A Sense of Wonder
A Sense of Wonder
Winters where I live, along the rugged coast of Maine, are a test of character.
The snows make their first appearance in November and remain a regular if occasional presence through May.
When the first real blizzard comes, it drops…
Help your church members grow spiritually this year
A student in one of my online classes asked a great question:
How do I encourage members to reflect and think theologically?
I’m having a hard time coming up with an example of what that would even look like in…
Doodling with God: An Active Prayer
Everyone can doodle! No skill required! The movement of coloring and drawing can help you center and see your unspoken prayers.
Below are two simple ways to begin. You will need a sheet of paper (or a journal like this…
Advent Resources: Walk a Labyrinth
The labyrinth is an ancient symbol and path found in many cultures. In our tradition, it is used to represent the Christian journey, walked to deepen one’s relationship with God. The path in is the path out.
Walking a labyrinth…
For the Bookshelf: Exploring Spirituality, An Ecumencial Reader
Exploring Spirituality: An Ecumenical Reader, edited by Kenneth J. Collins, is a collection of twenty-four essays in which Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican, and Methodist writers describe the unique forms of spirituality that have emerged from their traditions.
…
And Jesus Wept: a good idea
There is a very poignant moment in Scripture that gets little exegesis, it seems, but it touches the deepest nerve of a people in mourning for the loss of the character of their nation. Like our own.
It is the…
Practicing Kindness
In my sermon for Reformation Sunday (October 25th), the Rev. Fred Rogers was one of my key examples for the sermon titled “We are All Members of the Family of God.”
The line from his song reverberated with me.
“It’s…
Love Those Classics
Every once in a while, at my former church, we’d break out the old (and I mean old) hymnbooks for a Wednesday evening hymn sing.
People would call out the numbers of their favorite hymns to the song leader and…
Soul Tending: An Exploration of Practices for Spiritual Nourishment and Growth
We have entered into an unusual and deeply challenging season in the life of the world.
Whether we wanted to go there or not, we are now in many ways wandering this wilderness together and apart.
Many of us are…
The Opposite of Faith is Certitude
At a recent conference, I shared that, “The opposite of faith is not doubt; it is certitude.” A participant e-mailed me afterward asking me to expand on the concept. He said “I’m trying to get my arms around this concept.”…
Henri Nouwen and Fun
Prolific spiritual author Henri Nouwen often reads sad, lonely, and anguished. But that belies the fact that, in real life, he was also a lot of fun.
When I tell personal stories about him or show videotapes of his…
Spiritual Friendship and Formation: Spirituality Courses and Programs at CTS
Feed your desire to deepen your relationship with God as you learn to assist others on their faith journey.
In these extraordinary times, discovering a deeper relationship with God may seem more pressing than ever before.
The Spirituality Program at…
Can the Wisdom of the Past Speak to the Challenges of Today?
A lot of people are saying it: 2020 is turning out to be a doozy of a year.
Between the COVID-19 pandemic, our ongoing national conversation about racism and justice, concerns about restoring our economy in the wake of…
Try Centering Prayer: Change. Anxiety. Fear… Freedom. Healing. Wholeness
I invite you to pause, just for a moment, pause.
Slowly, inhale a deep, full breath. Slowly, let it out.
Try it again. Close your eyes if you’d like. Slowly take a deep breath in, breathing in the love and…
On ANTS and Your Mental Health
Mental health has become a big issue because of our social isolation. It is like having ants in your home! How many are there? Where are they coming from? Where have they been? How can I get rid of them?…
