Yesterday, as I watched the frightening scene play out on the steps of Capitol Hill, something caught my eye. In the midst of all the banners and flags, someone was holding a yellow sign with the words “Jesus Saves” emblazoned in black. I know nothing about who was holding that sign or why.
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As I write these words there is still one month to go in this year, and yet already it feels like 2020 has drug on for a decade or longer! This year has brought… Read more →
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John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church, encouraged every small group meeting to begin with a question: How is it with your soul? More probing than our traditional “how are you?” greeting, this question calls us to look beyond the surface and examine how – or if – we are experiencing the presence of God’s grace in the midst of life’s circumstances. How are we doing in that place where the center of our spiritual selves meets with the living God?
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So, what do you do when a global pandemic prevents you from gathering for worship and forces you to stay at home? For Ed Griffin, the answer involves a trombone. On a typical Sunday, worshippers in the sanctuary can hear Ed play along as part of the orchestra in support of our congregational singing, but in these times, which are anything but typical, Ed uses his beloved instrument to bring a little joy to his neighbors.
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With Easter only days away, many of our homes have Easter decorations, many of us may have taken family photographs in our Easter best, and many posts on social media are celebrating the risen Lord. While Easter is the central holiday of our faith, it can only be celebrated in its fullest when we allow ourselves to live into the dark days that precede it.
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One of the richest blessings for Christians in the 21st-century is the abundance of devotional material that’s available at a moment’s notice...
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If I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it hundreds of times. In fact, I’ve probably said it hundreds of times: “The church isn’t the building; the church is the people.” It’s a theological truism every pastor…
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Because of concern for the health of our community, we aren’t gathering as a church for worship. We may not be able to physically meet, but we can still share together in a word of encouragement! Click through for a message from Pastor Chris, as well as links to adult bible study lessons from both curriculums, Explore the Bible and Bible Studies for Life.
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Bonsack family,
Undoubtedly we are all paying attention to the spread of the coronavirus and the understandable concerns it raises. As Christians, we are called to love our neighbors. This means not only trying to safeguard our individual well-being, but also taking appropriate steps to uphold the health and safety of those around us, particularly those who are vulnerable or live with greater risks. To that end, we want you to be aware of a few steps we are taking. While we intend to continue with all local and regularly scheduled worship services and ministry programs, we believe these simple steps will reduce our exposure and limit the chances of passing sickness along to others.
Yesterday in worship, I referred to previous sermon on the subject of abortion and offered to make it available for those who are interested. Below is the manuscript of that sermon as it was preached two years ago:
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As believers, we celebrate the “sanctity of life.” But what, exactly, does it mean to do so?
At the Blue Ridge Women’s Center (BRWC), we seek to answer that question every day.
Jesus said, in John 10:10: “A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.”
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Recently my youngest daughter found herself stuck at home with me all weekend while her mom and older sister were off on a retreat with other high school students from our church. I had a brief pastoral obligation on Friday evening, and then a function at the church on Saturday which kept me occupied until lunchtime, so she had to spend long stretches of time just hanging out by herself. When I got home on Saturday, I was determined to do something with her to get her out of the house, so I did what every 7th grade girl longs for her father to do. I took her hiking!
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For many, the upcoming holidays bring with them grief and often painful reminders of loss. Geri McDaniel and Sherry Hearn, co-coordinators of the upcoming GriefShare (beginning in February) and GriefShare: Surviving the Holidays ( This Friday, November 8) sat down to talk through practical ways to approach grief and offer support to family and friends who are grieving.
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As I write these words, I am sitting on the ninth floor of St. Joseph’s hospital on the north side of Chicago. If you have to be in a hospital, this isn’t a bad option. For one thing, the view is incredible. St. Joseph’s sits on the shore of Lake Michigan, so every morning I have been treated to a display of beauty as the sun rises over the watery horizon. Even more importantly, the care here has been phenomenal. The nurses who have rotated through our room during each 12-hour shift have been both competent and compassionate. You can have Spiderman and Captain America. These caregivers are my heroes….
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After visiting a Christian school yesterday and playing with the children, today we concluded our mission experience by visiting a slum in the village of Mutuati. Sodzo has worked with several children from this slum over the last few years. They have also established a couple of their family strengthening groups in the area.
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Today we returned to the Watoto Wa Ahadi Rescue center (which is Swahili for Children of the Promise). We spent the morning doing more painting as well as some plaster work. The plastering technique involved scooping the wet mud with a trowel and slinging it against the wall. We ended up with more plaster in our hair than on the wall. I don’t know if it was a commentary on my lack of mastery of the trade, but at one point the Kenyan woman who was co-leading our work crew took my trowel away from me and started using it herself! My job at that point was simply to go behind her and scoop up the left over mud from the floor. It’s nice to know we all have a part to play.
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Today we visited Lin Joka, a small village where Sodzo International hosts one of its family strengthening programs. Family representatives are invited to join in groups of 25-30 people who meet weekly for education and financial support. Each family contributes a small amount each week - about 20 shillings, the rough equivalent of 20 cents. The group accumulates this money over time and collectively decides how to use it by making micro loans to group members who have a need. For example, if this week I have school fees to pay for my children, the group loans me the amount I need and then agrees to a time period for me to pay it back. In this way, the group serves as a local bank by keeping the resources within the local community and enabling individual families to meet needs without becoming dependent on people who do not have their best interest at heart.
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