ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 9, 2025Yesterday was the first Pentecost Sunday that I was not in a sanctuary (excluding the pandemic) in probably forty years or more. I did watch four services online, and because it’s one of my favorite church holidays, online was not quite the same. If you’ve been around much on Pentecost, then you’ve probably heard me say that one of the many reasons I like Pentecost
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 6, 2025In today’s world, legally changing your name can be quite challenging, yet many individuals do so. Others acquire nicknames through amusing or peculiar events that become enduring. Still others allow life circumstances to rename them in a manner that may not have legal standing but clearly reflects their emotional state. In the Book of Ruth, Naomi changed her name to Mara, the Hebrew word for
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 5, 2025Guest Writer: Rev. Michelle Beech, A friend said something to me the other day about how the sky looked and I realized how often I forget to even look up. I spend a lot of time indoors, but even when I’m walking the dogs or hanging out on our deck, the only time I really look up is for a sunrise or a sunset. But we
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 4, 2025There are times when I read the Gospels and realize that Jesus had more confidence in his followers than we do in ourselves. Throughout his ministry, Jesus shared many positive and optimistic teachings about his disciples and the future of God’s kingdom being realized on Earth. The Apostle Paul reinforced this idea when he declared the community of followers to be the body of Christ.
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 3, 2025While on Sabbatical, I am hoping to attend as many churches as I can, simply because it’s not something I get to do very often. This past Sunday, I attended a church where I know the pastor, and I was really impressed and blessed by the sermon. In the service, we sang the song: Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart, a song I’ve sung many
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSJune 2, 2025Prayer for the Week: It is Pride Month. It is Caribbean American Heritage Month. It is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month. It is Men’s Health Month and National Safety Month. Holy God, allow this month to be a month of education, of expanding our knowledge and appreciation of those around us. May new insights and experiences create within us greater empathy in a world that
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMay 31, 2025In the final episode of the Handmaid’s Tale, Mark Tuello, a commander (one of the good guys) in the series, says, “When I close my eyes, I see my son, so then I get up and go back to work. I will bring down Gilead so he doesn’t have to do it.” Of course, Gilead is the antagonist in the series, the name given to
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMay 30, 2025In John 14, right after the wonderful words where Jesus describes the many rooms in his father’s house, he says, “Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the father.” The preposition “ because” appears to be an important word
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMay 29, 2025I was rereading Rob Bell’s book, What We Talk About When We Talk About God, for the third or fourth time. Toward the end, he offers a very earthy yet accurate description of confession. He writes, “Confession is like really, really healthy vomit. It may smell and get all over the front of your shirt, but you feel better—you feel cleansed—when you’re done.” Though a
ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGSMay 28, 2025Since Christmas, I have started and restarted reading the book, “Dinners With Ruth” by Nina Totenberg. It wasn’t that I found the book boring. Just the opposite! I was enjoying it, but there were always more pressing things to read in preparation for a sermon or a study. Much of the book is about this amazing friendship between the NPR reporter, Nina Totenberg (who I