Good Friday: A Service of Shadows and Stones

Our congregation has used Taizé, Tenebrae, and narratives of the Passion in past Good Friday services. I grew up in a congregation that often used the 7 last words of Christ as a focal point. I wrote this liturgy to combine some of these elements, but also wanting to add some concrete way for people […]

Why College Chaplaincy?

An Imaginary Dialogue Between a College Student and Her Chaplain Student: Chaplain Kate, I have to interview someone for my First Year Seminar class. Would you mind if I asked you a few questions? Chaplain: That sounds fine to me. What are you researching? S: Well, we were supposed to interview a professional woman about her job. I was […]

Not What You Might Expect

After a long pause in our conversation, I suppose that he felt the need to ask another question. I was inclined toward hanging up. The conversation had been annoying thus far. I didn’t see the potential for improvement. “So, what’s your favorite movie?” It is probably best that this was a phone conversation so he couldn’t see my eyes […]

The Fake Search

Recently, at a local governing board meeting, the chair of a search committee presented his candidate before the governing body with the words, “We really did have a real search.” I sat back in my pew, folded my arms, and rolled my eyes, because we all knew the truth. It was just another sham. Have you ever fallen prey to the […]

Forbidden love

I’m in love! Oh, don’t get too excited. I’m not in love with anyone I’ve actually met. . .or am likely to meet. This love is a secret love, which is something juicy for me to savor. I’m not telling many people and definitely not telling members of my congregation. They are very kind to […]

Moments of Silence

I miscarried very, very early after I became pregnant for the first time. For one brief evening, my husband and I were naively dumbfounded and excited by the potential of a new baby in our lives. The next morning, I began showing symptoms of a miscarriage. Within a few days, we knew what we had […]

Long Road Home: Music by Stacey Midge

You’ve read Stacey Midge’s witty articles for Single Rev’s Guide to Life. Did you know she is also a musician? Click below to hear her play “Long Road Home”: Long Road Home from Stacey on Myspace.   Here is more of Stacey’s music.  

Love the One You’re With (Er… Yourself)

After services one Sunday, I walked into the sacristy to thank the altar guild for their work. The acting altar guild chair said those words we all long to hear: “Are you tired? Because you look really tired.” I was, in fact, really tired. I hadn’t taken a day off in nearly a month. I […]

Holy Housework

The work of Lent is something of a spiritual house-cleaning: whether it involves organizing a back closet, bringing out and discarding things that need to go, adding something beautiful to a room, making space for a new guest. Hard work, but it sounds so beautiful when it’s something done in your heart and soul. But […]

One Wedding… and a Funeral?

I have this dorky parish clergy daydream. I like to imagine that as the years go by, all the different sacramental rites at which I’ve officiated or preached will blend together into a bizarre mélange of baptisms, communions, funerals, and weddings, so that I will no longer be able to remember in which significant moment of someone’s life I […]