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For Difficult Times
by Deac. Mary J. Moerbe In an ironic twist, encouragement means entirely different things to different groups of people. For many, it has become a matter of sharing personal strength or perhaps reinforcing the other person’s confidence in him- or herself. It’s a catchphrase to accompany empowerment in inspirational memes. Such self-focus and inward direction generally turns me off. Anyone who knows me would know better than point me inward! Let’s leave puffing up to baked goods and balloons, and keep it far away from my emotional and spiritual well-being, especially during times of stress and distress! I haven’t made a formal study of it, so correct me if I’m…
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Fresh Air
by Emily Cook Sunday morning, people in tight shoes and uncomfortable clothes greet each other: “Hi, how are you?” “Oh, pretty good. Busy of course. You?” “Yep, pretty busy, but we’re hanging in there!” And off we go to sit in the pews. We keep most to ourselves, not wanting to burden every one we see with our problems. We do this because we are strong, or proud, or afraid, or kind, or just in a hurry. We control how much of ourselves we expose, and this is not entirely a bad thing. As I sat in church this Sunday in my itchy nylons and tight mask, I wondered what…
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So Your Pastor Has a Call….
You’re sitting in church on Sunday, expecting a regular Sunday service. But the pastor stands up before the service, and says: “I have received a call to St. Someone’s church in Anytown USA. Please keep my family and me in your prayers while I deliberate this Call.” Most of the time, this announcement comes as a surprise. You know pastors move around, but this is your pastor. They can’t have him! Why do they want him? Who do they think they are? And wait! What about your friend, the pastor’s wife? If he leaves, you not only lose your pastor, but you lose your friend, too! Before you react, however,…
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For All Who Are Weary
Whether you’re married, a mother, or working outside the home, one fact is true about the vast majority of women these days. We’re exhausted. We’re stressed out, overcommitted, tired, and dissatisfied with how we balance our responsibilities and our family life. Women are leaving the church or never joining in the first place, becoming part of the “Nones”, the group of Americans who claim “spirituality” but no particular religious affiliation, in numbers that have never been seen before. I can’t always blame them. There’s so much to DO to be a good Christian woman these days. Could it be that more women are burning out or just choosing not to get…
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Comfort for Those Tending to the Lord’s Littlest Sheep, Part 1
Part I: The Why of Taking our Children to Church Full of frustration and embarrassment I am driving away. Away from the staring faces, away from the haughty looks, away from the very place I should love to be. I cannot hold back the tears and my lips are quivering. My head is swirling with thoughts. “Why do I even go to church? I never even hear the sermon! Surely they remember what their toddlers were like? It can’t just be my child. I cannot believe my son just lapped the sanctuary during the prayers!” Yes, it’s quite true. I have had on any given Sunday a child lap the…
