by Joanna Harader In my small Mennonite congregation, when the worship leader says, “Go in peace,” the children go directly to the snack counter. Sure it's almost lunch time, but we will eat something anyway—for the sake of Christian fellowship. Some parents quietly request healthy snacks; but, nevertheless, cookies and brownies often appear on the [...]
Creativity in the Kitchen
There are many ways to be creative, and our Christ and Creativity column celebrates them all. We are about to enter a season that is one of the busiest for clergy, and sometimes the unspoken expectations are high–that in addition to our ministry duties, that we dive right in to the orgy of baking, crafts [...]
Blessed Are the Kitties
by Vicki Flippin As we prepare for Thanksgiving, Vicki reflects on her thankfulness for the feline beings that truly make her house a home and fill it with love and laughter. When I was little, I had an intense passion for doggies. I felt a burning desire like none I had ever felt before to [...]
Forward, Back, Forward Again: A Sermon for Advent 1C
by Jennifer Deaton Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:1-9; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-36 How do we know when the big day is drawing near? We look for the signs. They are unmistakable. 15% off all holiday candles. Trees for sale. Red bows appear along fenceposts, polar bears drink Coca-cola, and Rudolph, Frosty, and Charlie Brown make [...]
Church Women
by Lee Hull Moses Last Friday, I spent the morning drinking really bad coffee from a Styrofoam cup with fifty women who are older than me by at least 25 years. I’d been invited to present the Bible lesson to a meeting of Church Women United, an ecumenical group that has been gathering “church women” [...]
Mid-Life Crisis
by Jennifer Anderson When I told my Mom that I had bought myself a Mini Cooper for my birthday she joked that it was my “mid-life crisis”. Excuse me? Mid-life? Crisis?!?! I don’t know about you, but when I think of that phrase I picture a 55-year old man driving a red Ferrari with the [...]
And the giveaways go to…
In October, the Fidelia’s turned two! To celebrate, we had three giveaways. The giveaway winners were picked randomly, by assigning each comment or person a number, using random.org. Below the fold, you’ll see the giveaway recipients. A huge thanks goes out to Russ White at Chalice Press and Anna Gordy Montgomery at Gloria Vestments.
In Sickness and in Health…
by Lara Blackwood Pickrel Typically, ministers and military personnel have at least one thing in common: we know how to move, and we know that it is likely we will move several times during our careers. In some ways, these moves are similar. Our families are uprooted (or they are forced to change our entry [...]
A Concert as Worship Experience
By Deborah L. Matthews My husband surprised me for our September birthdays with tickets to U2 at Soldier Field in Chicago, our new hometown and the first stop in the 2009 360 tour. On Sunday, September 13, we trekked into the stadium with thousands of other fans, expecting quite a show. I’ve heard others talk [...]