“Things Seen and Unseen” is the title of a spiritual memoir by Nora Gallagher. That title has lingered with me for many years. Faith is about things seen and unseen.

They caressed her body and gently bathed her with water and lotion. It was one of the most intimate acts I had ever seen at the time of death. She was not yet 50 and had only been diagnosed with the brain tumor a few weeks prior. And now, she was lying Read More...

My office is on the first floor of the church. But up on the third floor in a small corner is a study where I like to hide away to write sermons. I have always loved that room, free of interruptions to think and pray and reflect. But three years ago this Read More...

My day begins with Wordle. If there is time, the crossword mini. Then a glance at three newspapers. And a peek at Instagram (mostly to spy on my son, but don’t tell him) where I sometimes get lost in the recipes and fashion advertisements. Then email and the day is off and Read More...

In our rearview mirror sits Christmas, New Year's, the Super Bowl and Valentine's. And now the calendar turns to the season of Lent. Next week, on Ash Wednesday we kneel to receive ashes on our foreheads. Sometimes I dread Lent. It can feel like a smudge of gray paint muddying an already Read More...

In his new book “Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How it Can Transform Your Life”, Professor Dacher Keltner describes the importance of “collective effervescence.”

I sometimes struggle when I write this column because I want it to be inspiring but I’m tempted to make it informational. I don’t want to bog us down in the weeds of church business and yet the church is the body of Christ and though it belongs to God it is Read More...

Christians come in all flavors: Catholic, Baptist, Presbyterian, and most recently in large groups defined as unaffiliated or spiritual but not religious. Our congregation is part of a group founded on American soil during the western frontier expansion of the 1800’s. We are called “The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)”. We didn’t Read More...

In a magical setting on a snowy mountain in single-digit temperatures, we said “I do” 30 years ago. The first three years were fun but bumpy as I needed time to learn the trust that builds a mutual relationship with a life partner, and I was still seeking my sea legs as Read More...

When my granddaughter Ava was learning to talk, she would toddle over to me and hold out her arms and say “Hold You Me.” “What?” I thought. And then it hit me. I needed to fill in her still-evolving grammar. “Will you hold me?” Then I reached out my arms and scooped Read More...

The pine needles have been swept up and the snow globe boxed up until next December. Now we return to some sort of routine and for many of us, fewer tugs on our time to make the holidays happen. In this first week of 2023 I’ve been sorting through what goals to adopt and what seems like too much to promise.

The wrapping is complete, Santa’s sleigh is loaded (only some assembly required and don’t forget batteries). The day is almost here. What is it that we long for on this holy day called Christmas? I suspect that our deepest longing is what I John 4 describes as the whole purpose of God Read More...

“Do you get tired of Christmas?”my friend asked me. It was a fair question. When you work at a church, every day of December is focused on Christmas and the planning begins many months prior to December. Over the years I’ve reduced the personal traditions - baking, gift giving, decorating, and musical events - in Read More...

Every family has its Christmas traditions. One of ours is that something always goes wrong when we go to put the white lights on the tree. I try to remain calm but typically end up snapping. This year I took all the lights off the tree and started over with a set Read More...

Friends, This week we have some exciting news to share about the future of our church! Click on the video below for a long-awaited update! Grace and Peace, Carla