ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 10, 2025 My first real introduction to Liberation Theology was the theologian, Gustavo Gutiérrez (1928–2024). He encouraged us to reflect on the implications of Jesus’ context, specifically the place and circumstances of where he was born. The following are some reflections and insights from Kelley Nikondeha (from cac.org, December 26, 2024), based on her reading of Gutiérrez. There, on the fringe of society, “the Word
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 9, 2025 There were a couple of snafus on Sunday in regard to the worship material and the worship outline. I must own all those! Not to explain away my blunder, but it was a sort of interesting happening. My screen on my MacBook Air started to go out, but thank goodness that I had AppleCare, the three-year warranty. I took it in, and they
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 8, 2025 Prayer for the Week: May the anxiousness manifesting itself as anger, May the misinformation that gives rise to distrust, May the insecurities that feed intolerance— Be brought before you, Magnificent and Merciful God. For where we make room for your transformative power to dwell among us, we believe there is hope for… reorientation healing and peace.
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 7, 2025 Today is the Second Sunday of Advent, the Sunday usually described as Peace Sunday. The message in worship this morning will be indirectly about peace, though I thought I’d share some words from Brian McLaren who wrote clearly and directly about peace and non-violence within the Christian faith. McLaren writes… “In the aftermath of Jesus and his cross, we should never again define
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 6, 2025 There are those who refuse to venture down the road of forgiveness because they make the assumption that forgiveness is weakness. Edwin Hubbel Chapin was a preacher and writer back in the middle part of the 19th century. He wrote, “Never does the human soul appear so strong as when it forgoes revenge.” Forgoing revenge may not be the same as forgiveness, but
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 5, 2025 Guest Writer: Kay Smith (Service Representative to the Church Board) In Matthew 25:35-40, we read: 35 I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. 36 I was naked and you gave me clothes to wear. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 4, 2025 The actor, Bradly Whitford (played Josh Lyman on the tv show West Wing), said, Some days you wake up ready to change the world. Other days… changing your socks feels ambitious. I both laughed and nodded in full agreement. There are a handful of questions I commonly receive as a minister, and though it might not be at the top of the list,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 3, 2025 Yesterday, a delightful memory surfaced on social media. It was 13 years ago that Bruce experienced one of his very interesting/funny bulletin snafus. Back when we used to have actual bulletins, I would send the components I was responsible for, while others would contribute their pieces. A third party would then assemble everything. I rarely got to see the final product before Sunday,
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 2, 2025 Yesterday, while my wife and I were on the phone with the insurance company, attempting to get our 2026 medical insurance figured out, the person to whom we were talking was unable to provide us with any answers. We were told that we would receive a call back within 24 hours. Funny thing, I had made a call to them on a completely
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS December 1, 2025 Prayer for the Week: O God of this sacred season, a season of waiting and preparing, we enter this first week of Advent with hope and a spirit of expectation. Awaken us to the possibilities found within every moment of every day. Amidst the myriad of voices vying for our attention and our credit card numbers, guide us back to the present moment.