The old Boy Scout motto, “Be prepared,” is sage advice, especially in crisis, but how do you prepare for something you don’t know to expect? I took a class during my second year of seminary entitled, “How to Pastor During a Pandemic.” Okay, that’s not true. Actually, there were no classes addressing community crises, and there is no secret clergy instruction book for ministry in […]
Four weeks of Advent anticipation brought us to this moment, Christmas is upon us. Many of us will gather for worship tonight, celebrating the birth of Jesus. Many families will make time for private worship to bless one another in celebration of God’s great love. Many people will not see the spiritual reality playing out before them. Like the multitudes in Bethlehem two millennia ago, […]
There are times when comfort is a blessing. The things that make us comfortable make us feel at ease, just like we are home. Just the word conjures images of the comfy chair, classic comfort foods, and the routines that bring peace to our lives. Yet, too much of such comfort leads to unhealthy situations. Often, we need discomfort to move us out of our […]