Saturday Prayer – Cause and Effect

I tossed a pebbleand watched as the ripple grew into a wave that surged and crested. I was already up past my knees before I knew to call it a flood. Living Water, today my prayer is only keep me afloat. Amen.   Jennifer Garrison Brownell serves as pastor at Vancouver United Church of Christ… Read More

Tuesday Prayer

Spirit if God who hovered over the earth at the dawn of creation- Our environment is standing up to us. Python-like teeth of tornadoes are ripping into buildings. Waters keep rising as floods steal lands, massacre plant life, and leave our neighbors without homes. And yet, we keep living as if we make no impact.… Read More

Narrative Lectionary: Romans 6:1-14

How are you doing, halfway through Romans? I find it really challenging to preach this book, but nevertheless, we persist. Commentary at Working Preacher is here. Our passage this week drops into the middle of one of Paul’s arguments. It may be worth looking back to chapter 5, where it begins.  In 5:20, Paul writes,… Read More

The Pastoral is Political: Our Transgender Children

“Sasha” (not her real name) has just finished the third grade. She began her school year with the name given her at birth, a name reflecting that she was originally gender identified as “male.” By the end of the year, she had chosen a new name, and we were referring to her by her preferred… Read More

11th Hour Preacher Party: Love and Hope with a side of Faith

The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland has been meeting this week in Edinburgh. There has been an air of the spirit and a whiff of hope in much of the business as well as recognition of ordinary and extraordinary everyday acts of love and faith practiced by many. Like the inspiration of Lydia… Read More

Friday Festival – Wrestling With Prayer

During Lent, I held a luncheon series on Ways to Pray.  We explored verbal prayer, writing prayer, movement prayer, praying through art, and praying through singing.  Through these experiences, all of us saw our communication with God expand – nudging each of us to open ourselves to the variety of ways we are called to… Read More