Recently we said goodbye to our friend and colleague, Amparo Palacios, who died November 14. Amparo was dear to many of us, who knew her as Pastor Edgar‘s wife . . . trusted friend . . . funniest person at the party . . . brave, courageous voice for justice. Today the Washington Post told the world what a gift her life was for more than just our faith community. In this season when we gather around a star-lit manger... Read more
I’ve been thinking quite a bit this week about music. This may surprise those of you who know me well because while I seem to have a distant, curious appreciation for specific musical pieces (quite often related to specific events in my life, most spiritual), I am by no means a committed music fan, much to the frustration of my very deeply musical husband. I mean, I can read music. I took piano lessons; I played the cello. I appreciate... Read more
Caution: reading this might make you want to throw up. Me? I feel much better now. Monday: no rest for the weary (why do Mondays come after Sundays?) . . . This is Sam’s (age 10) early day so we’re leaving the house at 7:25 . . . but there’s drama with the dog-sick, sick, sick-lots to clean up and no opening at the vet until noon. Mark stays home with said dog, worrying, then does doctor duty. Dog has... Read more
Just when I think my job cannot get more weird, I get a phone call like the one I got this afternoon: from a very nice woman calling for The Daily Show. They are doing a story, she said, about which church the Obamas might attend, and they want to come profile Calvary. I thanked her for her interest in our fine congregation and told her I’d take her request to the powers that be around here. The Church Council... Read more
Thanks, Jourden, for your comment on my last post: But where do you find a church that’s both authentic and aggressively evangelistic? Churches that emphasize outreach are often consumer driven and liturgically impoverished. Ones that strive for authenticity tend to be lax at evangelism. Where do you go to church if you’re seeking both genuineness and passion for lost souls? If you’re both theologically conservative and broad minded? If you’re both pro-life and pro-poor? If you value high moral standards... Read more
I was talking with a friend today about church. He said what I hear so many people say . . . that he wasn’t sure about the future of the institutional church. Will it survive in the expression it has come to take in society of late? That is, as the consumer-driven machine through which we scramble and struggle to give people what they want: need a program for your teenager? Done. Childcare? Sure. Coffee shop? Counseling center? Bookstore? No... Read more
I’m probably supposed to call you something more important now that you’ll soon be our country’s First Lady but I’m not sure what I should call you exactly, and, anyway, we’re not much for titles around here. I thought I’d write because I’m sure your husband is busy choosing Cabinet officials and all that . . . and, when it comes to matters of your family’s spiritual nurture I suspect you’ll be taking some serious leadership on the very important... Read more
This week I traveled to Hawaii to be with my parents and my sisters and brothers because my Dad gave us quite a scare with some health issues recently. He had to spend some time at the hospital while the doctors tried to correct the problem, and they think they did for now. The long and short of it, though, was that it became startlingly apparent that, while all of us kids are adults, we hadn’t quite made the transition... Read more
My friend Jim always says it’s through the cracks that the light shines the brightest. You know, it’s through the cracked and imperfect, even falling-apart places of our lives where we are finally vulnerable enough to see the light of Christ tenaciously working its way straight through the parts that are broken to make the most beautiful kaleidoscope of God’s imprint right there in the middle of the chaos . . . ? I’ve been dubious, I assure you, but I’ve seen it... Read more
My colleague Leah shared the following with me, as we’ve been discussing around the office if pastors should have clothing allowances like vice presidential candidates. We are generally in favor. So, for more reading on the subject, I now share the following, about which, I feel, no extraneous commentary is necessary. Enjoy! Dressed for Service: A Message from Dorothy Patterson September 30, 2008 Dear Graduates: How excited the President and I are to be a part of this last semester... Read more
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