The walls of Jericho were closed to God’s people. No one could get in or get out. The walls were tall so no one could climb them, either!
A View from the Pew: Trunk-or-Treat vs. Trick-or-Treat
October 27, 2021 by
Last month I explored the concept of fall festivals as church events and how to think about them in the current context. This month, I’d like to spend a little time unpacking a specific form of the fall festival known as “trunk-or-treat.”
A View from the Pew: 5 Questions to Help Plan Your Fall Festival
September 22, 2021 by
In the “before times,” when pandemics were far-fetched movie plots, churches looked for ways to gather for fellowship outside of Sunday worship. It was an added bonus if it could involve people outside of the church because then you could call it “outreach.”
Life Is My Church
October 21, 2015 by
I saw a picture recently on social media–a beautiful fall scene, with the sun rising beautifully over a vista of trees and water and clouds, the sort of view that speaks peace into your very soul.
A View from the Pew: A Day for All Saints
October 20, 2015 by
For years I thought the end of October was solely the devil’s territory. Trick-or-treat, scary or revealing costumes, and general tomfoolery were reserved for Halloween leaving churches few good options for experiencing the season.
In Pursuit of the Spirit: Spiritual Formation with Toddlers (Or Lectio in Nature)
October 7, 2014 by
After a freezing first winter in Chicago (frequently described as Chiberia), and bipolar summer (hot and humid one day, cold and rainy the next), I am feeling particularly grateful for the beautiful fall we’ve been having recently.
A View from the Pew: “Back to Church” Season
August 28, 2014 by
As a child, the most dreaded words uttered every July on the commercials interrupting TV reruns were “Back-to-school sale.” Like the first few bars of “Jingle Bells,” heard nowadays in late September, that phrase was the harbinger of homework, research papers, and exams.