Grace to you and peace ~ Along with Holy Week, All Saints’ Sunday is one of my absolute favorites. It offers a very clear opportunity to consider the saints in our lives. Which, depending on how you understand “sainthood,” may seem an odd thing to think about. In his book The Remarkable Ordinary: How to … Read more
Grace to you and peace ~ This past Sunday (September 27) you heard Pr. Charlie and Marty Jenkins mention something about a Congregational Vitality Survey. Vitality is good, right? And getting input is good too, right (that’s the “survey” part)?Here’s the hope (and we need everyone to take part – as we begin to take … Read more
Happy back-to-school season! Given the time of year, I thought a little reminder of the basics from All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum might be good: Share everything. Play fair. Don’t hit people. Put things back where you found them. Don’t take things that aren’t yours. Clean up … Read more
Grace to you and peace ~ As I am writing this, day one (of five) of Lutheroad Day Camp is under way. We have four counselors and an Area Director (supervisor) who came from Lutheridge in Arden, NC, five older youth from LSLC acting as “junior counselors” (three of whom will be here all day … Read more
Grace to you and peace ~ It’s kind of humorous… My computer “auto correct” isn’t sure what to do with the word “semiquincentennial.” It’s good with “centennial” and “bicentennial,” but it’s confused by semiquincentennial, which is kind of a good metaphor, I suppose, for the reality of celebrating 250 years as an independent nation…That is, it can be confusing, to say the … Read more
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I don’t remember whether it was Kay or Pr. Charlie who, a little over a year ago, first introduced me to “Unfolding Light” (a daily poem, by Pr. Steve Garnaas-Holmes, reflecting on the upcoming week’s assigned readings1). And by … Read more
Red Dress Day is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2-Spirit People (MMIWG2S+). Beginning in Canada in 2010, it is now observed across America and Mexico annually on May 5th. As a congregation, we will observe Red Dress Day on Mother’s Day (May 10) in acknowledgment of those who … Read more
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I have often said that when there is a tragic death (from suicide or accident or murder or war or abuse or poor choices or just a random unfolding of events…or really anything), that God’s tears are the first … Read more
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I recently heard Lent explained as a time to “reset” our hearts to receive the gift of Easter…An opportunity to clean out our “backpacks” as it were. Granted this was from a children’s message I heard during worship at … Read more
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. January has been like none I can remember. Temperatures colder than in recent memory. Ice and snow across the country. Violence and death and distrust. And monks. Quiet, walking monks. Monks carrying a simple sign “Walk for Peace.” Monks … Read more
