Ruth Everhart

Author, Pastor, Speaker

Healing Spiritual Wounds, an interview with Carol Howard Merritt

Have you ever been wounded by a church, or do you know someone who has been? Have you ever wished you had the right book on your shelf, something solid and helpful you could read and pass along? That book is finally here! It is destined to become a classic. I am privileged to call Carol Howard … [Read more...] about Healing Spiritual Wounds, an interview with Carol Howard Merritt

BIRTHED: Finding Grace through Infertility, a book review

Do you know someone who is struggling with infertility? Perhaps this is the story you live, but hide from others. Or perhaps you have a different but similar sort of heartache. Do you know the feelings of repeated loss and grief, which bring a sense of hopelessness? My friend Elizabeth Hagan has … [Read more...] about BIRTHED: Finding Grace through Infertility, a book review

“A Story Is a Country Where We Can Both Stand For A While”

The title of this post is a quote from Brian Doyle, editor of Portland Magazine. I heard him speak at Festival of Faith & Writing in April 2012. I wrote down this comment because it struck me as expansive enough to fit memoir-writing and memoir-reading:?A story is a country where we can both … [Read more...] about “A Story Is a Country Where We Can Both Stand For A While”

There’s a Woman in the Pulpit, a biased book review

I?m a woman who's spent a good portion of my career occupying pulpits. In some circles a preaching woman is seen as a problem. Now comes a book that normalizes my life: "There's a Woman in the Pulpit." What a gift! I?ve always wanted to feel normal. That's why I was so happy to contribute to this … [Read more...] about There’s a Woman in the Pulpit, a biased book review

Acronyms Run Amuck: One Thing I Love About Language

In a casual conversation I said that someone went to the UCC, meaning, of course, the United Church of Christ. My sister-in-law, who is a nurse, said, "I must have missed something. Why did they go to the Urgent Care Center?" My brother-in-law, who's an attorney, said, "And what does that have … [Read more...] about Acronyms Run Amuck: One Thing I Love About Language

Writers on Writing: 4 Images of God, Katherine Paterson

Katherine Paterson has been a frequent speaker at Festival of Faith & Writing. I have a special fondness for her because she's a sister Presbyterian, the daughter of missionaries. Which is your favorite of her?young adult novels??The most famous are perhaps "Bridge to Terabithia" and "The … [Read more...] about Writers on Writing: 4 Images of God, Katherine Paterson

Writers on Writing: David Duncan, James McBride, Anne Lamott, Chaim Potok

Every writer loves tidbits about writing, so here are quotes from my notes from writers I heard at Festival of Faith and Writing 2000. DAVID JAMES DUNCAN "The collision of faith & writing is a job description." ?Loving God?s world is like loving peanut M&M?s. Loving God is like loving the … [Read more...] about Writers on Writing: David Duncan, James McBride, Anne Lamott, Chaim Potok

Writers on Writing: Anne Lamott, Maya Angelou, Walter Wangerin

Next month I'll be attending the Festival of Faith & Writing at my alma mater in Grand Rapids, MI. I love this every-other-year feast. In preparation I'm?revisiting my notes from past FFWs, and thought I'd share. These are from FFW 2000. . . .? ANNE LAMOTT: "Writing is almost never … [Read more...] about Writers on Writing: Anne Lamott, Maya Angelou, Walter Wangerin

Pause, Woods

Today was a lovely day for a walk in the woods. I don't usually see anyone else on the trail, but today I passed many people. One shoe on, one off, she stumbles, preoccupied -- wooded path forgives I also passed a couple in their forties perhaps, both wearing shorts. The man looked concerned, … [Read more...] about Pause, Woods