How would you finish that sentence? Please email me or text me (816-381-9253) with your completion to that sentence. Here are a few from where I sit... Now more than ever, I am enjoying sitting down to dinner with my husband every night and savoring a home cooked meal. Now more than Read More...
Each of us has our own perspective on Mother’s Day. You may reflect on the experience of your own mother or your journey of being a mother. The two characteristics I celebrate most on Mother’s Day are tender nurture and tenacious strength. Growing up I felt my Mom’s tender nurture through lovingly Read More...
As the days drag on, the earth bursts forth in beauty. I find my heart ricocheting between savoring the now and worrying about the future. So I thought today we could sit back and notice the signs of hope around us and within us. Volunteerism is up. Applications to volunteer in New Read More...
This Sunday will be our seventh Sunday to meet for worship via live stream rather than in person. We began on Sunday, March 15. Three days prior to that a nurse friend told me, “Churches probably need to take a few weeks off and then come back boldly with a huge grand Read More...
One week after Easter, Thomas still doubts that Jesus has risen from the dead. He wants to see for himself the mark of the nails in Jesus’ side and in his hands. Sometimes we give Thomas a hard time and call him “doubting Thomas” but Thomas gets the same view that the Read More...
Today is Good Friday. But every day for the last several weeks has felt a bit like Good Friday. We watch the death toll rise and we stay inside. We pray with deeper fervor. We fear what will happen next to the economy and the ones we love. We wonder when good Read More...
When I teach Old Testament I often say you really need to know these two words: exile and exodus. People can picture exodus, that moment when the Red Sea was parted by Moses and the people of God exited slavery in Egypt and trounced through the desert seeking a new life. But Read More...
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 other times Read More...
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 to hurt Read More...
By Lisa McLeish, Director of Early Childhood Programs I n spite of my effort to only watch the news for the weather forecast, the other news of the world makes itself known. The excitement and happiness of the Chief’s Super Bowl win seems so long ago as we are inundated with the Read More...
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 personal concerns Read More...
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 with incurable Read More...
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 told to Read More...
“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 to thinking Read More...
'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 were more Read More...
