“There’s a thread you follow…”
Here’s a poem I’ve been sharing in a few different circles. It’s fitting for fall, a season when change is somehow felt more deeply in the bone; for this congregation remembering the gift of an elder like Al Bauman; for times of political tumult. The image of the thread gives…
Travel Advisory
Back in June The New Yorker magazine published a weekend essay by Agnes Callard titled “The Case Against Travel,” tagline: “It turns us into the worst version of ourselves while convincing us that we’re at our best.” It’s a well-founded critique. Citing a classic definition of a tourist as “a…
Liminal
A couple weeks ago in our Transitions and Ritual group I gave a handout that included the words “liminal space.” It has become a common way of referring to the in between time, when something is clearly ending but the new thing has not year appeared. An astute participant asked…
“…those known as the Hopewell…”
Our weekly Peace Candle lighting includes acknowledgement of “those known as the Hopewell” among the Indigenous peoples who have “lived and labored, fought and loved” on this land. Yesterday brought a major global acknowledgement. UNESCO has declared Ohio’s Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, eight sites in all, a World Heritage site. The…
Skipping stories
We’ve just started the Narrative Lectionary and it’s pretty clear up front, despite the nine month span, that’s it’s just a skim through the Bible. This coming Sunday Isaac will be promised to Sarah and Abraham, after which we’ll see Isaac’s son Jacob wrestling with an angel, drop in on…
Self-knowledge
The writer David Whyte says “Self-knowledge includes the understanding that the self we want to know is about to disappear.” – from his book Consolations, p. 200 This was part of a short essay the new CMC Transitions and Ritual group reflected on last evening as we met for the…
Make us a channel…
Today is the first day of school for Columbus City Schools. Some other local districts are already in their second week. Today also happens to be my dad’s birthday. Which has me thinking about how knowledge, culture, wisdom, responsibility, and love are passed from one generation to another. Schooling is…
The whole Bible in (less than) half an hour, OR in nine months x4
Like other Christians around the world, we regularly follow the Revised Common Lectionary, a set of scriptural readings throughout the liturgical year. This provides many benefits, but a disadvantage is that it tends to jump around the biblical story. It makes it difficult to get a sense of how parts…
A well-deserved mini-Sabbatical
In case you missed it, Gwen is on Sabbatical. Or more accurately, a three week mini-Sabbatical. Gwen has worked for the church 17 years and in 2012 stepped into the role of full time Office Administrator. Since that time she has become increasingly integral in supporting commissions and Leadership Team…
Too many good things for one to hold
Yesterday I attended the monthly Interfaith Justice Table that brings Central Ohio clergy and nonprofit and community leaders together around pertinent issues and excellent breakfast casserole. I’ve written about this gathering before. It’s usually an eclectic agenda and this was no exception. Rev. Dan Clark discussed the One Person One…
