Step back in time with me, won't you? Imagine a church constructed of logs, filled to the brim with 250 people singing hymns without accompaniment. The majority of those people are Old Order Mennonite, dressed in their Sunday go-to-meeting clothes. Balconies on either side of the meetinghouse burst … [Read more...] about Hymns, Heat & Heaven
Uncluttering Books
When I was growing up we didn't have any extra money, so every book I read came from the library. I remember winning a couple of books through book-reading challenges at the library; those were precious. Buying textbooks in college was a stretch financially, and I never bought books for pleasure. … [Read more...] about Uncluttering Books
U2 Concert
I acted like a groupie at a U2 concert and had a blast. I wrote more about the experience (here). Here's the set list including the opening act, Florence and the Machine: … [Read more...] about U2 Concert
The Year of Living Superficially
All of my life I have been "deep." When I was in high school, people would say to me, "You're really deep" and I took that as a compliment. Then I went to college and seminary and became a minister. Being a minister is a deep profession. You deal with the serious, the profound. You attend to the … [Read more...] about The Year of Living Superficially
Farewell to My Church on Pentecost
Most unusual: The parking lot was already lined with cars when we pulled in. Inside the church office, my desktop was almost clear. I made photocopies of various last-minute instruction lists and reminders, and posted them in conspicuous places, the way you might for your first overnight … [Read more...] about Farewell to My Church on Pentecost
What I’ll Miss: a pastor’s thoughts on leaving her church
After almost a decade at my church, I am leaving to pursue writing full time, at least for a season. This coming Sunday is my last day in the pulpit! Here are just a few of the things that I'm going to miss . . . I'll miss my place in the sanctuary, the red velvet throne that's lost its springs. … [Read more...] about What I’ll Miss: a pastor’s thoughts on leaving her church
The Year of Living . . . with a Beard
After reading A.J. Jacob's book,?The Year of Living Biblically, I decided to follow a friend's recommendation and read Ed Dobson's book The Year of Living Like Jesus. The two books are quite different. Jacobs was raised as a secular Jew, and his book feels a bit like a stunt, a follow-up to spending … [Read more...] about The Year of Living . . . with a Beard
What Breaks
Tonight I'm remembering a valuable dish that broke, the most valuable dish I ever owned, and I'm feeling glad that it broke. The dish was a gift from one of the sainted widows in my congregation, a token of her esteem for me. She called it "Kitchen Ming" because it was from the Ming dynasty, but … [Read more...] about What Breaks
Swinging to Inclusion
Yesterday was a historic day in the Presbyterian Church (USA). A majority of presbyteries have voted to ratify the decision by General Assembly last July, which changes the language of our Book of Order (text below). The language replaces a paragraph known as "Fidelity and Chastity clause" which had … [Read more...] about Swinging to Inclusion
We Don’t Live Here Anymore, by Andre Dubus, a book review
Another quick book review, this time fiction (I try to alternate fiction and non-fiction reading). Three novellas by Andre Dubus II: We Don't Live Here Anymore, Adultery, Finding a Girl in America. The three novellas are linked by the cast of characters, although they are from different points of … [Read more...] about We Don’t Live Here Anymore, by Andre Dubus, a book review
Under the Banner of Heaven, by Jon Krakauer, a book review
I just finished reading Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer. I found it quite captivating, as the narrative moves back and forth between two interesting true stories: the early history of the Mormon church, and a recent double murder committed by two brothers who thought they were fulfilling … [Read more...] about Under the Banner of Heaven, by Jon Krakauer, a book review
Minister/Mom: Role Collision
In seminary we were told that occasionally we would encounter a collision of church needs and family needs. Well, there's an understatement! And after 20+ years in ministry, the conflicts do not end. Our Younger Daughter is in her 3rd year of college, studying Entrepreneurship. For the past 9 … [Read more...] about Minister/Mom: Role Collision