Reparative funds, reparative actions
Two years ago our congregation made a commitment: As part of our annual budget, we will include a line item for reparations – funds we release to local Black and Indigenous-led organizations, to be used where most needed. This is an outgrowth of CMC’s longtime emphasis on racial justice and…
Asking Questions, Taking Responsibility
by CMC Pastoral Intern Ben Rudeen Kreider This past Sunday pastor Joel preached on the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10. Joel wondered if its main message might not be for us to simply be Good Samaritans ourselves but to see the places we are in need, dependent…
Animal icons
The July issue of Sojourners magazine includes an article featuring icon artist Angela Manno. As an established contemporary artist in the 90s Manno decided to explore liturgical art by studying under a master iconographer in the Byzantine-Russian style. Manno explains that the process of icon creation itself carries spiritual meaning,…
Bearing leaves
“And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.” Revelation 22:2 This week I’m transporting leaves from Columbus to Goshen, Indiana. That’s where six of us from CMC will gather with other representatives from Central District Conference congregations for our annual meeting. The leaves aren’t real…
Menno delegate votes – “What does this mean?”
This coming Sunday is Pentecost. One of the great phrases in that Acts 2 story occurs after the Spirit has swept through the upper room in Jerusalem where the Jesus followers had gathered, the sound of wind and flame mixing with the voices of festival pilgrims from all over the…
