About five years ago, my family and I started a practice recommended for cultivating gratitude in children. We created a family gratitude journal, starting with writing Philippians 4:8 on the cover. "Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,...
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd... (Matthew 9.36) It was a strange thing this past Wednesday to look up at them--the five of them. A year after it was first announced...
"Take hold of the life that really is life." (1 Tim. 6:19). I had never thought much about this Bible verse until a couple of years ago, when I saw it at the bottom of Deacon Denise's email signature block. Now I treat this little gem of Scripture as words...
Dear Congregation, Halloween, All Saints Day, All Souls Day, oh my! While I’ve always been more of a “pumpkin” rather than a “horror” Halloween gal, I do appreciate all the craziness of “All Saints Eve” ushering in the more somber observances. Reminds me a...
“The Holy Spirit…opens our eyes and our ears and our hearts to the full range of what being human means. So that, instead of being somebody who needs to be sheltered from the rough truth of the world, the Christian is someone who should be more open and more...