This past Monday evening, I sat with six leaders on Council as we discussed some of the issues arising from lack of resources — money and people. It was a conversation we have had before, but it appeared to me at this point we are facing some questions that have to be answered in the here and now. As we are getting closer to our annual congregational meeting on June 23rd after worship, we are facing the following issues: The good news is our pledging units' increased their giving. The bad news is we have only 30 pledging units. Our anticipated shortfall for this year will be around roughly $42,000. Next year's is projected to be $51,000. The good news is we have had very dedicated leaders th

"Heaven on earth." Have you ever used that term before? What does heaven on earth look like to you? What are the surroundings like? What is required of you or others? This past Sunday during worship perhaps you got a glimpse of it. While Tom was playing music while we were at the prayer stations or in our seats meditating, I was "engulfed" in the beauty of the moment and in the music. I was also moved by the stories told during our "Dorcas Day Show and Tell time" when people shared the handcrafted items they made or were given and how the theme of the day about the good works and charity of Dorcas' story was woven into the fabric of our stories. Yes, it seemed like a piece of "heaven on eart

It's cold out. It's winter. My children are both napping. I do what I always do to reconnect with myself and God: I sew. I'm sewing. I love sewing. I live to sew. Instead of deep cleaning the kitchen or bathrooms, calling my sisters on the phone or sitting online pinning things to my fantasy life (i.e., clean and organized) on Pinterest, I'm sitting in an old office chair, huddled over yards of fabric and muttering to myself while ripping out a seam gone awry. When I sit down at my sewing machine, frowning slightly at my troublesome project at hand, or flicking through my fabrics for the right one, I'm sitting down inside myself. I'm opening my hands and waiting for God. And he comes for a v

If you had the chance to herd cats, cows, or sheep, which one would you want to herd? Of course, you may have heard the adage that trying to get three year olds to head in same direction is like "herding cats." Perhaps, you have heard it said trying to get church folk to head in the same direction is also like "herding cats. As well, trying to get pastors on a short break between sessions at an event to come back on time, is like...herding cats. It seems everyone is going every which way with no destination in site. And let's be honest, we could substitute any of a number of different groups in there and the result would still be the same — everyone is heading in a different direction with n