Holy One, Today I was reminded again what I keep forgetting. That this kind of Pride, the Pride for which we march, the Pride we celebrate, has an opposite, too. This Pride’s opposite is not humility, it is shame. So we gather and we march and we revel not because we lack humility. But because we stand… Read More
11th Hour Preacher Party: Walking Faith
My congregation and I have been working with a group out of Houston, Texas called “Faithwalking.” They have created a leadership formation process that engages principles from Murray Bowen’s Family Systems theory, Ron Heifitz’s leadership ideas, Brene Brown’s teachings on healthy self, and other concepts for living a healthy whole life. What I love about… Read More
Friday Festival: Under the Surface
Our bloggers are looking at ordinary encounters from all sides this week, seeing the spiritual layer of things beneath our everyday encounters with people and God. Deb Mechler is reflecting on the power of spiritual direction to shape our view of the world. Recently certified as a spiritual director herself, she notes the ways that… Read More
Ask the Matriarch: “Will You Vouch for Me?”
People look to us pastors to support them in a variety of ways, and we like to offer that support when we can. Where is the limit to the supportive roles we pastors can play? Read on . . . Dear Matriarchs: A couple in my congregation has wanted children for a long time and… Read More
Revised Common Lectionary: Parables
With what shall we compare the realm of God? It is like a dream that is out-of-season and planted for another day. Hidden away it germinates & wonders, roots & grows, until one day it erupts from its hiding place to bloom and be harvested. (Mark 4:26-29) With what shall we compare kin-dom of God?… Read More
The Pastoral Is Political: The Politics of “Just”
I have served almost exclusively in small-town and rural congregations in the Upper Midwest. Each of those congregations has a quilting group that makes dozens, sometimes hundreds, of quilts each year. Today I’m thinking about two of those groups. In one group, one of the members made it her special ministry to cut up the… Read More
Monday Prayer: Into
Into your hands I commit today’s concerns, Into my hands you place strength and forbearance. Into your heart I dive for comfort and compassion, Into my heart you place peace and mercy. Into your song I yield to the melody, Into my song you weave harmony and lilt. Into your light I reach for renewal,… Read More
Saturday Prayer – Blessing
May you hear the Voice calling, “You are my beloved.” And if you cannot hear it just now May you hear our voices instead. “We will hear the Voice for you, beloved, until you can hear it for yourself.” Amen. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Jennifer Garrison Brownell serves as pastor at First Congregational Church -UCC in… Read More
11th Hour Preacher Party . . . Graduation Edition!
I don’t know about you all, but we are celebrating high school and college graduations on Sunday ~ which will shorten the sermon somewhat. And guess what I’ve purchased for our graduates? Copies of MaryAnn McKibben Dana’s God, Improv, and the Art of Living! Deciding to give a RevGals book was easy ~ which one… Read More
Friday Festival ~ Journey Edition!
It seems that nearly everyone I know is going on Camino this summer. It’s actually only three people, but the way that my FB has exploded with pictures and reflections, you’d think that I am the only person in the world not in Spain! Then there are the folks in Italy, and Scotland, and… Read More
