From the editor: Making space for grace
God’s grace is yet moving in our midst, reaching out to us, even though our lives be entangled in the brokenness and injustice of the times in which we live.
There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, ’cause we’re all coppers: The Discworld Night Watch as a metaphor for church community
Jesus understood the value of a good parable to make a point understandable. In reading the Discworld books, I am certain Terry Pratchett did, too.
One minute is better than no minutes
Good church leaders tend to have high standards for themselves. Paradoxically, that can get in the way of getting started.
When fasting becomes starving: Why Ramadan 2024 is unprecedented for many Muslims around the world
This Ramadan has brought with it vivid coverage of those suffering from famine and starvation due to the critical situation in Gaza. As we witness these circumstances, our hearts sting as we see full platters in front of us, especially when we see uneaten food going to waste.
“You forgive us, we’ll forgive you” – The theology of John Prine
In the myriad streams of music that seem to think God and Country are one word, in the choruses of gospel music that claim God fixes everything for the faithful, in the hymnody of the church that sometimes overpromises the victory and understates the trials, we still need Prine’s commitment to tell the truth about a life of faith.
Affordable housing: YIGBY (“Yes in God’s Backyard”) movement seeks to counter NIMBY movement
As houses of worship close across America, pairing this surplus of faith properties with the national deficit of affordable housing appears to be a match made in heaven. What are the challenges and the opportunities?