Dear Clergy Colleagues, It’s rough out there! Between a worldwide pandemic, the attempted overthrow of democracy in the United States, and the projected beer and Spam shortages, 2021 isn’t looking much better than 2020. In the current reality, our jobs are incredibly difficult—emotionally, spiritually, and practically. So here are some helpful things to keep in… Read More
Wit’s End: Weekend Edition
With thanks to all of you who have shared your ideas and stories of pastoring during a pandemic. Rev. Joanna Harader serves as pastor of Peace Mennonite Church in Lawrence, KS. You can read some of her more serious thoughts about Advent on her blog, Spacious Faith. RevGalBlogPals encourages you to share our blog posts… Read More
Wit’s End Day: What Pastors have learned during COVID
Sure, 2020 has been a rough year with lots of adjustments and some difficult losses. But just think of all the stuff we’ve learned along the way! Talk about “things they didn’t teach us in seminary”! (Except #5. Dr. Graves tried very hard to teach me #5.) So here are The Top 10 Things I’ve… Read More
Wit’s-End Day: The Sweet Word of God
A few weeks ago, RevGalBlogPals president Julia Seymour invited her Facebook friends to make her choose between two entirely unrelated things. I asked her to choose between Girl Scout cookies* or the deutero-Pauline letters. I’ll spare you Julia’s response, but the result of it was a long conversation about which type of cookie embodies each… Read More
Wits’ End Day: COVID Hymns
In these days of COVID, I find that some of our beloved hymns are troubling–all of that breathing and touching and singing. So I’ve re-written a few favorites to be more appropriate for our physically-distanced, virus-conscious lives. (You really should sing them to get the full effect.) (But don’t sing them while you’re in a… Read More
Wits-Ends-Day: Church COVID-19 Survey Results
How comfortable would you be coming to in-person worship? Very comfortable. (33%) Fairly comfortable. (34%) Not at all comfortable. (33%) Comments: “Covid isn’t real and God will protect us from it.” “If we don’t meet in person next week I’m finding another church that really believes in God.” “If we meet in person within the… Read More
Wit’s Ends Day: 10 Commandments of Zoom
I am the Reverend, your pastor, who invited you into this land of Zoom, out of the building where Coronavirus can spread. Thou shalt keep track of the Zoom links I send you. Thou shalt mute yourself when you are not speaking, even if you think you are the magical exception to this rule and… Read More
Wit’s Ends Day: TED Talks from Bible Characters
In these unprecedented (difficult, trying, challenging, unique, uncertain, etc.) times, the people of the Bible want you to feel supported and encouraged. That is why they are coming together for a virtual TED Conference! Drawing on the wisdom of the ages, they will share lessons for these days of social isolation during a worldwide pandemic.… Read More
Wit’s-End-Day: COVID-19 Bingo Edition
While in “normal” times, I have very mixed feelings about bingo, right now- I’m all for it. I know we are all experiencing different griefs, pains, and hopes in our various places and vocations. This bingo card is not at all intended to imply what anyone “should” be doing, but instead to offer encouragement that… Read More
Wits’ Ends Day: Pandemic Pastor Types
I’ve been involved in several Facebook chats, Zoom calls, and email conversations with clergy from across the U.S. and around the world in these weeks of Covid-19. In these interactions—and through general observation of news, church websites, and Facebook posts, I’ve noted a few distinct types of pandemic pastors. The “Lentiest Lent” Pastor This pastor… Read More
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