Posts Categorized: Congregations

Barn Boots and Blessings

Someday is now Seeing the God dreams right in front of us by Donna Frischknecht Jackson   The Christmas tree is losing its needles and the cutout Santa cookies are beyond stale. Christmas 2017 is fast-becoming a memory. All eyes are now on 2018. That means our eyes are on the goals and dreams we… Read more »

justleros: more than nonsense / más que disparates

Spokespersons for God’s promises A Revised Common Lectionary resource for December 31 by Magdalena I. García ‘For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’ – Luke 2:30 Read the full lectionary passage… Read more »

Barn Boots and Blessings

This Christmas Eve, linger a bit  A little rural church basks in Christ’s light  by Donna Frischknecht Jackson   We had just finished singing Silent Night. The Christmas Eve service was soon to be over and I felt like a child who had just opened the last of her Christmas presents. I was still overjoyed,… Read more »

Barn Boots and Blessings

A different kind of Christmas card   Who is waiting to hear from you?    by Donna Frischknecht Jackson   On my desk sits an index card with the initial “R” written on it in blue marker. I have thrown this index card into the garbage at least three times so far and, so far,… Read more »

Barn Boots and Blessings

The Christmas prayer tree A rural church reaches out in an unexpected way by Donna Frischknecht Jackson   Silence fell upon the room. A woman at my table waved to the waitress to order another glass of wine. A good diversion on her part, I thought. Others around me glanced down at the meeting agenda,… Read more »

The Unglued Church

Can We Talk About Sexism? In #metoo conversations, the church can do better by Susan Rothenberg   Here’s a statistic that you may or may not find startling. A study by PC(USA) Research Services in 2016 revealed 84% of female teaching elders have experienced discrimination, prejudice or harassment based upon their gender. Yet, 48% of male… Read more »

The Unglued Church

Whose fault is it? Blame has no place in the Kingdom of God By Susan Rothenberg  Whose fault is it? When a congregation reaches the end of its life, whose fault is it? A pastor who kept putting off retirement, and as he lost energy, so did the congregation? A music director who refused to play… Read more »

The Unglued Church

Building new ramps Can we connect people who love God but not church?  By Susan Rothenberg   One of the reasons I am grateful for Facebook, despite its dastardly power to distract me from the useful tasks I should be doing, is that social media has reacquainted me with people I haven’t seen nor heard… Read more »

Unglued Church

Reminding ourselves of our purpose   By Mark Roth This week, yet another book on the meaning of life crossed my path. This newest entry is “The Power of Meaning: Crafting a Life That Matters,” by Emily Esfahani Smith. She is a columnist and editor, and in an interview with the Wharton School at the… Read more »

Unglued Church

Resurrection or resuscitation? Without change, there is no resurrection. By Susan Rothenberg   If you go to a church which follows the Revised Common Lectionary, this Sunday you may hear (or preach) a sermon based upon the story of Mary, Martha and their brother Lazarus (John 11:1-44). Jesus’ raising of Lazarus from the dead is the last of… Read more »