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
Tag: Church
Favorite Hymns for Mission
It is November, and many of my friends on Facebook are posting gratitudes. Each day they post words of gratitude for family, friends, joyful events, fond memories. This all is done in a spirit of Thanksgiving, expanding the attitude of giving thanks for more than just a holiday weekend. One of the people who I … Continue reading Favorite Hymns for Mission
Post-Mission Trip Retreat
Fading into Fall Recently I’ve seen several people posting photos of their mission trips this summer. Their teams worked in the heat of June and July, and now they are home and preparing for back-to-school. The stores are fully stocked with pencils, paper, markers and folders. Saturday the stores in my area were packed with … Continue reading Post-Mission Trip Retreat
Food for the Soul, Fed for the Work of the Church
Life happens. Sometimes it happens with routines. School schedules, regular work days, afterschool activities and such. Sometimes it happens too fast, when all the normal routines are crowded with business trips, conferences, additional meetings and activities. Other times it happens with focus on a single important event – a dear friend in crisis, a family … Continue reading Food for the Soul, Fed for the Work of the Church
The Church’s Response to Suicide
Last week’s news of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain taking their own lives was shocking. In the news reports for each one, either friends or family members said “we had no idea”. Persons closest to them did know something, but they didn’t know how urgent and present the threat of losing their loved one was. … Continue reading The Church’s Response to Suicide
Formed in Community Over Brunch
How do you gather with your friends? Last night I attended a monthly dinner as part of a group that is considering living together in Intentional Community. We’ve been gathering weekly for prayer and have added a meal on the first week as part of our formation. During the table discussion, we were reflecting on … Continue reading Formed in Community Over Brunch
Liturgy In Place
Today is Good Friday, the day on which Christians mark the crucifixion and death of Jesus. On my morning walk, I thought of all the churches I've had the blessing to worship with over the years. As a child growing up on the Mexico-Texas border, our church would worship once or twice a year with … Continue reading Liturgy In Place
Faithfulness in Small Work
Dusting and Vacuuming Yesterday I worked cleaning chairs and polishing wood. As I vacuumed off construction dust from the seats and used old t-shirts to clean and condition the old altar, I thought about all the people through the history of Christianity who have done work like this – cleaning, setting up, taking down, organizing, … Continue reading Faithfulness in Small Work
Sister of Hope Ministries 