As your pastor I want to be strong. But I would be lying if I told you have not had some sleepless nights and some melt-down moments. At times my heart feels full and I know for certain that we will emerge stronger at the end of this. But at …
Carla’s Candids for Friday, March 20
Fifty women with white hair slip demurely into the carved wooden choir stalls, bow their heads to pray and then sweetly sing “O God break the teeth in their mouths.” I was shocked. Is this phrase really in the Bible? A few minutes later we sing, “Let those who seek …
The Ancient Audacity to Hope
By Tyler Heston, Minister to Youth It’s easy to be anxious in our world today. As November 2020 grows closer, our country is nervous about what’s next. Life as normal is coming to a halt across the globe as COVID-19 spreads. On top of these things and the plethora of …
Carla’s Candids for Friday, March 6
A virus. A tornado. A rapidly shifting political scene. And that was just by Wednesday! How do you and I as people of faith, respond to the volatility? First, the virus. Jesus focused much of his energy on healing the sick. Without antibiotics or IV’s, Jesus had compassion on those …
In Awe of the Rugged
By Catherine Stark-Corn, Minister to Families and Children One of my most cherished memories is of the church’s family mission trips to the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation in South Dakota. The drive could be a bit long, especially with younger ones who were tired of car games, toys, sitting, being …
Forty Days
“I have no problem giving up alcohol for the 40 days of Lent” my friend told me. “But if I try to say no to a glass of wine other times of the year, it seems impossible. I don’t know why that is.” This conversation with my friend got me …
Carla’s Candids for Friday, February 21
‘I wish you were either hot or cold, but you are lukewarm,’ says Jesus to the church in the book of Revelation. Guilty as charged. There are too many days that my faith feels lackluster. Sometimes my prayer life feels like going through the motions but I wish my prayers …
A Sweet, Sweet Spirit in this Place
By Matthew Thompson, Director of Music I have always loved going to church! I know it may seem odd to most but for some reason, church, especially worship and music called out to me from a young age. I was around 12 years old when I began playing the organ …
The Power of the Printed Page
By Dr. Mike Graves, Scholar in Residence One of my good friends finished off 2019 by reading his 52nd title of the year. Unless a person’s diet of reading is limited to Dr. Seuss or Daniel Tiger, a book per week is impressive. Of course, my friend is a professor, so reading …
Carla’s Candids for Friday, February 7
She was on the drill team and worked in the library to pay her tuition. He was on a football scholarship. These small town/farm kids met at Navarro Junior College in Corsicana, Texas in 1955, fell in love and got married two years later. From their love, came my sister …
Serving with a Smile
By April Booth, Director of Children’s Ministries One Sunday during the children’s sermon we talked about Martin Luther King Jr. and how he loved people and the ways he showed love by serving them. As we talked about things we’ve done to serve – working in the garden at Urban …
Practicing
By Rev. Joe Walker, Minister of Congregational Care The Pope slapped a woman’s hand. Perhaps you remember the New Year’s Eve incident: As he was leaving a receiving line an overzealous pilgrim grabbed the Pontiff’s hand pulling him off-balance. Pope Francis reacted by slapping her hand and barking at her …
A Tribute to Dean Adams
I was one of 40,000 students at University of Texas so it was a shock during my first semester at graduate school at Yale to receive an invitation to join a small group of students for dinner at the home of a professor. Dean Harry B. Adams was a Disciples of …