It’s been exactly one year since we announced the capital campaign which eventually was named “Raising the Roof: Restoring Eden’s Sanctuary and Song.” God is great! And we know this through the prayers, creativity, and giving of our community and so many friends. In this year, we have raised around $95,ooo to be added to…
God’s love song… to you. For you. With you. The Prophet says “I have called you by name.” We celebrate God’s handiwork and steadfast love this week, like every week. This week we are mindful of the joyous milestones of baptism and graduation. We will briefly honor and bless our graduates Stephanie Brooks and Isabella…
I’ve enjoyed my time away on my monthly prayer and study retreat this week at “The Port for Prayer” in Frankfort, Illinois. Heading home today. My favorite part? Some brief bouts of sleeping in the sun by the creek! Nothing like being in mother nature to still my heart and mind. I know some of…
Our stories and reflections this month will offer ways to examine this question. What kind of power is Christian in nature? What kind of power is in service of the community Christ would have us build, within and outside of our church walls? We find the theme of boldness and courage very clearly important to…
The theme of honor, honoring etc. has been on my mind a good bit lately. It’s a bit of Eden’s DNA that I think is special, and could be made ever more explicit as a framework for a way of life that would greatly bless this broken world. We honor God with spiritual practices that…
The altar above was designed last year, early in the pandemic on the theme of “living stones”. That theme is on my heart again as we retell the birthday of the Church (capital C) and Eden in these Pentecost weeks. (Learn more about Pentecost here.) May it be that we indeed feel the significance of…
Last week we eavesdropped on Jesus and Peter, and discovered the message Jesus intends for all of us (not just Peter). The way to grow in grace is to receive Jesus’ forgiveness, and trust His presence to set us on the right path to love and serve others. Growing in grace means growing in our…
As you may have read in the Echo, the theme of “Growing in Grace” is on my heart for this coming month. It’s such a multi-faceted topic; we could spend all year on it! In the stories of Jesus’ resurrection appearances we are reminded of the mystery of the cross – fresh and confusing for…
Perhaps you can appreciate how challenging it is to cover all the bases an average pastor might think need to be covered. And, the words which are the right words, for the right time, with the right people, FOR THE RIGHT REASON (S). Add to that the extroverts’ blind spot (thinking all situations might NEED…
We build a house, ancient and new; We are a people seeking light and truth. Shaped by your word… fashioned in grace–We bear your image to this time and place. These lyrics from a song Carla introduced last Fall have always touched me. In these days when cynicism, fatigue, distrust and division seem to reign,…
