~by Rev. Arianne Braithwaite Lehn A couple days ago, I heard a young mother talking to another young mother. Mom A works full-time outside the home, in addition to prolific writing . She is the mother of three, one of them still an infant. She sounded very happy, energetic, and fulfilled, saying she has time … Continue reading
by Casey FitzGerald It is often said that parents are the primary faith leaders for their children. It is often said by parents, “I am really lost as to how to actually do that.” This week you are invited to lead like the apostle Paul, through letter writing. Your children are invited to write as … Continue reading
-by Kelly Pittman Last week I let my 7- and 9-year-old paint their bathroom. Exactly. What was I thinking? It started with the predictable phrase that all kids mutter at various points throughout the summer: “I’m BORED.” “How about you read in the hammock?” No. “What about taking a bike ride?” No. “You could build … Continue reading
by Bromleigh McCleneghan One night this spring, I faced the long evening commute to meet my husband and two daughters at the local elementary school for Open House. Our second grader, Fiona, showed off art projects and her science report on the Sea Turtle; our preschooler, Calliope, visited the kindergarten room to meet the teacher and get acclimated. I, … Continue reading
~by Horace McMillon “Train up a child in the path of the Lord and when s/he is old s/he will not depart from it.” Coming up in the African American Church at the time I did, this was one of the go-to verses that nearly everyone had memorized and was often quoted. I believe at … Continue reading
I come from a long line of women who don’t get along with their mothers. As a child, I watched my mom and grandmother spat–it was mostly about misinterpreting each others words and actions. When I entered my teenaged years, it began with my mother and I. My mom tried to connect with me through … Continue reading
by Erika Marksbury Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:14-22 (The Voice) …Christ is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity … Continue reading
~ By Joanna Harader “Wow! I sure was fed some crap theology when I was a teenager.” I came to this realization while going through an old chest full of letters, notebooks, and other papers from my high school years. (I won’t share the specifics of the crap theology, because one person’s crap is another … Continue reading
by Wallace Smith I was a youth pastor for more than 15 years. I even enjoyed it! From the epic mission trips to helping youth serve in hands-on ways in the neighborhood and in the church, talks about serious life-changing choices, goofy scavenger hunts, even cleaning up after an (unplanned) refried bean war on taco … Continue reading
by Dena Douglas Hobbs Scripture: 2 Samuel 6:12b-19 (NRSV) “So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the city of David with rejoicing; and when those who bore the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fatling. David danced before … Continue reading
Practicing Families 