Spiritual but not religious
For Sunday’s sermon I’ll be interviewing CMCer and MTSO seminary professor Linda Mercadante. For the last five years she has been interviewing people who identify as “Spiritual but not Religious” and has recently published a book titled Belief Without Borders: Inside the Minds of the Spiritual but not Religious.” Linda…
BREAD Rising
On Monday evening about 50 CMC folks gathered with about 3000 others from around the city for the annual BREAD Nehemiah Action at the Celeste Center at the Fairgrounds. This was my first experience being a part of this gathering and so it was impressive to see this many folks…
Mother’s Day for Peace
This coming Sunday is Mother’s Day. In light of speaking of stillbirth this past Sunday, it feels especially important to recognize that such a day can be just as much about loss and unfulfilled longings as it is about joy. Being a non-mother myself, one of the things I find…
Building and planting
After a remarkably cold winter, spring feels extra sweet this year. For our household, it’s time to plant and time for a significant home improvement project. When it comes to planting, Abbie and I are still in the “dabbler” category, although we’re getting better at it. We have a…
Twelve and Six Scriptures
I took a break from this weekly blog during Lent because of the daily devotions series. Many thanks to those of you who shared your thoughts and insights in what turned out to be a wonderfully eclectic and soul-affirming journey. And now we’re into the Easter season. One of the…
Remember that you are dust
“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you will return.” The season of Lent begins today, Ash Wednesday. In case we had forgotten, these words spoken over us re-awaken us to our mortality. Our bodies come from the stuff of the earth, and it is to this earth that…
Getting to the Why
This Sunday is the final one before Lent and is known as Transfiguration Sunday, when the church remembers Jesus’ mystical light-infused encounter with Elijah and Moses on top of the mountain… Last week I had a lunch conversation with two Episcopal minister friends. One of them said he’d been thinking…
Confessing faith
These last couple weeks I’ve been flipping through Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective, a booklet written in 1995, composed of 24 brief articles and commentary, including God, Jesus Christ, Scripture, Baptism, The Lord’s Supper, etc. This Sunday I will start teaching the youth catechism class and plan to…
The arts, rising
Last Friday and Saturday our family headed down to Cincinnati for the biennial Mennonite Arts Weekend. It was of course special to see friends from our seven years of living and pastoring in the city. And it is always special to be a part of that weekend gathering which welcomes Mennonite artists from…
The Wisdom Jesus
This week I’ve started reading The Wisdom Jesus: Transforming Heart and Mind – a New Perspective on Christ and His Message by Cynthia Bourgeault. It was a book recommended last week at AMBS Pastor’s Week. I’m always a bit skeptical when books claim to have a “new perspective” on Christ…
