April 18, 2017

By William P. Brown The gap continues to widen between liberals and conservatives regarding the distressing reality of climate change. It is perplexing, given that science continues to confirm humanity’s central role in effecting global warming. It is even more perplexing that greater familiarity with science does not guarantee a greater sense of urgency as evidenced in recent research. It appears that political ideology, not scientific ignorance, remains the primary determining factor in the current debate over the acceptance of... Read more

April 10, 2017

Only women should speak on Easter Sundays! (John 20:1-18) By Cláudio Carvalhaes   It’s resurrection Sunday. However, while Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, life out of death, this resurrection isn’t yet a reality for the vast majority of the world. How can we celebrate Easter when women and children in Syria are the victims of brutal attacks?  And the nations of the world debate what level of violence is appropriate to counteract their deaths? How can we Christians celebrate... Read more

April 3, 2017

By Wendy Farley The news these days suggest we are experiencing a rebirth – not of freedom – but of hatred and anxiety in our country. God created the world and loves humanity. Nothing, no person, no religion, no race, no ecosystem, no nation, no blade of grass was made without Word, Wisdom, Love. Humanity is all one in the eye of the divine, as a river is one though made of many countless drops of water. The “way” of... Read more

March 27, 2017

By Rev. Dr. Storm Swain As we enter into John’s Gospel, we are standing some way off from the tomb. The air of grief is all around. The family has returned home to a place that looks the same but is empty because their loved one is gone. People are gathered around to grieve, support, console and to say Kaddish. And into this Jesus walks. Not as early as anybody would have wanted. Not early enough to stop the death... Read more

March 20, 2017

By Amy Julia Becker “Disability is a magnifying glass that shows us our humanity.” My husband spoke these words eleven years ago, when our daughter Penny was a few months old. Penny had been diagnosed with Down syndrome a few hours after her birth, and the months that followed were hard for us. She had a few little holes in her heart. She needed tubes in her ears. She needed early intervention services. Her future seemed uncertain. She also slept... Read more

March 14, 2017

The Nasty Woman Who Persisted: The Samaritan Woman of John 4 (John 4:5-42) By Jaime Clark-Soles • (Now President) Donald Trump calling Hillary Clinton a “nasty woman.” • Mitch McConnell silencing Senator Elizabeth Warren, using his voice to proclaim: “She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted” giving strong women everywhere a new mantra. • The Women’s March(es). • International Women’s Day with its theme: #BeBoldForChange • Former Texas Senator Wendy Davis, of pink-sneaker-filibustering-for-women’s-lives fame spoke at... Read more

March 7, 2017

By Rev. Cassandra A. Henderson It almost seems contrary to consider the transfiguration of Jesus in Matthew 17:1-9 as part of the journey in Lent. How does God’s breaking through time to reveal the prophets of old, Moses and Elijah connect to the solitude of Jesus’s temptation in the wilderness? How does the glow of shining light through the one declared the very light of the world in the presence of his disciples James, John and Peter speak to 40... Read more

February 27, 2017

By Karyn L Wiseman I keep seeing listicles pop up on my Facebook feed. 40 Best Movies of all Time. 40 most underrated actors. 40 best hip-hop moments in history. 40 things that make everyone smile. 40 little known facts about Friends. Listicles of the 40 most, best, or worst whatever … it goes on and on. You click on the link and then get to click through page after page of these crazy listicles. They drive me insane and... Read more

February 22, 2017

A God of Second Chances (2 Peter 1:16-21) By Melissa Browning My five-year-old, Olivia, lives in a world where all that she imagines is fiercely real. She walks through life with an entourage of imaginary friends, all busy participants in the universe she has created. The situations she conjures up are colorful and complex. On more than one occasion, I have been asked to mediate imaginary disputes or attend birthday parties for characters that I cannot see. Among the entourage... Read more

February 13, 2017

Are We Safer Now? Security and Mercy in God’s Law (Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18) Johnny Ramirez-Johnson How would you feel today if you learned that your neighbor is a refugee from Syria? The concerns about security (i.e. the measurements we take to arrive at a place of safety) have become central to our daily life; we (all Americans) have banned Syrian refugees from entering the USA. The Statue of Liberty has nothing for them, they are a threat to our security.... Read more


Browse Our Archives