Every five to 11 years, depending on leap years, Christmas Day falls on a Sunday, and church-going folks, especially those with small children, face tough decisions.
Formations 04.10.2022: The Triumphal Entry
April 3, 2022 by
We’ve come to Palm Sunday, a day of celebration. In some churches, people spread palm leaves on their sanctuary floors to honor the day Jesus came to Jerusalem for the last time.
Hard Things Are Hard
January 12, 2022 by
Hard things are hard. Sometimes life is just plain hard. You can’t escape it or get around it; you just have to live through it.
Easy Like Sunday Morning
August 31, 2021 by
Memories do fade, but some stick with you. Sunday mornings are times that I remember, and I’m not talking about church. Now, before you start to judge in any way, the experiences that I have and have had at church stick with me also. But not all of them.
Easter Sunday Isn’t Like the Others
April 17, 2019 by
The long Lenten journey to the cross and ultimately the empty tomb is nearly finished, and Easter is just around the corner.
Putting the ‘School’ Back in Sunday School
August 28, 2018 by
I ask my children weekly during out drive home for church, “What did you learn in Sunday school today?” I know, it sounds really old fashioned when I do it, but the basis of the question is the assumption that Sunday school is an educational activity. It is called “school,” after all.
A View from the Pew: What Makes a Sunday Super?
January 31, 2017 by
I happen to live in a city that has a rooting interest in Super Bowl LI, so I have more than a passing interest in the big game this year. But even when I don’t care about the outcome, the weeks of hype and constant media and social media attention invade my mental and spiritual space like weeds in my lawn.
Crossroads: Palm Sunday
March 21, 2016 by
I love celebrations. In particular, I love birthdays. I love finding the perfect present and celebrating who that person is. I love my birthday as well, but it’s always a little odd to me.
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.
Easy like Sunday Morning?
September 23, 2015 by
Sometimes getting inside the church building is hard. I’ve talked to a few friends recently about what it takes to collect all they’ve got and bring it into Sunday’s gathering. Some people get to roll in on Sunday, hands free. Some folks face obstacles just getting to the door.
A View from the Pew: Counting the Choir
December 9, 2014 by
I have a confession: for reasons I’m about to explore, each week during worship, I silently count the members of the church choir. Bizarre, I know.
Crossroads: Recognizing and Remembering
June 23, 2014 by
My father lives in the same small town where I grew up as a child. Though I moved away more than 25 years ago, I enjoy going back to this community to visit a few times each year. When we go back for these visits, I often see people around town who our family has known for many years.