By William McConnell One of the high points so far in my ministry within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has been participation in the development of Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal. Although I came on board near the end of the hymn selection process, I had the honor of being involved in the preparation and… Read more »
February 1, 2021
What’s in a Name?
By William McConnell One of the high points so far in my ministry within the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has been participation in the development of Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal. Although I came on board near the end of the hymn selection process, I had the honor of being involved in the preparation and… Read more »
By Chris Roseland Over the past year amid a pandemic, protests and politics, I often heard many pastors, elders and mid council staff say that they are having a particularly hard time making ends meet. People aren’t giving the way they used to give. These churches and presbyteries are struggling to do more with less,… 
By Lemuel Garcia-Arroyo En nuestras culturas hispano/latinas la temporada Navideña realmente no concluye sino hasta las celebraciones de la Epifanía y del Día de Reyes el 6 de enero. Tradicionalmente los niños reciben sus regalos esa fecha simbolizando los regalos de oro, incienso, y mirra que los Magos (Reyes) del oriente ofrecieron al infante Jesús… 
By Sy Hughes When I joined the foundation related to a small military school in Virginia, my boss, a retired U.S. Army colonel, made it clear. “If anyone wants to designate a gift, you say, ‘yes sir/ma’am and thank you.’’’ Not having been in the military myself, I thought this was a grand time to… 
By Lemuel Garcia-Arroyo Jesus points to a widow who gives out of love. She did not seem embarrassed about a small gift, nor did it prevent her from giving. The Passover week was the time for the annual pilgrimage, and there were crowds going to the temple to bring their offerings. Amid this multitude there… 
Guest blog post by Karen Keller But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and don’t try to stop them! People who are like these children belong to God’s kingdom.” (Matthew 19:14 CEV) When I was a child growing up in the United Methodist Church, I remember that my parents once got a little… 
By René Myers We live in a culture where we are encouraged to be afraid of others and to protect, at all cost, what we have for fear of losing it. Our current reality of living in an environment of pandemic seems to intensify that fear. That fear, I believe, is also at the root… 
By Chris Roseland There’s a millpond in the neighborhood where my family and I live. It has a couple of fountains in the middle of it that shoot water at least 10 feet in the air. Usually when the spring rains come, the water flows in and flows out. It’s beautiful. People, young and old,… 
By William McConnell It was always an exciting Sunday. Not just any Sunday. Not just the normal Sunday when you get ready for church, attend Sunday School with your friends, sit with Grandmother McConnell on the third pew from the front on the right side of the sanctuary (and dare not misbehave), sing the hymns,… 
By Rosemary C. Mitchell Talking about stewardship is what I do and from time to time I have a stewardship conversation with new pastors. There have been a number of times when new pastors have expressed their frustration that they are not allowed to know what members give or pledge. Either the Session or the…