Talking about numbers, people
Back in November, after briefly discussing the issue of growth at our fall congregational meeting, we decided to do a little research. We compiled data covering 25 years, recording annual averages of children, members, Sunday attendance, and regular attenders. Some of the findings of note: The church has had over…
Midweek blog: Talking about numbers, people
Back in November, after briefly discussing the issue of growth at our fall congregational meeting, we decided to do a little research. We compiled data covering 25 years, recording annual averages of children, members, Sunday attendance, and regular attenders. Some of the findings of note: The church has had over…
100 years
One hundred years ago Mennonites were starving in Russia. When Anabaptist groups in the US and Canada learned about their plight they came together to form a Central Committee dedicated to bringing material relief to these sisters and brothers. From those beginnings, the Mennonite Central Committee expanded into the international…
2019 in review
Before we get too far into 2020, here’s a look back at 2019 , highlighting something of CMC life from each month. January | Winter Seminar included two different sessions with Ryan Schellenberg speaking about Paul, Prison, and the Justice of God. Over MLK day Austin McCabe Juhnke and I…
Grateful for Donita
Last week I learned that my spiritual director, Donita Harris, died from cancer. About two and a half years ago I decided I would try spiritual direction again after a long hiatus. Donita was recommended to me, and after our first conversation it was clear she was someone from whom…
New nativities
‘Tis the season for creative adaptations of the familiar nativity scene and Christmas story. Not long after Eve and Lily were born I first saw this one: After spending two weeks of November 2015 in Palestine and Israel, this one took on new meaning: Funny. And also a reminder that…
Land acknowledgement
For the last several months we have included this statement at the top of our worship bulletin: We acknowledge we are gathering on land where Miami, Osage, Shawnee, and other Indigenous peoples have lived and worked and loved. We continue to work and pray for justice and conciliation. The inclusion…
Reporting from DC
These last two days I’ve been in Washington, DC with other members of the National Sanctuary Collective. This is a group of 8-10 people in sanctuary and their supporters that Edith has been communicating with regularly. The Collective shares a common strategy of being very public with their stories as…
Thank you taxpayers
This is not satire or cynicism: Thank you taxpayers. For the last few months I’ve been watching with glee as construction crews do their thing at a heavily traveled interchange, now nearly complete. The improvement involves a new walk/run/bike access point to the Olentangy Trail, beginning on the north side…
On Sexuality: For further reading and listening
This Sunday concludes our four week Healthy Sexuality worship series. We’ll focus on the ways sexuality and spirituality are related as energies of connection. In case you missed any of the first three sermons and follow up reflections, here they are: Our bodies, God’s image (Pro)Creative intimacy Healthy sex: Drawing…
