As each old year draws to a close, I like to choose a word or phrase that captures my intention for the new year. How do I intend to live? For many years I chose a single word -- Simplicity or Joy or Mindfulness -- something that sounds very unassailable on paper! But it didn't usually have much … [Read more...] about Intentions for a New Year
In Honor of 9/11: The Flight 93 Memorial
My husband I frequently drive between the midwest (our parents live in Michigan/Ohio) and the east coast (we live in Virginia). For years we've been promising ourselves we'd stop along the way in Shanksville, Pennsylvania at the Flight 93 Memorial. But by the time we get close we are invariably … [Read more...] about In Honor of 9/11: The Flight 93 Memorial
Honor Flight: a WW II Veteran Reflects
The following account was written by my father, Nicholas J. Huizenga, a World War II veteran. He describes a Talons Out Honor Flight he took on May 16, 2015, along with a plane load of other WWII veterans. Memorial Day, May 25, 2015. Nine days ago I joined 105 veterans of World War ll on a trip to … [Read more...] about Honor Flight: a WW II Veteran Reflects
Momma Don’t Want No Stinkin’ Card
I wrote this post about the inequities facing women in 2014. Unfortunately, it's all still true! You'll have to forgive me if I'm cranky about Mothers Day. Once again marketers will drape the world in pink, but I'm not feeling it. One Reason I'm Cranky Mothers Day is another working Sunday -- plus a … [Read more...] about Momma Don’t Want No Stinkin’ Card
Ring a Bell Sunday, to Ring Out the Old Year
Today was the first Sunday after Christmas. I preached at a friend's church because he was traveling. At that?church, it's a tradition to ring bells to accompany the hymn-singing on the final Sunday of the year. He had warned me, so I brought along an old school bell that sits on the shelf in my … [Read more...] about Ring a Bell Sunday, to Ring Out the Old Year
Mothers Day & Church
Mothers Day is not a liturgical holiday, but many congregations tend to treat it like one. After all, it falls on a Sunday. There are two ways to look at connecting Mothers Day and church. We'll start with the positive spin. These churches hand out flowers and the Children's Choir sings about how … [Read more...] about Mothers Day & Church
Cleaning the Slate at the New Year
Yesterday I spent a few hours getting ready for the new year. There are some quick and easy ways I like to "clean the slate": 1) I quickly organized the clothes in my closet by grouping like items together (church clothes, writing clothes, workout clothes). It helped me see whether I need to buy … [Read more...] about Cleaning the Slate at the New Year
Memorable Memorial Day at Wolf Trap
On Memorial Day weekend we went to Wolf Trap National Park -- to have a picnic, hear the President's Own Marine Band, and enjoy fireworks. It's a free event and we love to go. The gates open at 6:30 and we arrived by 6:40. Even so, the place was packed. We ended up spreading our picnic blanket on … [Read more...] about Memorable Memorial Day at Wolf Trap
All Saints Day
We had fun in worship today, thinking about saints. My sermon title was Heroes? I showed a variety of images -- can you guess how each one fit? Spiderman, St. Francis of Assisi, Martin Luther King, Jr., X-Men, Michael Phelps, Heroes (the TV show), Mother … [Read more...] about All Saints Day
In Praise of Valentines Day
I know that a lot of people hate Valentine's Day. ?And I understand that it's too much pressure and too commercialized and they jack up the prices on flowers and you can't get a reservation. ?All that. But at the gym yesterday, women were talking about how V-day is "just for the kids" with their … [Read more...] about In Praise of Valentines Day
Singing Harmonia Sacra to Greet the New Year
I spent New Year's Night singing hymns in a church, unaccompanied, with 300 or so other people. ?The crowd was diverse in age, but entirely white in skin color. Everyone was dressed very nicely in what I called "church clothes" growing up. I've sung with Old Order Mennonites before, it's a memorable … [Read more...] about Singing Harmonia Sacra to Greet the New Year