The world is on fire. And flooding. And fighting Covid. And fighting extremism. It’s all too much. Too much. So, dearly beloved child of God, it’s time for you to turn your attention in a different direction. I am requesting that after you read this blog, you turn off your phone or tablet or computer …
Dear Caldwell, Brother Justin gave a great word Sunday about the essential role that context plays in our lives. He spoke about why we offer a land acknowledgement on Sundays and how, when we gain the context of events, we are to reconcile ourselves (and repent and live differently) regarding certain truths of our nation’s …
Dear Caldwell, In Sunday’s sermon, we considered the teachings of the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu that one of the pathways to joy is to see and to live generously, as Christ taught in Matthew 6:22. That doesn’t necessarily mean that we have to be people of great means to give away a lot …
Dear Caldwell, As we travel from Sunday to Sunday this week, I am relishing several great phrases and ideas from Lia Benton’s fine sermon Sunday, not to forget about Noah’s moving Faith Statement (see below, in his own handwriting) and baptism. Don’t ever forget, Lia said as she preached about Ruth, that “we are a …
Dear Caldwell, We had a lively discussion at the staff meeting today about how we are all called to both care for others AND seek our calling in God’s service. We’d read a provocative article in Christian Century Magazine … and it did indeed provoke some great dialogue. For example, in a section asking whether …
Dear Caldwell, I’m a firm believer in the theology of gifts. As written in James 1: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” Do we go through life complaining and counting what’s wrong, numbering our grievances, bemoaning the …
The world is on fire. Wildfires ravage vast swaths of the west coast. Record heat threatens to ignite more fires. Covid numbers are flaring. So are violence, fear, and political unrest around the world – and here at home. Floodwaters roll through China and India and Germany and places in our nation as well. There …
Dear Caldwell, We have much to celebrate and pray about this week in our life together in Christ along with several ways to bear witness to God’s call to love and justice. Remembering A Real Saint On Saturday at 2 p.m., Caldwell hosts a memorial service for former member and giant in our city and …
Dear Caldwell, I’ve got a question for you: What’s your Goliath? No doubt you know the story from 1 Samuel 17 of David and Goliath. When or where have you faced a seemingly unbeatable foe? When have you had to call on God for the courage and assurance to overcome an enormous challenge? It may …
Dear Caldwell, Can you feel the energy as our community of faith is fed by our outdoor, in-person worship and as we gain momentum toward our more full life together? This Sunday, we will worship outside again, as on last Sunday. It was great to see about 100 of you under the shade tree (and …
