Revitalizing the Church: Tips for Congregational Leaders

Last updated on: November 3, 2015 at 11:15 am By Amy Butler

I had a spirited conversation with some friends the other day about church revitalization. The topic came up because, in my circles, some version of this question is on everyone’s mind these days: “How can we revitalize the institutional church?” My friends and I realized pretty early in our conversation that we weren’t really talking about programmatic or operational shifts when we thought about how to address decline in the institutional church as we know it. Instead, we were talking... Read more

One Riverside: Belong

Last updated on: November 1, 2015 at 12:20 pm By Amy Butler

One Riverside: Belong All Saints Day John 11:32-44 Two Sundays ago the New York Times printed a long story, above the fold on the front page of the paper. The article was titled, “The Lonely Death of George Bell,” and it told the story of a man named George Bell, who died alone and unseen, his body going undiscovered for days after his actual death. There are over 50,000 people who die in New York every year—many of them die... Read more

Questioning God in the Pulpit

Last updated on: October 20, 2015 at 5:04 pm By Amy Butler

This week as I sat listening to a friend share devastating medical news, I found myself unable to come up with any helpful or even appropriate response. Thoughts flashed through my mind as if on loop on a big movie screen: this is not fair; why is this happening?; this person is good and kind — not a person who deserves this. One after another, they came, pulling me into a cyclone of increasing outrage. Why do bad things happen to good... Read more

Who Will Save Your Soul?

Last updated on: October 18, 2015 at 12:24 pm By Amy Butler

Losing My Religion: Who Will Save Your Soul? Job 38:1-21 You know what they say: “Be careful what you wish for!” Truer words were perhaps never spoken when it comes to today’s Hebrew text from the book of Job. Today is week three of a four week series called, “Losing My Religion,” where we’ve been making our way through the book of Job, some of the oldest text in our bibles, some of the most beautiful poetry in the... Read more

True Colors

Last updated on: October 14, 2015 at 8:46 pm By Amy Butler

Losing My Religion: True Colors Job 23:1-9, 16-17 “Instead of saying ‘God wouldn’t give you more than you could handle,’ you could say, ‘Let me come over and do some laundry.’” So begins an article entitled, “Stupid Phrases for People in Crisis.” In addition to the ever popular “more than you can handle” phrase, the author lists statements we often say when we encounter friends in crisis, consolations that fall flat in the face of human pain. Things like, “It... Read more

Pastoral Note Addressing Gun Violence

Last updated on: October 14, 2015 at 7:59 pm By Amy Butler

Announced in worship on Sunday, October 4, 2015 following a mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Oregon: Thursday’s shooting in Oregon was the 45th school shooting in America in 2015. I’ve read several times this quote: “In retrospect, Sandy Hook marked the end of the US gun control debate. Once America decided killing children was bearable, it was over.” I hope that’s not true. But it will be if people of faith keep saying we’re saddened by gun... Read more

The Sound of Silence

Last updated on: October 14, 2015 at 9:00 pm By Amy Butler

Losing My Religion: The Sound of Silence Job 1:1; 2:1-10 I had just graduated from seminary, newly minted diploma in hand, off the save the world. Then, unexpectedly someone very dear to me died. The grief and pain of that loss overwhelmed me; I didn’t know how to handle the anger and denial and questions that seemed to be with me all of the time. I certainly didn’t know how I’d ever be able to do the job I’d trained... Read more

Radical, But Not Really: Pope Francis

Last updated on: October 14, 2015 at 7:59 pm By Amy Butler

My whole city is abuzz with energy around the arrival of a special guest this week. Whether devout Catholic desperate for a once in a lifetime glimpse of the Holy Father or annoyed commuter already well aware this week will be horrifying in terms of getting to and from — well, anywhere, we’re all breathing in a kind of anticipation of the visit of Pope Francis. I am neither a devout Catholic nor an annoyed commuter, but even I am... Read more

One Way or Another

Last updated on: October 14, 2015 at 9:01 pm By Amy Butler

One Way or Another Psalm 1 Happy Homecoming, Riverside Church! It’s such a pleasure to watch the parade of banners and your beautiful faces filling the pews this morning, to hear the voices of our choir back in worship and to see the faces of our little ones, back in Sunday School today. I mentioned a few weeks ago that fall is the start of a new year at church, just like at school, and that newness fills the air... Read more

Wake Up Call for the World

Last updated on: October 14, 2015 at 9:02 pm By Amy Butler

Wake Up Call for the World Mark 8:27-38 I never can read today’s passage from Mark’s gospel without memories of childhood road trips instantly springing to mind. I can still see my parents up in front, my dad at the wheel, my Mom on the passenger side of the car with her left arm slung over the back of the front bench seat passing out snacks, or cleaning up spills, or trying to keep us in line. And the five... Read more