Rainbow Christ
Let me start by offering our yearly reminder that the original Pride Parade was not a parade but a march to commemorate the riots that broke out in response to police brutality against the queer community. This year will be the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots. As we wave…
Hospitality
[This week’s midweek blog comes from our new pastoral intern, Scott Litwiller.] Providing hospitality is one of my favorite spiritual disciplines. Cooking and preparing a meal allows me the opportunity to pause and meditate on, or pray for, those who are coming for dinner. Once they have arrived, I…
(Almost) Ordination time
In a week and a half we have a unique occasion for celebration – Pastor Mark will be ordained for pastoral ministry. Mennonite theology values the priesthood of all believers. We all have access to the Divine and share in the call to embody the healing and reconciling ministry of…
Retirements
Yesterday I attended the convocation chapel at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio (MTSO) which honored the careers or retiring professors Dr. John Kampen and Dr. Linda Mercadante. Both have Mennonite ties. John and his wife Carol are long time members of Cincinnati Mennonite Fellowship where I pastored prior to…
Membership, Centers, and Boundaries
This month we’re welcoming 16 new members into CMC. Four joined this past Sunday. Another 12 will join this coming Sunday. As has become our custom, we’ll hear brief reflections from each of them. We’ll share Communion, served by new members. And we’ll recite together our Membership Commitment statement –…