Playing in the Fields of Hope I’ve been playing in church for a long time, mostly with children, sometimes with adults. I learned a new game, “God’s Musical Chairs,” from Jeff Doucette, pastor at Enniskillen & Tyrone United Church in Bowmanville, Ontario. We are members of an online international church called CASA. God’s Musical Chairs… Read More
The Pastoral is Political
Breaking the Silence is not Breaking the Silent Night I spent a lot of quality time in Advent talking about rape. I was reaching out to congregations in the United Church of Christ to sponsor a resolution to come before the denomination’s General Synod next summer in Milwaukee entitled, “Supporting Survivors of Rape and Sexual… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: The Political Can Be Yeast
Many aspects of pastoral ministry are oriented in justice-seeking, in hope-phoenixing, in the hand-over-sweaty-hand work of healing the world. The gift from my ordination thirty-seven years ago I’ve kept longest is a folded piece of paper containing Marge Piercy’s poem, “To be of Use.” which says, among other wonderful things — “I love people …who… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: the Pastoral is Jeopardy
Many of you – I hope — know the game show “Jeopardy!” At least most folks know how to hum the theme music. In this Merv Griffin originated quiz show, contestants are presented with general knowledge clues in the form of answers and then phrase their responses in the form of questions. So here’s a… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: The Jericho Walk
The Jericho Walk is Pastoral and Political. “The trail is the thing, not the end of the trail. Travel too fast, and you miss all you are traveling for.” Who would ever think that I would be quoting Louis L’Amour? I am on a Jericho Walk. I walk them once or twice every week these… Read More
