Browning Ware, wrote about the grace of Christ’s coming. He wrote: “When I was younger, I thought there was an answer to every problem. And for a time, I knew all of the answers. “I‘m not as impressed with answers as I once was. Answers seem so pallid, sucked dry of blood and void of… Continue reading What’s important and satisfying than getting all the answers?
Tag: UCC
Welcome the mess.
In his Advent devotional – Low: An Honest Advent Devotional – John Pavlovitz greets us, regarding this time of year, with, “Welcome the mess.” As odd as that sounds, it really resonated with me. That is, we paint a Norman Rockwellian picture of how this season should be with people behaving perfectly. We expect people to… Continue reading Welcome the mess.
Taking the wrinkle out of the irony of Advent
Advent is a complex season of ironies – Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love are contrary to how the world operates. Advent is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus; yet it’s also a penitential season in which we examine and prepare ourselves for his promised return. During Advent we remember the first witnesses to… Continue reading Taking the wrinkle out of the irony of Advent
Broken people
When Wendy and I got married, money was tight. She had an art class in which part of the supply list was a huge set of oil pastel, every color of the rainbow and then some. Let me tell ya, they weren’t cheap. But, oh, they looked so good, just like the ones real art… Continue reading Broken people
There’s still room at the table for YOU!
The national holiday of Thanksgiving began as a celebration of the harvest and other blessings, according to history books. Thanksgiving, however, has since moved away from its Puritan roots and has become a day to symbolize intercultural peace, America’s opportunity for newcomers, and the sanctity of home and family. For generations, Thanksgiving Day, fondly referred to… Continue reading There’s still room at the table for YOU!
Remembering our saints this Sunday
For all the saints, who from their labors rest… If you see a turtle on a fence post, you know it had help. None of us arrived where we are without the help of others. It might have been parents, siblings, grandparents, or other relatives who guided us on our journey. More than likely on… Continue reading Remembering our saints this Sunday
Thank you for choosing The Church of the Palms.
Grat-i-tude (grat’ – a – tud) n. thankfulness [L. gratus, pleasing, thankful]. Thank you for choosing The Church of the Palms. Your presence, participation, and sharing of your time, talent and treasure make this place so special. In a world where there are a lot of choices, thanks for choosing The Palms! There are so… Continue reading Thank you for choosing The Church of the Palms.
Looking for blessings, rather than curses
Summers are hard in the Sonoran Desert. About this time of year, I am worn out and truly tired of the heat! So, prompted by the Spirit, I was reminded of a simple, yet powerful mindfulness activity: find three things a day that you are grateful for and write them down. I committed to making… Continue reading Looking for blessings, rather than curses
Why is social justice important?
“Sharing Unconditional Love, Justice, and Extravagant Welcome” is our mission statement. Justice is the center, the heart, a core value of that statement on purpose. Why Is social justice important? Social justice promotes fairness and equity across many aspects of society. For example, it promotes equitable economic, educational, and workplace opportunities. It’s also important to… Continue reading Why is social justice important?
Instead of the 10 Commandments…
On this day when we celebrate our country’s birth, a few folks are wanting the Ten Commandments posted in our schools. Years ago, Kurt Vonnegut once said, “Christians have often demanded that the Ten Commandments be posted on public buildings, but never the Beatitudes.” And he wondered, “why?” Instead of the 10 Commandments, how about… Continue reading Instead of the 10 Commandments…