Dear friends— Today our building is being used by a local Muslim group working with Afghan refugees.  The program is called Alternatives to Violence and it was originally created by incarcerated individuals working to help communities to work out conflict peacefully.  Here is a link to the movement here in the US:  https://avpusa.org/. The program is…

Dear friends— Welp, running late again today, but here I am!  My heart and brain are being pulled in multiple, and somewhat contradicting, directions today.  I am thinking about Stephan “tWitch” Boss who died Tuesday by suicide, leaving behind his family and millions of fans.  I am thinking about President Biden signing the Respect for…

Dear friends— Ten years ago today, I found myself driving in circles in the Allen elementary school parking lot.  Josiah was in kindergarten there, and that day, I just needed to know that everyone at Allen elementary was okay, though I am not sure how I would be able to tell from my car.  For…

Dear friends— I officially took yesterday off from writing, and I am learning that writing on Sundays doesn’t happen (my little brain just can’t come up with additional wisdom after leading worship!).  But I am back at it today. Next Sunday is Music Sunday, and it just hit me that this is the first Music…

Dear friends— Rev. Dr. Walter Brueggemann is a UCC pastor and biblical scholar.  He wrote one of my favorite books of poetry, Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth, just after the tragedy of September 11, 2001, and I wanted to share with you.  Today, my heart tells me to leave this musing with his beautiful…