Sunday, December 22 Gathering the straw of peace With just days to go until Christmas, how much straw have you filled Jesus’ manger with? Where did you bring joy to someone? How did this joy brighten the world? There is still more straw to add to the manger — the straw of peace. And… Read more »
Sunday, December 15 Gathering up the straw of joy On this third Sunday of Advent, reflect on the ways in which you showed the love of Christ to others. What did you do as an individual, as a family and as a church? How were these acts of love transformative to you, your family… Read more »
Sunday, December 8 Gathering up the straw of love Start gathering the straw of good deeds for this week by spending this second Sunday of Advent reflecting on where you brought hope to someone last week. What did you do as an individual, as a family and as a church to reach out to… Read more »
Boxes For Memories A Christmas Project by Ken Rummer A box to put memories in. That’s my current project in the wood shop. The vision came from a friend who was sorting through her late husband’s drawer of keepings. She wanted to pass some of them on to family, along with a few items… Read more »
Reforming our churches: Becoming intercultural communities From “Chosen People-Promised Land Model” to expansive covenant by Andrew Davis When I think of multicultural churches, I do not necessarily think of my own — I picture congregations that reflect many different races and ethnicities. Like most PC(USA) churches, Union Presbyterian Church of Saint Peter, Minnesota, is… Read more »
Sunday, December 1 Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink?” — Matthew 25:37 Gathering up the straw of hope On this first Sunday of Advent, consider what gives you hope. Who took notice of… Read more »
Straw for the Manger: Creating a Matthew 25 Advent season By Sherry Blackman Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I… Read more »
The smallest things Can make the biggest difference by N. Graham Standish “He never follows through,” the church member complained. “What do you mean?” I asked. “He’ll call and say he’s going to drop by the hospital, or check up on us later, or send us something, but he never does. I think that’s… Read more »
Reforming our churches A series on becoming intercultural congregations by Samuel Son Few weeks ago in October I had the honor to host nine intercultural leaders across our denomination, I consider these theologians who gathered some of the best theologians of our time, because doing life together with people from different cultures and races (which… Read more »
The scary wonder of stillness A brief experiment by Ken Rummer Tiny blooms of frost aster show white along the trail, leaves on our maple tree sport a crazy quilt of orange and green and red, and the mid-morning temp is only in the 50s. Here in Iowa, where we take pride in hosting… Read more »