11th Hour Preacher Party: Simple Edition

Newman Castle, Bellville, TX, 2018. Photo by Monica Smith   Let’s keep it simple today, preachers. Share ideas. Rest a while. Ask for help. Pray with and for each other. Play. RCL post for this week Monica Thompson Smith is a Presbyterian Church (USA) minister, serving as stated supply pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Luling,… Read More

Wits’ Ends Day: A Notable Pastor Evaluation

  First United Church of Nazareth Pastoral Evaluation Report from Pastor/Congregation Relations Committee (PCRC)   Over the past three weeks, the PCRC has asked congregation members to submit pastoral evaluations as we seek to provide accountability to our pastor and strengthen our congregation’s ministry in the community. We appreciate all who took the time to… Read More

Tuesday Prayer

God, today is World Emoji Day 😀, and it may seem silly 🤡 to share the concerns 😳🤔😮 of our hearts 💕 in this new system of communications, but here is my prayer. 🙏🏼 God of steadfast love ❤, our hearts 💚💙💛❤️💜 are 💔 when hearing of world 🌍 events. Our leaders 👨🏽‍⚖️👩🏻‍⚖️seem to be… Read More

Revised Common Lectionary: One Humanity

This week’s Revised Common Lectionary readings are timely. In Ephesians 2, Paul teaches that Jesus has erased divisions between people, and created a single, united humanity. Groups that were previously at odds have been reconciled. Peace reigns. Together, all people build a community that becomes the household of God, a place where the divine can interact… Read More

The Pastoral is Political: Choosing the Main Thing

There’s a lot coming at us these days—families separated at the border; health care under threat; racial profiling everywhere, from lemonade stands to police stops to coffee shops to funerals (funerals!); multiple political maneuverings to keep track of and decide which are important and which are “nothingburgers;” multiple indictments handed down against Russians this past… Read More