In the last two blog posts, I said that this season of “stay home-stay safe” could be a season for short-term mission teams to focus on their spiritual growth and reflect on the meaning of mission. Some groups might do this through a Bible study. Others might use a book for mission teams like A … Continue reading Theology – Not Just for Professionals
Author: sisterofhope
Not Going On the Mission Trip
Anthony Gittins describes a missionary experience as a passing over and coming back in his book Ministry at the Margins. He says that this is “the greatest religious adventure of our time”. Many churches have mission teams that have spent months planning and preparing for their mission trip. Some of these were spring break mission … Continue reading Not Going On the Mission Trip
Short-term Mission in a Time of Coronavirus
John Wesley established three general rules for the earliest Methodist societies. The modern phrasing of his rules is: Do no harm, do all the good you can, and stay in love with God. The societies were small groups of people who sought spiritual renewal through gathering in small groups to pray, study scripture together, and … Continue reading Short-term Mission in a Time of Coronavirus
The Fragrance of Missions
This spring I planted a vegetable and herb garden. I used to plant tomatoes and a few herbs each spring, but we moved to a new part of the country a couple years ago and I wasn't sure if I should try a garden here. The weather is different, the soil is different, and besides....my … Continue reading The Fragrance of Missions
Understanding Our Perspective
A few days ago I went to a lecture by John Pavlovitz. He spoke passionately about the church’s need to embrace an expansive hope, to keep extending the table, because the table belongs to Christ, not to us. I think a lot about extending the table, in part because I drive past a restaurant renovation … Continue reading Understanding Our Perspective
Asking For a Seat at the UMC Table
The United Methodist Church is in the news. NPR, New York Times, Washington Post, Houston Chronicle, and many others. They have been meeting in General Conference, where elected delegates from the global church debated whether to maintain prohibitions on LGBTQIA+ people in the life of the church, or to eliminate some of those prohibitions, or … Continue reading Asking For a Seat at the UMC Table
John Allen Chau and the Assumptions We Carry
Today as I sat down to write about John Allen Chau and the distance between opposing viewpoints, I realized that the moment to comment on this subject passed back in early December. Many articles and posts were written just after the news hit that Chau had been killed as he tried to land on North … Continue reading John Allen Chau and the Assumptions We Carry
Covington Catholic School and the Need for an Ethic of Love
When I was young, I read to my little brother. We had an extensive collection of children’s books, but as children often do, we read our favorites over and over. One of them was a collection of Dr. Seuss stories. I was always puzzled by the story of The Zax. The north-going Zax walks straight … Continue reading Covington Catholic School and the Need for an Ethic of Love
Training Season
Last Sunday my town was hit by an ice storm. The weather forecast had called for some snow, but all we got was rain, sleet and freezing temps. That added up to a layer of ice on trees, power lines and roadways. Many area churches canceled their regular services or moved them to a … Continue reading Training Season
Waters of Baptism
This week as I’ve been preparing for Baptism of the Lord Sunday in my local churches, I’ve been reading a lot about water, about Methodist understanding of baptism, and as always, mission. What does mission have to do with our baptism? Baptism is one of my earliest memories, watching my brothers being baptized in our … Continue reading Waters of Baptism
Sister of Hope Ministries 