Berries and nuts Finding courage and hope by Ken Rummer Along the High Trestle Trail, late-summer berries are setting on. Elderberries hang purple from red branches, dressed like Red Hat ladies out on the town. Honeysuckle opts for Christmas colors, setting red balls among still-green leaves. And the clustered white berries of the local dogwood… Read more »
September 3, 2021
Sightings
Berries and nuts Finding courage and hope by Ken Rummer Along the High Trestle Trail, late-summer berries are setting on. Elderberries hang purple from red branches, dressed like Red Hat ladies out on the town. Honeysuckle opts for Christmas colors, setting red balls among still-green leaves. And the clustered white berries of the local dogwood… Read more » 
Diversity — Why We Praise It, But Don’t Practice It by Samuel Son [This article is the third of a continuing series on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Church. In the first and second article, we recalled how the values practiced intuitively in the early church were a response to their understanding that… 
Between the dawns Living the waking moments by Ken Rummer ROY G BIV — that’s the memory hook for the top to bottom colors of the rainbow. I’m seeing them upside down in the early sky, all except for the R and the V. So far, neither red nor violet are in view. My youngest… 
Carving soap and meeting neighbors Our church throws a block party by Ken Rummer Last Friday I coached soap carving. Our church (http://www.ankenypcusa.org) was throwing an outdoor block party for our neighborhood — hot dogs, a bounce castle, donuts made to order, even a fire truck. One of our neighbors offered to play guitar and… 
Face to face with all my stuff: Lazarus, Scrooge, and the Inventory Project by Ken Rummer What would it cost to buy it all back? Early in the pandemic, my wife and I undertook an inventory with the help of a computer program. We entered our possessions, room by room, with photos and a few… 
The mulligan (not a sweater, not a stew) A duffer finds grace in golf by Ken Rummer My tee shot gained altitude, a rare outcome and hopeful. But then it started to curve, bending more and more to the left. This was during the decade of my life when I played a little golf. The… 
Resurrection – The Announcement of a New Administration Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Why they are marks of the church and how we can restore these values in our congregations and mid-councils. By Samuel Son [This article is the second of a continuing series on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Church. In the first… 
Grief beyond words A few notes for Good Friday by Ken Rummer From the musical “There’s a grief that can’t be spoken.” A young man in a high-collared jacket is singing. I’ve channel-clicked into the middle of a replay of the 25th anniversary presentation of Les Miserables. (Is that Nick Jonas singing?) At this… 
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Not Just a Trend but Marks of the Church by Samuel Son These days, every organization is coming up with a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion — commonly referred to as DEI —strategic plan. The hiring of diversity and inclusion executives has grown 113% in the last five years. As of… 
Rethinking winter Finding joy in a harsh season by Ken Rummer No walk this morning. The overnight temp touched -18℉ with wind chills in the 30s below zero. Brrrr. I hear that pond ice is now thickening by an inch a day. Ancient poetry from the book of Job captures the season: From its chamber…