“What a great idea to train Ohio’s workforce to be disaster responders! Everyone should do this.” -- Lisa Brownell As a program manager for Ohio’s State Historic Tax Credit Program, Lisa Brownell is used to traveling around the state to find ways to rehabilitate and save historical commercial buildings. With M.A. and Ph.D degrees [...]
Whether we know it or not, Warner Sallman has influenced us. We may not recognize his name, but most of us have seen his “Head of Christ,” the painting depicting a gentle white Jesus with blue eyes turned heavenward and dark blond hair cascading over his shoulders. Sallman’s painting has been called the [...]
We are in the middle of Holy Week, the last week of Jesus’ life. For many centuries, Christians have reenacted these days, following from Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, through his final teachings to the Passover meal that becomes his Last Supper, to the prayer in the garden, betrayal, arrest, mock trial, [...]
Here in Columbus, Ohio and throughout the United States, we have been heartened by the numbers of people getting vaccinated against Covid-19. In casual conversation we’re talking about our experience of getting the vaccine, or our desire to receive it. Overall, we’ve been encouraged by our country’s acquisition of and distribution of the vaccines. In [...]
This past week I heard Anne Lamott talk about teaching Sunday School. Lamott is a successful writer, sought-after speaker and a Presbyterian. She attends a small church in Marin County, California where she teaches Sunday school. Pre-pandemic, most weeks, her class did something she calls Loved and Chosen. Here is how it goes: First, Lamott would [...]
My environment affects me more than I would care to admit. As someone with Seasonal Affective Disorder (seasonal depression), the past several months have been quite difficult. If you are unfamiliar with Seasonal Affective Disorder, here is a quick definition from Web MD... Seasonal depression is a mood disorder that happens every year at the same time. A [...]
The other day, someone challenged me to identify the five people who have had the biggest impact on my faith. It was tough to narrow it down. My final list included three pastors and two lay people. Four of the five have died. They are all amazing people who showed me what it means [...]
Beloved, this isn’t the year to give up. It’s not the year to deprive yourself of the little joys to which we’ve clung. It’s not the year to focus on mortality, to sit in the ash heap, or to wallow in the depth of sin and brokenness. This is the year to remember that from [...]
Today is Ash Wednesday. It’s my favorite church day of the year. I love this yearly reminder that we are dust and to dust, we shall return; that we are mortal, finite. All of us have an expiration date. Remembering our mortality has the power to keep us humble, grateful, justice-seeking, and right-sized. One of [...]
Next week, on Ash Wednesday, we will do what we always do on that day - talk about the truth that we all are going to die. That hard reality is one we’d rather avoid. And yet, here we are, reeling with 468,000 deaths from COVID-19 in the U.S., and with 2.35 million deaths worldwide [...]
