What distinctive gifts does the church bring to the table? What can we offer, right now, in this moment in history? What gifts of the church are suited well for what we need?
What Can the Church Offer to a World in Crisis? Read More »
climate change, spirituality, theology
If only I could dream! Dreams come rarely these days. Where is the God of dreams?
Perchance to Dream Read More »
spirituality
We’re all speculating here, I guess, with the understanding that the speculation is itself a process of hope: what do we long for? what outcomes can we imagine and, through that imagining, help enact?
Church of Empire, Church of Refugia, 2047 and Beyond Read More »
spirituality, theology
I propose that Advent is the time when we are allowed—even encouraged—to be honest about our disappointment, our sadness, our cynicism.
Advent in the Wasteland Read More »
liturgical year, spirituality
Our brains are altered by swimming in digital media, its allures and distractions. And our lives of continuous partial attention make deep concentration more difficult. We can still do it, but it’s harder.
We’ve Forgotten How to Read Read More »
college life, spirituality
And so we pray. Or try to. Our prayers—well, mine anyway—seem awfully puny against the grand machinations of world events. Actually, my prayers also seem puny and ineffective against the small machinations of my own personal troubles. So I keep thinking about that line in the old hymn, “Spirit of God Descend Upon My Heart.” You know the one?
Unanswered Prayers Read More »
climate change, cultural commentary, spirituality
My faith these days sometimes feels as thin and dry as that little wafer. So the presence of these familiar, faithful people—even if we can’t chat over coffee after the service—that presence feels like a balm. This whole pandemic disaster has taught me—probably many of us—how very weak we are alone, how much we need each other.
Is Congregational Worship an Endangered Species? Read More »
cultural commentary, spirituality
Anyway, our team has heard that you young people are getting really discouraged about, you know, everything. So we decided to reach out and have a little chat.
A Brief Memo from the Office of Young Human Affairs Read More »
climate change, silly, spirituality, theology
It’s heartbreaking to see the once-beautiful churches in these photographs encrusted with mold and junk and falling apart. Plaster crumbles from sanctuary ceilings, organs molder, pews gather coatings of dirt and dust, stairwells collapse into piles of beautifully carved, jumbled pieces.
The Aesthetics of Decline Read More »
cultural commentary, spirituality
For UK Christian leaders, the challenges are fraught and puzzling: how to steward property, how to do church in a changing cultural context. The heavy questions of how many will remain faithful, and what faithfulness now means.
