Hope, in [Advent], is located in the sense of seeing with greater clarity God’s interaction with creation both now and in the days to come.

What were they waiting to see? [...] Biblical mandates bring us to life, full life. In full life, we can’t not work for the collective good through the giving of tangible and intangible gifts.

Righteousness, holiness or right living in Leviticus 19 was determined by the sharing of resources as a community, or collective identity.

Who has spoken words over your body?
What words were used to bless?
What words were used to hurt?

Erin Weber-Johnson writes about how to delve into the past and love versions of ourselves we would rather forget.

Erin Weber-Johnson gives us a prayer for retaining a spirit of love in the face of political controversy and indignation.

Erin Weber-Johnson and Rev. Mieke Vandersall always felt challenged when they try to tell strangers what they do for a living. Their profession is far more than a job–it's an expression of their vocation.

On Day One of the next administration (and in whatever follows), communities of faith must continue the work being God’s people. Regardless of whether you see the outcome you desire or not, the work will need to go on. You’ll either be working in alignment with those you trust, or you’ll be in the resistance against those you do not trust. Either way, there will be work to do.

In order to grasp this great truth, the first thing we need to do is to get off our human high horse. We aren’t all that, especially when you compare us to the world of trees.

It’s remarkable how many transformative words stay locked within the walls of our churches. Our messages are beautiful, life-changing, and somehow secret. Our ideas are available only to those who know our addresses and trust us enough to step inside.

As we enter 2024, there is deep apprehension and fear about the pending presidential election this fall in the United States. How do we stay connected to our faith in such anxiety ridden times?

What do we do with the memories that haunt us? That sneak up on us late at night.  And whisper words that cut quick to our core?

Theologians have a word for this kind of revealing, when something stark and dire and even painful occurs and reveals a deeper truth, something hidden in plain sight; it is called apocalypse. The word apocalypse includes the meaning “unveiling” or “disclosing”.

A close reading of Mark 12: 41-44, especially interpreted through the lens of the Law found in Deuteronomy (14:22-29), stirs up important questions about an often used stewardship approach that interprets this as an object lesson from Jesus regarding individual, sacrificial giving: a person of limited means asked to give generously beyond their livelihood. 

What do we do with the memories that haunt us? That sneak up on us late at night.  And whisper words that cut quick to our core?

The parable of the talents then would become a commentary at large about an economy that uses people and values things rather than values people and uses things.

As people of faith we are given frameworks and images of just such alternative ways of being with one another, socially, spiritually, and economically. The kingdom of God calls to us, beckons us, to reimagine our worth, our belonging, our bodies.