All Hallows Eve is coming. “Do we celebrate Halloween? Are there some people who don’t? Who doesn’t and why?” My seven year old son asks me. I think of our Pentecostal neighbors across the street, who we play with on a regular basis, “We do celebrate Halloween, but yes some people don’t. I don’t think… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Activism, Failure, and Jesus
Today, I want to tell you about the trip I took to the border a couple of months ago. Texas Impact sponsored a group of clergy to learn about the crisis on Texas’ southern border. We spent time learning about the nature of the crisis — causes and barriers to solutions. Then, we went across… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Can I get a witness?
On Tuesday, October 8th, I will take a day off work and join other clergy in a show of solidarity with our LGBTQIA+ friends and siblings whose rights are being “debated” before the Supreme Court of the United States. I will be there as a witness to their rights as my fellow citizens. This is… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Help Your Neighbours
The harvest of my potatoes and courgettes from my small garden provide me with the hope of an oasis in the desert. For it seems like every other grain of sand is yet another story of disappointment, denial and destruction. Where, I wonder, are the leaders who are prepared to stand up for citizens, whoever… Read More
The Pastoral Is Political: Confessing to Plants
This weekend was the Autumn Equinox in the northern hemisphere, that mid-point between the great exhalation of light between the summer and winter solstices, a time to honor balance and the gifts of both light and dark, so necessary for the flourishing of life. We honored the equinox with a simple ritual of giving thanks… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Minding the Gap, Mending the Gap
There’s a guy who comes to see me at church every couple months. He’s lived in his car for as long as I’ve known him, because shelters are not his speed, and most won’t allow his kitten anyway. Just about every time he comes in, needing anywhere from twenty to a hundred dollars, he’s got… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Turn out the lights
Light pollution is one visible symptom of our undoing of the order of Creation. The separation of day and night is countered by round-the-clock activity and artificial illumination. We refuse to submit ourselves to the bounds that God set for us. We have rebelled from the beginning. But this past weekend, for a brief moment, I glimpsed hope. Read More
The Pastoral is Political: More Than Thoughts and Prayers
The Pastoral is Political: More Than Thoughts and Prayers. Is your heart sore? Is your carpal tunnel kicking in from writing to people trying to instigate action? Are you tired of having the same conversations—the ones resulting in no change? Are you losing sleep trying to figure out what else you can do and/or how… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Borders
The Pastoral is Political – Borders I am writing this at the start of a holiday. My hubby and I love traveling. Each year we decide where we are heading and I get planning. I can spend hours looking at flight options and reading reviews of accommodation options. I always aim to get a good… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Romans 13
In the midst of the current immigration debacle in the United States, I have seen an uptick in quoting Romans 13:1-2: Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed,… Read More
