Holy Week is not just the most meaningful time for Christians, it is the busiest time for clergy. This pandemic has made us so much busier, because we have to record and edit and post and do things out of order. This week I, and two members, set the altar up for Easter so I…

I will admit that I have never liked April Fools Day. It isn’t that I don’t like a good time, or a funny joke; what I don’t like is how mean it has become. Like Halloween, which should be fun (Disney does a great job with that), it has become, for many people, an extreme…

When I began serving my first congregation, I didn’t know much about most things. After just two years of seminary, I had no illusion that I had a great theological mind or a grasp on how to lead a church. One thing I did know: all people are equal and should be treated that way.…

As I have written before, I grew up in a tiny United Methodist Church in a suburb of New York City. We had a lot of pastors in my short time there: every two or three years, a student of some kind would live in our parsonage and attend Drew Theological Seminary, where I would…

In 1990, Chris and I left the NJ/NY area for a 4-year stint in Cincinnati. She matched there for her Ophthalmology Residency (and eventual Pediatric Oph Fellowship), and I decided to pursue a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Cincinnati. I also took an appointment with a small inner-city congregation, Mt. Auburn United Methodist…

Today’s image was posted on one of the group pages I belong to. Yes – it is a white Jesus on a parachute with the words “He Lives!” printed on the top of the parachute. Sure, it is a harmless toy. The problem is this: for a reason I can’t quite put my finger on,…

A year ago we had to end our Lenten Suppers very abruptly, and we were not prepared with an alternative. In fact, nobody was. Luckily for most of us, we had the technology to adapt to our circumstances, and we did it (mostly) well. This year we had Zoom Lenten Soup Suppers, and I think…

Last week I wrote about Cancel Culture. Part of my point was that, while there are things that should be seriously and unequivocably addressed – racism, sexism, anti-LGBTQ-ism, anti-Semitism (just a few examples) – canceling someone (without even trying) because they disagree with you is a sign of immaturity and intolerance. I got a variety…

No – I don’t have an answer. I wish I did – I wish I knew the way to please all sides so that we could live in peace and harmony. I don’t. I see valid points from every direction, and I see foolishness as well. Yes – we have always needed safe borders. It…