sexual Violence
At the Society for Buddhist Christian Studies meeting last week at the American Academy of Religion Conference, we had two fabulous panels that I am still thinking about days later. In this post, I want to reflect on the first one, which was titled “Buddhist and Christian Resources for Addressing Sexual Violence.” We had six…… Continue reading Buddhism & Christianity on Sexual Violence
Reflections on Seminary Education
Today was Luther Colloquy at the Gettysburg campus of United Lutheran Seminary, and it was wonderful to see so many former and current students, as well as community members, come together to hear the lectures, and join in a festive worship service. The lectures were all very good and interesting, and in the service, the…… Continue reading Reflections on Seminary Education
Thoughts on the presence of the Holy Spirit
I had a really great worship experience this weekend, and it started me thinking about other worship experiences, and other experiences in general. So the worship experience I’m referring to is the ordination service I attended (and preached) on Saturday. The service was for one of my outstanding former students, and several old friends were…… Continue reading Thoughts on the presence of the Holy Spirit
The Catholic Church, The President & Abuses of Power
If you don’t live in Pennsylvania, you might have missed the story, but those of us who live here couldn’t escape it. And, if you are a regular news reader/watcher, surely you saw something about it: it has received national news coverage. Of course, I am talking about the huge scandal in the Catholic Church…… Continue reading The Catholic Church, The President & Abuses of Power
Vocation for All Ages
It has been awhile since I’ve posted–this summer has bee especially crazy with lots of travel: most of it for work, but a couple trips to see family as well. Right now, I am in Colorado with my mom, getting ready to celebrate her 80th birthday; and last month I was in Phoenix to visit…… Continue reading Vocation for All Ages
Lessons from an Epic Vote in Ireland
I have been thinking a lot about Ireland these past couple weeks. Did you see the news about the vote on the abortion amendment? You can see the story here: Ireland Votes to End Abortion Ban. Since 1983, Ireland has had an amendment to the Constitution that recognized equal right to life for the fetus…… Continue reading Lessons from an Epic Vote in Ireland
