Nes Gadol Hayah Sham Finding the trancendant God in other traditions By Roberta Updegraff Advent is a whirl of emotion percolated in frenzied activity, yet Christmas comes quietly—often surprisingly. As it did in 1985. I was full-bloom in motherhood, our third just cooing—a perfect stand-in for Jesus in the manager, and I felt in control… Read more »
December 15, 2016
Reflections from the frontline
Nes Gadol Hayah Sham Finding the trancendant God in other traditions By Roberta Updegraff Advent is a whirl of emotion percolated in frenzied activity, yet Christmas comes quietly—often surprisingly. As it did in 1985. I was full-bloom in motherhood, our third just cooing—a perfect stand-in for Jesus in the manager, and I felt in control… Read more » 
Rediscovering holy wholeness Material miracles and spiritual malignancy By N. Graham Standish Modern people are a compartmentalized people, which makes them efficient, expedient, and effective. But it also eviscerates their spirit by carving the world into secular and sacred compartments. Spiritual people are integrated people who consecrate the sacred in all of life, recognizing everything… 
Pregnant people A resource for Sunday’s liturgy based on Luke 1:39-56 by Magdalena I. García And [Elizabeth] exclaimed with a loud cry, ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.’ – Luke 1:42 (NRSV) wanted: people devoid of lies and pregnant with sincerity; people devoid of falsehood and pregnant with… 
Challenge and change Sudan partners offer kids a bigger view of church By Sean Brubaker On a Saturday afternoon last summer, the usual crew of neighborhood boys were riding scooters up and down the avenue outside the church. When they saw the parking lot fill up they stopped to see what was going on. They have learned… 
Let’s begin, again Rituals encourage us to dig deep By Rev. Sarah Robbins I am a creature of habit. I love ritual and routine and the opportunity to experience something again and again. I feel like it helps me to dig deep and truly envelop myself in what someone has written, or created or… 
Hindering or preparing? A resource for Sunday’s liturgy based on Matthew 3:1-12 by Magdalena I. García One of my drawings during the “Chalk the Walk for Peace” event sponsored by Friendship Presbyterian Church, in Chicago, last September. Uno de mis dibujos durante el evento “Entiza el Camino por la Paz”, patrocinado por la Iglesia Presbiteriana… 
Stay alert A resource for Sunday’s liturgy based on Matthew 24:36-44 The sun shines through the fog on a fall morning in Chicago. El sol brilla a través de la niebla en una mañana otoñal de Chicago. Therefore, stay alert! You don’t know what day the Lord is coming. – Matthew 24:42 (CEB) by Magdalena… 
Is believing enough? Acting in faith requires risk By Mark Roth Once again, verses from the daily reading of the Revised Common Lectionary fell into my lap at just the time I needed it. The writer of James asks: “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do… 
Twiddling our thumbs A resource for Sunday’s liturgy based on Luke 23:33–43 By Magdalena I. García Detail of a weaving titled “Loving God Well,” by Karla M. Kincannon, which hangs in the lobby of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, in Evanston, Illinois. Detalle de un tejido titulado “Amar bien a Dios”, por Karla M. Kincannon, que cuelga… 
Speaking with Jesus’ accent When you speak, who do people hear? By Joshua Bower The other day my 6-year-old daughter came into my bedroom…in tears. To give you a little context: it had been a rough day. She wasn’t listening to what we were telling her to do, she had been in time out more…