secretary Go! View in browser January 2, 2024 Go! Talitha Arnold Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.” – Genesis 12:1 (NRSV) Each January, Pulitzer Prize winning columnist Mary Schmich invites her readers to pick a … Read more
#SeaMonsters4God View in browser January 1, 2024 #SeaMonsters4God John Edgerton Praise the LORD from the earth, you sea monsters and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and frost, stormy wind fulfilling God’s command! – Psalm 148:7–8 (NRSV) This psalm is a big old praise fest. In my imagination, the psalmist is on a … Read more
New Year’s Prayer View in browser December 31, 2023 New Year’s Prayer Vicki Kemper The Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask whatever you wish, and I’ll give it to you.” God said to him, “Because you have asked for this, I will now do just what you said. … Read more
Light at the Window View in browser December 30, 2023 Light at the Window Martha Spong So we do not lose heart. – 2 Corinthians 4:16a (NRSVue) Almost a decade ago, my wife and I were out shopping for Christmas lights to be a hedge against the gloom we were feeling. We passed … Read more
I Will Cry If I Want To View in browser December 29, 2023 I Will Cry If I Want To Marilyn Pagán-Banks “Listen to this! Laments coming out of Ramah, wild and bitter weeping. It’s Rachel weeping for her children, Rachel refusing all solace. Her children are gone, gone—long gone into exile.” But God … Read more
Mob Mentality View in browser December 26, 2023 Mob Mentality Rachel Hackenberg They dragged Stephen out of the city and began to stone him until he died. That day, the church was scattered, and Philip went to the city of Samaria. There the crowds listened eagerly to what he said, seeing the signs … Read more
This Little Thing View in browser December 25, 2023 This Little Thing Mary Luti When the angels left them, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place.” – Luke 2:15 (NRSV, abridged) In human terms, this thing that took place in Bethlehem … Read more
The Miracle Question View in browser December 24, 2023 The Miracle Question Ann Kansfield The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of oppression, on them hope has shined. You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy. – Isaiah 9:2–3a (NRSV, adapted) … Read more
Holy Blend View in browser December 23, 2023 Holy Blend Donna Schaper The Word becomes flesh and dwells among us. John 1:14 (adapted) The big reveal of Advent is that it is the story of the incarnation, God’s famous soup of the well-seasoned, well-stocked rich blend of the sacred and the secular. … Read more