According to Father Ronald Rolheiser, Social justice tries to look at the system […] within which we live so as to name and change those structural things that account for the fact that some of us are unduly penalized even as others of us are unduly privileged. The Holy Longing When we talk about social […]
Pick a side.
As I was getting dressed this morning I opted for a shirt I bought off of Etsy in lieu of the racial unrest sweeping our nation. It’s a quote from Desmond Tutu. It says, “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.“* Desmond Tutu is a retired […]
How my mission statement encompasses everything I believe about the Gospel.
Years ago I pieced these words for our worshiping community to serve as an anchor. “This is why we gather,” I reiterate every Sunday: to be healed and made whole by Jesus and to bring that healing and wholeness into the world. I had spent months praying and discerning and fussing with the language. I […]
The next loving thing
Decisions seem to be never-ending, am I right? For years now I’ve been listening to one of my favorite wordsmiths, Emily P. Freeman, invite podcast listeners to do “the next right thing.” At the time when I heard her first episode, I had an 18 month old and was in grad school and learning how […]
Let’s pull up a (virtual) chair and hear from each other
To be a church means finding community with one another, becoming the love of God for each other. The hour or so of meaningful conversation between people before and after church on Sundays has always been one of the best parts of church, don’t you agree? I think the Apostle Paul would agree that if we sing […]
What if I went off the grid?
As part of my own spiritual rhythms, I’ve been practicing the Spiritual Discipline of Unplugging. Each Tuesday is my day of rest, so Monday evening at 8pm I turn off my phone completely and do not turn it back on until Wednesday morning. Crazy, I know! “Not be available?! What if someone needs me? What […]
How plastic play food becomes sacred
Hopefully you’ve been out enjoying the beautiful sunshine today! ☀️ I’m praying for each of you to find a few people to share House Church with: people who will enjoy good food together (take-out is fine!) and honest conversation about life and God. 🏘️ Today in our own House Church we: 1️⃣ made omelets and […]
I don’t want to wipe these tears
I like to read before going to bed. About a year ago I resurrected my love of novels and quickly realized how good it was for my mind and my soul to delight in another’s story for a time. Typically my going-to-bed book of choice is an enjoyable, lighthearted read. I’m not ashamed to admit […]
We’re zeroing in on NOT STAYING THE SAME
At Monroe Free Methodist we are seeking to live like Jesus did: prayer-filled, incarnational, evangelical, holy, Spirit-empowered and compassionate. We are learning what this looks like through the rhythmic flow of the liturgical year immersing ourselves in spiritual practices to open our lives to be transformed into Jesus’ likeness. As we embark on the long journey of Ordinary Season we […]
Why does a Soul Check Matter?
I believe God can be found in all places and at all times. I believe God’s desire is to heal us and make us whole. And most of the time this transforming work is happening little by little, in the middle of our monotony and mundane. Every moment, big or small, is an opportunity to […]