In a space where all can be themselves without fear— embracing disability as a natural part of life, understanding we all have the same human needs,

Even and especially in these difficult times, the Lenten journey can be an encouraging, enlightening path to hope, resilience, and new life.

Maybe everything hurts, Our hearts shadowed & strange. But only when everything hurts May everything change.

Poem about Cambodia, Jackson State, Kent State Resonates Today

"It is a hope that implores us at an uncompromising core to keep rising up for an Earth more than worth fighting for."

The words of Amanda Gorman, Poet Laureate, from her moving poem during the inauguration of Joseph Biden and Kamala Harris as President and Vice-President of the United States of America.

And will those feet in modern time, Walk upon earth’s fair mountains green?

Every so often, I put out a "musing" that is a guide to my writings and videos. It's that time when churches make plans for their program year, so this is a good moment to share links to my materials for worship, study, and spiritual practice.  Use freely.  All I ask is attribution!

    Son. Father. Uncle. Friend. Human being. Child of God. What blindness could keep anyone from seeing the sacred life in this

Native is about identity, soul-searching, and the never-ending journey of finding ourselves and finding God. As both a citizen of the Potawatomi Nation and a Christian, Kaitlin Curtice offers a unique perspective on these topics. In this book, she shows how reconnecting with her Potawatomi identity both informs and challenges her faith.

In his lifetime Jesus taught us To observe and then reflect On the laws that nature teaches If we pause and then inspect,

Mother Earth weeps for her children— day after day, rain drumming down. She cleanses herself and cleanses us—

Even during this global pandemic, a walk around the block yields moments of healing and beauty.

  Click below for Video of Sermon     Prelude Singing Bell and Call to Worship: L: Our lives feel all disjointed as

An assembly of words that have the power of a hammer and the tenderness of a hug. A little book that tells a big story of a soul’s journey through religion to the Light.

Pity the nation whose people are sheep And whose shepherds mislead them

Is resurrection just a story Or is it the uncovering of our sight Some of the greatest followers Did not recognize the one they once knew

Young Joseph the dreamer was sent o'er the border — No say in the matter — it wasn't his plan. He entered the country and as he got older, He worked with ambition to make it his land.

Religious Naturalism (RN) has two central aspects. One is a naturalist view of how things happen in the world—in which the natural world is all there is, and that nothing other than natural may cause events in the world. From nature we came, in nature we are, to nature we go… The other is appreciation of religion with a view that nature can be a focus of religious attention - the ‘cosmic religious feeling’ as Einstein called it.

As a follow-up to last week’s post, “Thank You for the Body that Loves Me,” I present another meditation on our earthiness, another in a series of reflections from my earlier books that I hope may lift our spirits in this new year. The series opened with “Peace of Mind” and will continue throughout the season of Epiphany and, who knows, maybe beyond.

For forty days and forty nights you wander in the wilderness and face temptation of body, heart, mind and spirit.

Both my sexuality and my spirituality conspired to persuade me that embodiment is good, a sacred trust, a holy way of being. My sexuality impelled me to love another intimately, physically, even worshipfully at its better moments. My spirituality, being incarnational, inspired me to love others personally and politically, wishing them shalom: health, well-being, justice, equality, peace.

A sparrow was in her tree singing to the dawn. But before the song was complete, a spark somewhere flashed and a tree somewhere ignited. Because the forest was dry, the fire spread from tree to tree faster than though. The whole forest seemed to explode in flame.

The gospel reading prescribed for this Sunday (Mark 3:20-35) paints a daunting picture of the perceptions of the people of Jesus' hometown. The folks who knew Jesus, including his family worried that he might just be "out of his mind." This is indeed a contrast to the ways in which Jesus is typically portrayed. This is a dangerous Jesus who ran the risk of being perceived as deranged. In his book "The Underground Church: Reclaiming the Subversive Way of Jesus" Robin Meyers captures some of this danger when he points to Mary Oliver's poem "Maybe" in which Jesus' "melancholy madness" is seen by his fellows as more dangerous than a storm. Safely ensconced in our imaginations, Jesus is rarely allowed to threaten the status quo to which we cling for dear life. Are we prepared for the stormy waters that would be stirred up should we take Jesus at his word? Maybe...

As a peace activist opposed to war, and later as a bagpiper serving with the Vietnam Vets honor guard in Florida and Texas, I played at many military funerals. None is a happy occasion. The saddest moment, for me, was the flag folding ceremony. This reflection is drawn from those rituals. Sam Gould's poem, Don't Stand to be Recognized, comes to mind.

This powerful spoken word poem, performed by youth advocate Jaiia Cerff, is a perfect reminder of the simple things that make our world a better place.

It was MLK Sunday A point of purpose perhaps for dreamers and churches and every person of faith and conscience with hope.

ver the last few years, I have collected a number of quotations that relate directly or indirectly to the field of interfaith dialogue. These are attached. You may find various ways to use these quotations.

“It Came Upon the Midnight Clear” is a 19th century American carol created in the context of war which addresses its horror directly. Despite this, it offers hope and a plea for peace.

In this hectic season help us to remember, even the simplest actions count. Let us pause and take a breath to feel the miracle of air filling and emptying within, as though God is breathing into us.