Art by Mary Allison Cates As we move toward the already-and-not-yet of Advent, we celebrate Christ’s birth so long ago even as we know that Christ must be born in us again and again. Countless artists over the centuries have portrayed Advent themes and scenes; these block prints by Mary Allison Cates weave together the [...]
Taking Your Baby to Work
by Sarah Moore-Nokes I am a pastor and am also a mother of two delightful girls. Most days I can make those two professions work together pretty well, some days – not so much. My main coping mechanisms are coffee and humor. My main ally in this endeavor is my husband of 10 years. We [...]
Six Degrees: A Homily and Prayer Litany for World AIDS Day
by Callista Isabelle Six degrees of separation. Some of you may be familiar with this phrase from a movie with that title. Some of you may have played the “Six degrees of separation” game. The game challenges you to figure out if you are 6 degrees or less away from Kevin Bacon! This means you [...]
It’s Not Too Late to Designate
by Katie Yahns Picture, if you will, a group of buddies preparing to go out and raise a glass to celebrate the holiday of your choice. One of the more responsible friends asks, “So, who’s going to be the designated driver?” And then…silence sweeps away the talking and laughter as each person looks at the [...]
The Gift of Gentleness
by Stacey Midge For twenty-five years, my Christmas Eves remained much the same from year to year. My parents, siblings, assorted other relatives, and I would gather to consume a massive feast. We would sing Christmas carols in harmony. We would eat more food, and open piles of presents. The house would be bright with [...]
Verve, Faith, Chocolate, and Really Great Shoes
by Ann Bonner-Stewart You may have noticed that the Young Clergy Women Project, which publishes Fidelia’s Sisters, claims to be powered by "verve, faith, chocolate, and really great shoes." Some have asked, "Why shoes?" Well, I can’t speak for all young clergy women. I can, however, speak for myself. For a long time, in my [...]
Silent and Still
The silence of my prayer was replaced with the noise of the narthex. The hymns were sung. The people were blessed. And now, it was time to share in the joy of being together as the congregation participates in the exodus from the sanctuary to the promise of the Parish Hall. Babies wake up from [...]
What Not to Wear
by Sarah Kinney Gaventa I love Laura Ingalls Wilder. Her books, loosely autobiographical—about a young girl who explored the West with her pioneer family—were the basis for games my friends would play during every 2nd and 3rd grade recess. We fought over who got to play Laura, her blind older sister Mary, or the darling [...]