It’s a bit of an understatement to say that this Christmas isn’t what any of us planned. But disruption is part of the first Christmas. Mary shows us – unlike her ancestor David – what faithfulness in the midst of disruption looks like as we prepare to welcome Jesus this Christmas.
Continue readingAs we decorate our homes and shop for gifts, it’s easy to forget that Christmas is about peace on Earth and goodwill for everyone. The work of justice can be hard – and believe it or not, sometimes the bravest thing we can do is celebrate loud and proud. Because we know how the story ends!
Continue readingToo many Christians today wonder what the point of caring for the world is if we all go to Heaven after we die. But at the heart of the Advent message is an insistence that Jesus’ coming is good news for the whole world. What does that look like? And how is the fact that we’re waiting for Jesus to return good news?
Continue reading2020 has been a rough year – rough enough that many of us are rushing to celebrate Christmas as soon as possible. But the Scriptures caution us not to rush past our pain. What healing is available to us when we choose to wait with God’s people on Christmas?
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It’s hard to be a pilgrim when you can’t go anywhere. But being a pilgrim is more than just a desire to travel. It’s a commitment to seek God in the unexpected. And we’ve had plenty of unexpected this year. So how can we seek God in the disruptions of 2020?
Continue readingOne of the ongoing realities of the COVID pandemic is how thoroughly our routines have been upended. God created us to be creatures of rhythm, so how can we recover some routine as we live out this extended ‘in-between’ time?
Continue readingReal diversity is tough. Sticking to people who are just like us is easy. Tokenism is pretty easy. But authentic diversity that values and respects everyone takes a lot of work. What does true diversity look like in the Church? And why is it essential for the people of God?
Continue readingRelationships in COVID have taken a big hit – no surprise since we’ve had to cut down our social interactions. But it’s left many of us feeling unmoored, struggling to feel connected. What does a church that’s serious about relationships do in that space? We find our guide in the God who is intentional about making space to be with us.
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This close to the election, there’s a lot of anger. Like… a LOT. What does it mean for a people of faith to be angry? How do we know if our anger is righteous or not? And what are we supposed to do with it?
Continue readingJesus said, “I am the truth.” So why are Christians so susceptible to conspiracy theories? God call us to be a people of sound teaching. How do we do that in a world of fake news and alternative facts?
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