by Mandy Sloan Flemming There's nothing more comforting than routine, especially for children. And really… isn't this true for us all? We wake up and expect the newspaper to be in the lawn, double-bagged so that the dew hasn't ruined our morning reading. We start our cars, expecting them to run. We go to work, [...]
An Advent of Hope
by Nancy McDonald Ladd According to ancient Greek mythology, a curious woman named Pandora once opened a box. Inside that box, sealed tight until her curiosity cracked the seal, were confined all the evils of the world. As Pandora's prying fingers pulled back the lid, those evils came pouring out to visit their destruction on [...]
White Elephant Party
It's a liturgical white elephant party! You know how you have these great worship ideas that, for one reason or another, just aren't going to happen in your church? (Or, maybe they will happen in your church, but you just want to share?) Well, here's a collection of Christmas-y ideas from other young clergy women. [...]
Paradox and Patience: Lessons from Senior Adults
by Kate Hurst Floyd Ours is a faith of paradox. Magnificent, Mysterious, Maddening paradox. The first is actually the last, and last place becomes first. Giving away brings wealth, while storing up leaves emptiness. Tiny David defeats gigantic Goliath, shy Moses persuades powerful Pharoah. To violence we’re called to turn the other cheek, to transgressions [...]
Hot or Not?
by Stacey S. Midge Somewhere in the midst of my insane Advent busyness, their various work and relational situations, and all of our winter hibernation modes, several of my friends and I managed to find an evening to hit the town for Girls’ Night. Dressed to the nines and well into our third bottle of [...]
Filling the Pulpit Without Losing Your Mind
by Laura Stephens-Reed December has rolled around again, that month when the installed pastor is equal parts giddy over the imminent celebration and counting the hours until some post-Christmas hibernation. When the regular pastor takes a few days off to spend time with loved ones or make dents in her favorite recliner, that’s when the [...]
Singing Glad Tidings of Joy
In the places that we serve, we are aware of the shift that Advent brings. Not only does it shift our awareness toward planning worship services, bazaars and bake sales, but also highlights our awareness of where God’s light needs to shine this season. As we wait for God to tear open the heavens and [...]