In the pause, in the gap, in the in-between, in the uncertain, in the unknown, in the light and in the darkness what does it mean to wait?  This week the second Sunday in the season of Epiphany the assigned psalm is Psalm 40. Every time I hear the reference to psalm 40 it takes me back to 1987.  That year we waited. We waited mostly patiently. We waited in line overnight in the dark and the next day in the light. In those days the only way to get concert tickets was in person

When you hear something alarming what is your response? When we are alarmed it can be hard to pause and to ponder. As together we hear some challenging words I hope you can find some breathing room, some space for curiosity. This Sunday is the last of us reading through Luke’s gospel in lectionary year C. It has some words that might sound frightening. I appreciate Eugene Peterson’s translation in The Message of Luke 21:5-19 . Click on that link to read it. He entitles this

It was almost twenty years ago that this sermon was preached. My husband was a manuscript writing preacher. In this post I am sharing with you the gift of the words he wrote and then preached five days before his unexpected death. On November 11, 2025 it will be twenty years since he died. To remember is holy and can be part of our healing. May some of these words speak to your own remembering on this All Saints Sunday. “What’s A Saint?” A sermon by Pastor Steve Cox (1957

There we were in the Houston Astrodome. There were thousands of us. After all the months of planning and preparing for the 2018 ELCA Youth Gathering we were now at the closing worship getting ready to get back on the bus for a 18 hour ride back home. It was amazing and breath taking. I was filled with overwhelming gratitude. We had joined together with three other churches to form a group of 30 youth plus adults for a milestone adventure. The planning and logistics were a lot

Kintsugi- is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold, silver or platinum Include the broken pieces.  This was part of the...

What then shall we say about this? One of favorite church historians/theologians is Diana Butler Bass. She commented that this is a...

On your mark, get set, ready… go!  As a child I loved the excitement of getting ready for all sorts of things- from the potato sack race...

Tobi on Adoption Day December 31, 2024 Rest in peace 2024. Rest in peace 2025. The spirit word I have chosen to guide me in 2025 is...

Utilizing the phrase “just for today” as a way to stay centered, grounded and present is one of my spiritual practices. I first heard it...

On this All Saints Day November 1, 2024 I invite you to consider ways to embrace the love God has for you as we remember that death does...

For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully...

"What would you do if you know you could not fail?" This quote is attributed to First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. As we explore what it means...

https://unsplash.com/@natcon773 you shall love the Lord your God… with all your mind There are so many idioms that use the word “mind”....

To listen. To pause. Even when it is just for the 4 minutes it takes for my tea to brew. To breath. To offer up a simple prayer. Thank...

This will be a sign for you: Luke 2:12a Seven simple words. Oh how often I have looked for a sign. Some signs I am looking for are simply...

The 3 S’s- shame, secrets and saving. The third chapter of John’s gospel may have the most recognized scripture verse. 3:16. This Sunday...

Remember. Remember. Remember. Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return. On this Ash Wednesday, you are invited to remember that...

Christmas is a season that lasts from Christmas Day- December 25 to Epiphany- January 6. this is an invitation to celebrate the 12 days...

When I saw the title of the song they had chosen to have played at their wedding ,I winced. The song is amazing; the title seemed to cast...

Who knew that knot technology likely predates the wheel and the axe as a tool used by humans? Or did you know that primates tie knots?...