Anabaptist History, Anabaptist Future
History was never my best subject in school, but I have been really enjoying teaching a series on Anabaptist History to the High School Sunday School class. What has really captured my imagination as I prepare and lead lessons on these stories is something that Joel alluded to in the…
Confession of Faith
This past Saturday our family attended Mennonite Arts Weekend in Cincinnati, a biennial event we haven’t missed since 2008. It’s always a beautiful mix of art, inspiration, food, and connection. Mark your calendars for February 5-7, 2027. One of my favorite presenters was the poet Julia Baker. She talked about poetry as a…
The Risk in Not Risking
This week’s blog comes from Pastoral Intern Bethany Davey I have been thinking a lot about risk. Since the inauguration, the day-to-day risks assumed by those of us who are immigrants, transgender, nonbinary and queer is heightened. The threat of violence is palpable, and there is fear in the air….
A Big Anniversary, A Living Movement
Yesterday, January 21, was the big anniversary, 500 years. On that day in 1525, a small group gathered in a home in Zurich, Switzerland. The City Council had just passed an ordinance forbidding further deliberation on baptism, requiring dissidents to have their children baptized and join the official Reformed church. …
New Year, Renewing Intentions
I have come to appreciate annual cycles. The church calendar and school calendar are firmly lodged into my life rhythms. Both of these offer periods of engagement and rest, holy days and extended stretches of ordinary time. And there is the calendar year. Our (mostly) annual trip to Kansas…
Slowing Down, Being Present, Reflecting
Now that we have the busyness of the holiday season behind us but still plenty of Winter ahead of us, perhaps it is finally a good time to lean into the gift that these months can offer us: chances to slow down, to get cozy, and to reflect on where…
Zechariah speaks
Zechariah, father of John the Baptist, is silenced in the opening scene of Luke chapter 1. In the final scene, he speaks. Luke calls it a prophecy. It includes these words: “…that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness…”…
Warmth in the Cold
Last night was cold. It will be cold again tonight. Our church basement is warm. Last night about 20 unhoused folks gathered in our church basement. They ate donated Donatos pizza before spreading out bedrolls on the floors of Rooms 1 and 2. Several others parked their cars in our…
For Good
On Sunday I made an off-the-cuff joke about how I was sorry I had written my sermon before seeing the new Wicked movie because it meant I didn’t have time to make the movie the entire focus of the sermon as I leaned into my latest obsession. But I suppose…
Advent Visitations
The first chapter of Luke’s gospel is full of visitations. There’s the angel Gabriel’s visit to Zechariah in the temple, promising a birth to him and Elizabeth in their old age. Gabriel visits Mary with words almost too terrifying and wonderful to bear, but bear them she does. Mary visits…
