Immigration and our Call to Love

Her name is Isabelle.1 Originally from Venezuela, she left her home because she and her husband could not afford to feed their children. Life in Venezuela had become untenable. So they left, in search of a better life in America. They traveled over 2000 miles and crossed 8 countries. Their journey led them through the […]

Tithing Time

When we speak of spiritual disciples, the list seems extensive. Richard Foster, in his book Celebration of Discipline, listed meditation, prayer, fasting, study, simplicity, solitude, submission, service, confession, worship, guidance, and celebration – and this is just a starting point. Other writings contain stewardship, journaling, and Sabbath. I have seen lists upon lists of spiritual […]

Ask a Young Clergywoman: Pastoral Care Inadequacy Edition

Dear Askie, I’m in my first few years of ministry, and, while I have always been highly empathic, I feel almost hypocritical when people come to me with their problems and grief. How can I offer good, authentic pastoral care to people who are suffering and going through terrible experiences when I myself have always […]

Prayer for Historic Pregnancy Loss

Sadly, miscarriage and pregnancy loss are an all-too-common reality all around the world, and I can count myself among that number. In hospital chaplaincy I have found people like me who have felt that pain and emptiness – some who have been able to nurture a living child, and some who have not. Regardless of […]

Repairers of the Breach

The Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your needs in parched places and make your bones strong, and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water whose waters never fail. Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the […]

When Your Heart Aches

It’s been a week. It’s been a week since they announced an e-learning day, just one, for schools because of the coming Hurricane. It’s been a week since we shifted and sent computers home with students anticipating they had enough charge for one day of work since we would be back in the classroom on […]

Talking About Gun Violence With Our Kids

Kids are smart. They’re like teeny little philosophers, seeking to make sense of the world and always asking the pointed question I never seem to have the answer to on hand! That can make us want to avoid tough conversations. But if we don’t have these conversations, our kids are going to pick up information […]

Abundant Life and the Tyranny of Productivity

It was an average Tuesday morning–reflective of all my mornings, lately: I’d gotten up early to go to the gym, but the timing of my class meant that by the time I got home, I had 45 minutes to get myself and my kiddo out the door. I jumped out of my car and into […]

From Competition to Collaboration

What happens when a small church decides to stop competing? Everyone wins.  The small, suburban bedroom community where I pastor is saturated with churches. There is a main road that will take you all the way through town, which begins at a highway exit. In one four-mile stretch, there are no less than fifteen church […]

Compline for Palestine: A Call for the Church to Act

With my red stole covered in Bethlehem stars slung over my shoulder, I proclaimed the crap out of the Gospel. I had been ordained for about four months when I was invited to apply for a scholarship to attend the General Convention of the Episcopal Church. The Association of Episcopal Deacons wanted to give an […]