Dear Beloved, Each February, Valentine’s Day invites us to pause and think about love. We see it in cards exchanged, notes written, candy shared, and small gestures of affection offered to one another. Beneath those familiar traditions is a deeper question worth asking: where did Valentine’s Day come from, and what does it have to […]
Seasoned to Shine Matthew 5:13-16, Ephesians 4:1-16 In our first scripture lesson, when Jesus calls his followers the salt of the earth, we might hear it as faint praise. Today, when we describe someone as “salt of the earth,” we usually mean they are good, honest, dependable, down to earth people. It is a compliment, […]
This week I have been reflecting on the many vocations we carry across a lifetime. When I look back, my own path has taken some unexpected turns. In the first half-century of my life, I have lived into many vocations — from performer to speechwriter, musician to hospitality worker, small-business owner to community advocate, communicator […]
Bonded by Bread John 17:17-24, Ephesians 2:8-10, 14-22 On the night before his arrest, Jesus prays. Not a quick prayer. Not a safe prayer. Not a prayer for comfort or protection. Jesus prays for unity. Our reading from John’s Gospel comes from Jesus’ farewell prayer, spoken on the edge of betrayal and crucifixion. In that […]
Dear Grace Family, Last Saturday’s winter storm brought one of those moments that stops you in your tracks. I woke early and looked outside to see a dramatic change in the landscape. A quiet city was wrapped in a blanket of snow. The early morning light caught the untouched ground, and everything sparkled. It was […]
