~by Jill Clingan A couple of weeks ago I rushed out my back door because I heard my ducks quacking, in great distress, by the back porch. Our boy duck, Dave, was missing, and the girl ducks were very upset. We searched and searched, but we found no trace of him anywhere. Then, two days … Continue reading
I’ve been in ministry for nearly fifteen years, and the majority of that time has been spent working specifically with youth and children. During those years I’ve probably had a hundred youth in one confirmation class or another. And I have to say that having this task fall to me has been something that I simultaneously looked forward to … Continue reading
by Casey W. FitzGerald Prayer Holy One, Be with us as we watch, Be with us as we imagine, Be with us as we remember, Be with us as we tell our stories. Amen. Watch: John 3:1-10, 16-17 (Common Engligh Bible (CEB)) Children tell the story of Nicodemus coming to Jesus at night. Reading In-between … Continue reading
~ by Corey Fields One of the fascinating paradoxes of the Christian Bible is that Proverbs and Ecclesiastes appear back-to-back. Here are a few sample verses from Proverbs: Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse. Prov 2:12 The wise inherit honor, but fools get only shame. … Continue reading
by Amy Yoder McGloughlin, Mennonite Pastor and parent of two teenagers. On Sunday I baptized two young people in my congregation–one was thirteen, and one was thirty. Both talked–from their own developmental place–about the importance of faith and the church in their lives. The teenager talked about the church as a place where–unlike other … Continue reading
by Dena Douglas Hobbs Scripture Reading: Acts 2:1-8 (NRSV) “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among … Continue reading
~by Christine Gough I assume you’ve been there before? On a steep, narrow, winding road? Inching your way to a weekend of skiing and “snow fun”? Way too many times my husband and I found ourselves driving or being the passenger in a packed youth group van, on our way to a MLK or President’s … Continue reading
My son’s last day of high school was Tuesday. His last night living at our house was Monday. Tim is now in his own apartment, which I know concerns a lot of people. People who don’t know Tim well at all are simply surprised that he would transition out of the house so soon. Why … Continue reading
by Jennifer DiFrancesco Prayer Jesus, lift your hands and share us a blessing with us this day. As we read this text, open our eyes to see new meaning, open our ears to hear echoes of stories long ago, and open our hands to share your blessing with others. Amen. Scripture: Luke 24:44-53 (Common English … Continue reading
~ by Julia Roller It can hardly have escaped any of our notice that Mother’s Day is this Sunday. Almost all of us will be seeking to honor or celebrate a mother in some way, whether it’s the woman who raised us, the mother of our children, or some other mother figure in our lives. … Continue reading
Practicing Families 