Resurrect the Alleluia

In the Catholic liturgical tradition as well as in some other Protestant traditions, once the season of Lent begins, the church "buries" the Alleluia. That is, in all church liturgies each Sunday during Lent, the word (and sentiment) "Alleluia" is absent from songs, readings, etc. This is one way that reflects this season of Lenten fasting - a …

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Location and Dislocation

A Disney Princess When my 11-year-old daughter was little, I stressed about her obsession with Disney princesses. As a feminist, the last thing I wanted for my daughter was to internalize the message that her value as a human person was dependent on her outward beauty or physical appearance or that to be a whole, …

Self-Deception – Rich Man & Lazarus

When read in its fullness, the gospel of Luke makes three things quite clear: Jesus' ministry focuses deeply on the marginalized, Jesus spends a lot of time talking about and practicing table fellowship, and Jesus spends a lot of time talking about wealth - money and possessions. The story of the rich man and Lazarus …

The Talents

For the large majority of my life, I read the parables of Jesus with a fairly specific filter. That is, I assumed phrases like "the kingdom of God," "kingdom of heaven, "outer darkness, and "eternal life" all referred to some sort of life after death, or more specifically life after death in a other-worldly location …

It Was Not A Silent Night

“It was not a silent night. There was blood on the ground. You could hear a woman cry, in the alleyways that night, in the streets of David’s town…” Joseph of Nazareth, betrothed to Mary of Nazareth, travel to the city of Bethlehem, Joseph’s ancestral hometown. And Mary, the story we know so well in …

Sermon: Call the Midwife

Exodus 1:15-2015 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, 16 “When you act as midwives to the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, she shall live.” 17 But the midwives feared God; they …

Let There Be Peace

It is the first Sunday of Advent. It is my favorite season of the year. When I first discovered the Christian calendar and began paying attention to the ways in which ordering time can conform to the life and work of Jesus, I felt like I discovered a true gift. The cycle of time looks …

Never Give Up On The Question of God

As of the beginning of October, I joined the staff team of Church Innovations Institute as the Director of Operations and Spiritual Formation. We are a non-profit who partners with churches around the world, innovating their capacity to be renewed in God’s mission. We invite partners into a spiritual journey that asks one simple question: …

My Story

Note: I will admit, right from the beginning, that telling this story is difficult. It feels risky and vulnerable. My prayer is that my words are seasoned with grace and love. I will be honest. I will be real. And it may be uncomfortable at times, but I think the risk is worth it. I …

Welcoming the Stranger

I was reminded, recently, about a value vital to the mission of God: hospitality. What does hospitality mean to you? I think for many of us, when we consider hospitality we think about opening our homes, and it is true that sometimes we obsess over “will every thing be perfect,” or “is my house presentable” …