1953-2013

My Final Column for the Voice as President of the Congregation

Here I am writing my final column for the Voice as president of the congregation. The time has passed so quickly I can hardly believe it. That’s partly due to the big bite taken out of my time by the weeks during which I was incapacitated and the recovery from spinal surgery. In thinking back . . . → Read More: My Final Column for the Voice as President of the Congregation

I Am Watching This Congregation Do Great Things

I am watching this congregation do great things. Our arc is bending in a very positive direction. In addition to our full time minister and 5/8 time office administrator, in the past four years we’ve hired a full time DLRE, a music director, and a coffee server. Included in the budget for next year is . . . → Read More: I Am Watching This Congregation Do Great Things

An Island of Humanity in our Society

Two articles I read recently in the New York Times got me thinking about our church as an island of humanity in our society, and also how our church plays an important role in the health of our democracy.

One article reported that a Lutheran pastor apologized to his congregation for participating in an interfaith . . . → Read More: An Island of Humanity in our Society

I Feel Like Our Church Has Become Like The Little Engine That Could

Recently I’ve become acutely conscious of how much we are currently demanding of ourselves. I feel like our church has become like The Little Engine That Could. For those of you unfamiliar with this children’s book, the Little Engine That Could says to itself when it gets to the bottom of a steep hill, . . . → Read More: I Feel Like Our Church Has Become Like The Little Engine That Could

Blue Zones

The other day I was listening to my favorite podcast, the Diane Rehm Show. Diane was interviewing Dan Buettner who studies “Blue Zones” around the world. “Blue Zones” are places where people have extremely long longevity. Dan and others have identified five “Blue Zones” around the world. One is in Okinawa, Japan. One is in . . . → Read More: Blue Zones