Dear Eden Family and Friends, I write tonight to express my care for you and for all of our extended family and community as we process last night’s election of Donald J. Trump to be our 47th President. On Sunday I opened our “Joys and Concerns” time with this excerpt from Carrie Newcomer, a wonderful…
Between this Echo and our subsequent Annual Holiday Letter, we will experience our November elections. I urge you to take your duty to vote seriously. Be radically and holistically informed on the issues and steeped in prayer. In this divided time there are many attempts to ignite fear, indulge in grievances and create enmity. So,…
Many weeks ago I committed that we’d join others across the nation in a dedicated opportunity to acknowledge and pray for First Responders on this Sunday. It’s part of what’s become “Faith and Blue” Weekend across the country. We’ll include some special prayer time and name some of our members and others in our spiritual…
I come to this mantra and ponder for hours at a time frequently. It’s a lovely morsel of devotion and faith I caught from Dorothy Dahmer (Daryl’s mom, Fritzi’s sister) in the spring of 2017. In her last weeks with us I heard her say it so often. It perfect captures what I believe is ALWAYS…
Headed back to Chicago, with this on my mind and heart. Let there be light. It echoes from Genesis 1, and begs me believe that a Loving Creator is creating light still. It reminds of a glorious word spoken often by President Obama — a call for there to be “more light than heat.” Or,…
“Do you have a helpful word for the messed up world?” I randomly ask my coffee baristas this question, especially when I’m thinking about what I and you might need to hear:) Daryl at a local coffee shop says “Stay positive. Stay engaged. Stay local. Stay focused at whatever level does not make you insane.”…
“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” – Psalm 90:12 “The Lord is close to the broken hearted.” Psalm 34:18 Oh, how this week has hurt. We’re tender, we’re in tears, we’re numb at the sudden death of our dear Gene following his stroke of August 8th.…
That’s the name of a precious hymn loved by many, and the one with which we end each business meeting. It brings to mind our extended community across space and time; it brings to mind our desire to be made into a vibrant community of deepening ties here in this place and time. In fact,…
Did you know that the only story shared in ALL FOUR GOSPELS (besides the resurrection) is the miracle of the loaves and fishes? That time Jesus sat down, broke bread with thanksgiving, and passed around the meager offering of five loaves and two fish (from a child, in one telling). These gifts surely were plainly…
Those are the opening lines of a hymn in our hymnal we’ve not sung in my memory of recent years, though its inviting tune seems familiar. TAKE A LISTEN AT THIS LINK. Thanks to Isaac Rhea, who will be accompanying us Sunday, for calling this lovely piece to my attention so we can share it this…
