by Alexandra Hendrickson When we talk about the first Christian family, we often talk only about the baby Jesus and his mother, Mary. This may be because the Gospels tell us very little about Joseph. We know he was a carpenter. Artists throughout the centuries have portrayed him as significantly older than the teenaged Mary; [...]
Christ & Creativity
June 24, 2008 byNew Poems by “Pink Shoes”
This month we feature two new poems by a pseudonymous blogger who writes at "Pink Shoes in the Pulpit." Check out her poems below the jump…
Familiar Echoes: My father’s footsteps
by Abigail Zang Hoffman Being young, a woman, and a pastor is something of an enigma to most people. When someone asks me what I do, my response always redirects the conversation. It usually evokes a self-conscious, I-hope-I-haven’t-said-anything-offensive-in-her-presence response first. Then, interest is piqued. A pastor? But you’re so young! And you’re a woman! I [...]
The Holy Spirit Resides in My Mattress
by Patricia Watson The Holy Spirit resides in my mattress … I’m pretty sure. The first time I noticed this was when I was in college, though I didn’t call it the Holy Spirit then. I would go to bed after struggling with a paper or project and would wake up with the perfect thing [...]
Doing the Math on My Vocation
by an anonymous author Why I should not be a pastor:I stole money from an employer when I was in high school.I had plenty of sex outside the sacrament of marriage.Being a pastor feeds my big head.I hardly ever pray. Why I am a pastor:God called me anyway.
Mr. Handsome Goes to Church
by an anonymous author In seminary, my professors taught me many things. I learned to exegete, to lead a meeting, to sing hymns on pitch, and to recite significant dates in the history of the church. Unfortunately, I did not learn what to do when a blindingly handsome stranger with straw gold hair and dazzling [...]
Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
by Laura Stephens-Reed Most women of the Friends generation have endured, at least once, that excruciating rite of passage known as The Break-Up. There are three general types of break-ups: The Amicable Break-Up: The two dating partners agree that one or both of them have outgrown the relationship, and they leave the door open to [...]
Throwing Stones
My computer sang that familiar tune. I am compulsive about checking email. It doesn’t seem to matter what I am doing when that song begins. I instantly minimize the open document on my screen and jump into the inbox of my email account. It is almost always a church member — unless the beloved denominational [...]