Content note: the following is my own opinion and reflection and is not written on behalf of the Board of this organization. At our very last group gathering for this organization, in January 2020, we were facing some big changes. Our Executive Director was moving to the next stage in her life and this group,… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: The Time Has Been Come
CN: Child illness, cancer, late-stage capitalism 84 days ago, we learned about my daughter’s brain tumor- a craniophryngioma- a very rare diagnosis. As of today, this diagnosis has cost $167,000+ dollars. At one hospital. Since diagnosis, we’ve been to four. She’s had four MRIs, two CAT scans, multiple endocrinology visits (with their attendant blood draws),… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: What a mess
It really is, a mess. It’s hard to comprehend some of the political shenanigans at the moment. Well over here in the UK in any case. In previous editions of ‘The Pastoral is Political’ I have perhaps been critical of the incumbent of the White House . And perhaps been a little smug that over… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Normal Never Existed
Hi. Thanks for coming. I’ve been wanting to have this talk with you for a while. What I want to say is a bit awkward, but I hope you’ll hear me out with an open mind. There are some things that need to be said and I just can’t be quiet about them anymore. Here’s… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Interruptions
I was in the middle of writing The Pastoral is Political post, when someone came into the church to talk to me. We spoke, masked and distanced for an hour, before I began to get messages about the attack on the US Capitol building in Washington, D.C. We cannot pretend this is normal, so I… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Honor Thy Children’s Mother
I wonder what would have happened if Joseph chose to be incompatible with Mary and took her to the divorce courts of today’s era. They lived under Jewish law which was based strongly on the ten commandments wherein the command is given, “Honor your father and mother.” Sadly, no standard was given explicitly for how… Read More
The Pastoral Is Political: Are We Really Ready to Open Back Up???
After watching videos of protesters in Lansing, Michigan and other videos and comments of people around the state and country demanding our country to reopen, I noticed my anxiety creeping up. Will their voices be loud enough to be taken seriously by the Powers That Be? Or do the Powers That Be already have their… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Fat in the time of COVID-19
Content Warning: Body weight, body image, weight loss, weight gain We are living in a scary time. Not only is the actual reality of the virus itself worrisome, but incompetent leadership, non-compliance by neighbors or family members, and panicked behavior by all kinds of people ramp up a general miasma of anxiety and terror. All… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Hope in a Pandemic
On Monday, March 16, my grandmother fell in her care center, and her health declined quickly that day. Due to covid-19, her care center was on lockdown and would not allow outside visitors to ensure that residents do not catch the virus. While I completely understand this lockdown was necessary for the sake of all… Read More
The Pastoral is Political: Who’s in Charge?
Photo credit: © 2017 Blueprint Church – All Rights Reserved from https://www.blueprintchurch.org/series/imago-dei. Last Sunday I preached on the Narrative Lectionary, which took up the large swatch of Mark 12:1-17 with the stories of the wicked tenants (who kept beating & killing the vineyard owner’s representatives) and the paying of taxes to Caesar. There are a… Read More
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