I want to celebrate with you that I’ve published a devotional guide for progressive congregations and individuals! I’ve written this book because I believe words matter. The words we use reflect how we view the world and our place in it. The words we use determine how we act in… Read More »My new book – “We’re All in This Together: Not Ordinary Devotions”
Advent has been a story of ordinary people in overwhelming times. Powerless people in a “power-over” world. Characters caught up in a story of destruction and oppression. And they each said “Yes!” to God’s call to change the world, to trust the vision of a new Creation, to love strongly,… Read More »Christmas Eve for Ordinary People in Not Ordinary Times
The Bible is full of ordinary folks. In fact, that’s who mostly makes up our extraordinary holy scripture. Ordinary people trying simply to live, and to figure it all out, in the midst of marginalization, fear, oppression, and uncertainty…of Empire. But also in the midst of hope and wonder and… Read More »Advent for Ordinary People in Not Ordinary Times
Some time ago, I posted the Tenebrae for Creation service here on the website. In the spring of 2023, a few of us in my congregation gathered in our sanctuary and conducted an informal version of this Tenebrae. We recorded the service, and with the exception of a couple of… Read More »Tenebrae for Creation video
Blessing of the animals – we extend our hands, and in our magnanimity, we offer our blessing because that is, of course, what all our animals and the wild things really want, after all. And we bless, and we bless. And then we go home. Uh, no. Blessing of the… Read More »Blessing of the Animals: A Celebration in Two Parts
The journey leads us to an empty tomb.Easter brings surprise.Easter brings a shout and a sob…Easter brings questions…God picks us up, spins us around, and pushes out, saying “Go! Love! Hope!” Years ago, my son and I went to see the most recent “Jesus” movie at the time (it was… Read More »Easter: Wonder, Absurdity, and Holy Questions
O beautiful and wounded Creation, we confess we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed… O God of love and unity, we lament the many ways we find ourselves separated from others, from ourselves, and from you. We’ve allowed our beliefs, our politics, our biases, and our fears… Read More »Lent: A Journey from Separation to Connection, for the Love of Creation
A Journey from Separation to Community Lent is a journey.Lent is a journey from separation to connection and life.The steps are reflection and lament, confession and celebration. There’s letting go and taking in.This is the journey we have to take for the sake of our world, God’s good Creation.We take… Read More »Ash Wednesday – For the Love of Creation
(as world leaders gather at the Glasgow Climate Summit) Nations are gathering again. And in so doing, rekindle the light of hope for our world. On my cynical days, I say, “Well, here we go again!” Another climate summit. This time it’s the UN Climate Summit – held in Glasgow… Read More »Ritual for Leadership and Action
I may not know a lot of things, but I do know that Christmas is about something truly grand, and that it fights against all that would tear creation apart. Christmas Eve deals with the local congregation, but also the family of all Creation. It deals with the personal and… Read More »Christmas Eve in the Family of Creation