I have often said that our faith and the scriptures are not a rigid roadmap, but a compass. While maps quickly become obsolete as the landscape shifts, a compass consistently points us toward justice and love. In John’s gospel, Thomas asks the question we all feel in our bones during seasons of upheaval: “How can we… Continue reading How can we know the way?
Tag: social justice
Honoring Our Common Home
Honoring Our Common Home: Creation Justice Sunday, April 19, 2026 This Sunday, we gather to celebrate Creation Justice Sunday / Earth Day, a vital moment to reflect on our sacred responsibility as stewards of the world. At the heart of our mission is the call to share God’s Unconditional Love, a love that extends beyond humanity… Continue reading Honoring Our Common Home
A Pastoral Response to the War with Iran
In a world reeling from the escalation of conflict with Iran, our mission as a community of faith has never been more vital. We ground ourselves in the radical pursuit of God’s unconditional love, justice, and extravagant welcome—values that stand in stark opposition to the drums of war beating across the globe. While political rhetoric… Continue reading A Pastoral Response to the War with Iran
It is a Season for Reclaiming Our Priorities
At The Palms, we ground ourselves in a mission of unconditional love, justice, and extravagant welcome. But as we look at the landscape of our nation today, we must ask: are our collective priorities reflecting those values? If Jesus walked through the United States today, I suspect his message would be startlingly direct. Guided by the… Continue reading It is a Season for Reclaiming Our Priorities
The time for silent prayer has passed.
In the quiet of our sanctuary, we often seek peace—but the world outside calls us to a different kind of holy work. As we look toward the Middle East, many of us feel a deep, unsettling grief. For decades, but especially recently, U.S. involvement in the region has mirrored a pattern of devastation rather than… Continue reading The time for silent prayer has passed.
This is a Call for Moral Clarity and Peace
As we look at the world today, the contrast between our nation’s priorities and the needs of its people is stark. We find our resources poured into global military expansion while, at home, the divide between the ultra-wealthy and the vulnerable grows into a canyon. While a few invest in luxury and longevity, the middle… Continue reading This is a Call for Moral Clarity and Peace
Straight From the Heart Art Show
Right here at The Church of the Palms UCC Opening day: March 14, 1:30–3:30 pm through March 29 Saturdays from 1:30 – 3:00 pm and Sundays during coffee hour after worship Curated by Tisha Wir, Straight From the Heart highlights artwork by incarcerated women and men, uplifting stories of resilience, restoration, and hope through art.
How can we turn our Lenten disciplines into tools for advocacy?
As the sunshine of February transitions to March, we find ourselves in the middle of another Lenten journey. This year, our congregational theme—“A Season for Every Matter”—takes on a profound weight. If we look at the world around us, it feels as though we are living through a season of “breaking down” and “weeping.” In… Continue reading How can we turn our Lenten disciplines into tools for advocacy?
Let’s turn our Lenten contemplation into courageous advocacy
Lent invites us into the season of sacred pause—not for the sake of hollow piety or performative sacrifice, but for deep, honest self-reflection. In the quiet of this season, we are called to look inward and identify the personal and systemic barriers that keep us from loving our neighbors fully. In our progressive faith, the… Continue reading Let’s turn our Lenten contemplation into courageous advocacy
Valentines Day 💝 twist on 1 Corinthians 13
In our pursuit of a more just world, we often lean on policy and protest—vital tools for change. Yet, 1 Corinthians 13 reminds us that even the most righteous activism, if it lacks love, is merely “a noisy gong.” In a progressive context, love is not a passive sentiment; it is a restorative force. Love… Continue reading Valentines Day 💝 twist on 1 Corinthians 13