I think it is important for the people of Reformed churches to know what is happening in your denomination that will have a direct impact on the life of local congregations. In June this year—less than two weeks from now—the General Synod of the RCA will meet in Grand Rapids, Michigan and vote on overtures that include: 1) Whether to enable each classis*—the body that … Continue reading Will Your Church Be Inclusive?
Spring can’t decide snow rain sun Snow today Wind can’t decide which way to blow today west east swirl catch One thing the snow knows without a doubt Down Continue reading Knowing
Fallen seed hidden not taken. Moistened overtaken broken. Awakened called out to outgrow its death fill its latent shape push and seek the light bathe breathe earth’s air enfold time into its fiber defying gravity. Smooth shell greying crusting itself into wizened story. Green hands receive radiant life reshaping taking shape pushing up to reach for more of itself. Divine seed fallen into … Continue reading Eucharist
Unhurried morning stepping out our door coffee warming surf pounding eyes trained on the horizon anticipating surprise of spout breach delight whales tasting air reminding themselves that they dwell in the deeps Unearthly noise breaks the mood MISSILE INBOUND TAKE SHELTER Disbelief Confusion Disturbance breaking the surface Malevolence invading questioning the balance reaching its dark finger to strum the cord between human and human Unexpectedly … Continue reading Oahu, January 13
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and … Continue reading The Last–and First–Word
My friend Terry was a farmer, a man who embodied faith and joy. Rising early first thoughts of tasks toil contained in a vessel of trust and praise and thanks Pulling on worn jeans familiar as the breakfast and markets soft voices going over the day’s schedule flexible as farming requires prayer intention a joke or two a wry acceptance of what is here … Continue reading For Terry
Folks will come at the appointed hour dutifully, happily visit a bit, then settle into their familiar pews expectant, ready for a song, a prayer, a word or two of inspiration to nourish their steady faith for a few more days. Where are the words? They are tangled up, bound, uneasy, resistant to casual exploitation. Feeble, not equal to the task nor strong enough to … Continue reading Sunday Morning Confession
Sometimes, while writing the weekly sermon, other ideas swirl and prod, but editing is critical, and they don’t make it into the final draft. Some of them linger. This is one idea that persisted and emerged in a poem, having pondered Philippians 3:13–“forgetting what lies behind, reaching out for what lies ahead…” I rescued one teacup to honor Grandmother hid it among the quilts I … Continue reading Over the Mountain
Eclipse fever cast its own eclipse over the United States this month. It was cloudy and rainy locally, so the untimely darkness was our only indication of the phenomenon. Listening to the recordings of people as they experienced the veiling of the sun was enough to bring tears to my eyes. Their cries of astonishment and delight had me almost as captivated as they … Continue reading Beauty Eclipses the Tension
My thoughts on Marie Howe’s poem “The Gate” “I had no idea that the gate I would step through to finally enter this world would be the space my brother’s body made.” I feel sometimes as though the gate I step through to see the world is my mother’s smile. I feel my lips forming her smile and feel my eyes turning into hers, twinkling … Continue reading About “The Gate”
saint sinner seeker 