My mama, who could fry some of the best damn chicken you ever put in your mouth, never taught me to cook. She taught me a lot of things, but she just couldn’t tolerate a constantly questioning kiddo scrambling around her kitchen as she tended to her cast iron skillets and perfectly sweetened pitchers of […]
Progressive Christian Community of Leiden Outline of Worship for July 1, 2018 Empathy has no script. There is no right way or wrong way to do it. It’s simply listening, holding space, withholding judgement, emotionally connecting, and communicating that incredibly healing message of ‘You’re not alone”. – Brene Brown Gathering Music – Be […]
For some time now, moderate and progressive Christians have been wondering aloud how evangelical Christians came to support Donald Trump in all his obvious clash with Christian values – xenophobic, materialistic, fear-mongering bloviating. What’s the question again caller? It recently occurred to me that NO greater clue exists for this apparent disconnect than a linchpin […]
Here we all are again, at the beginning of Pride month and just days after the Supreme Court of the United States weighs in on one person’s “religious liberty” vs. another person’s pursuit of happiness. Millions (hopefully just thousands) of Americans are rejoicing for what some see as a protection of religious freedom and others, […]
All year round, many of us Jesusy types look for ways to be intentional about practicing the presence of God. There are a myriad of books, booklets, websites, podcasts and small groups dedicated to spiritual practices meant to give our wandering minds a compass pointing us toward the Divine. Today I’d like to lift up a […]
About five years ago, in the final moments of Ash Wednesday, I found myself propped up against a dingy Greenwich Village bar room wall when I realized I had just experienced a perfect 18-hour liturgy. Preparation It actually all began, as days like this often do, the night before at a bar on Fat Tuesday. […]
January 29, 2017 – Year A Micah 6:1-8 Psalm 15 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 Matthew 5:1-12 When talking with others about the Jesusy things, there’s hardly anything that gets under my skin more than when someone starts a sentence with “The Bible is clear that…” This is because the Bible is a complex collection of texts […]
Here is a partial list of nasty women in the Bible. Please feel free to add the names and stories of other such nasty women of faith. Shiphrah and Puah Midwives committing acts of civil disobedience Deborah Judge, warrior and prophet you predicted the defeat of the Canaanites – by one nasty as hell […]
It’s been almost six years since mama died and it has taken me nearly twice that long to understand her beautiful, terrified heart. By all accounts, Beverly was a loving wife and mother. To my father she was devoted and true, to her daughters, a constant presence of self-sacrifice. Life with mama was golden… …and […]
Dear United Methodist Church, I am writing to you today as a sister in ministry, a southern-born graduate of Candler School of Theology, a wounded healer, a daughter, sister, mama, friend, partner…and lesbian Christian. It is because I have witnessed over and over again the suffering of dearly beloved friends who identify as United Methodists […]