Category: Friends

Sitting

Facebook has opened up opportunity to connect with people’s grief in new ways and with greater scope. As news of my “friends” trickles past me at points throughout my day, there is almost always an update about someone’s loss, someone’s sickness, someone’s tragedy. And I have been drawn near to grief that, in reality, is… Continue reading Sitting

Vacation to LA

I was preparing for an announcement I hoped to give during our worship service last week and found the following reflection written close to six years ago. I am now on the other end of this, planning and recruiting Seattle folks to join in a week of service and kinship with Church of the Redeemer.… Continue reading Vacation to LA

Crucible

A few weeks back I posted a quotation from Joanne Heim, a woman I have never met in person, but whose blog I have enjoyed reading this past year. She and her husband attended Whitworth while Doug was there, and I found her blog because of a profile in Whitworth’s alumni magazine that featured her… Continue reading Crucible

October 22nd

Ten years ago they took you Past the place where any of us could reach you, We could not pull you back to where you belonged With us I never saw the blood-covered seats Or met the girl they murdered beside you But I saw your shoes And paid for the flowers And sat for… Continue reading October 22nd

Camp Casey

We just got back from a three-day camping trip with a number of families from our church. This is an annual event for our congregation, and while my family did not attend when I was growing up here, I completely understand why this event is such a hit! Most people spent the better part of… Continue reading Camp Casey

Giving thanks

My church had planned to celebrate my recent ordination this past Sunday, however a trip to the ER Saturday evening with a sudden illness meant that I had to spend the day at home in bed. I wrote this letter to be read in my absence. Dear SCC Family, Well, this is not at all… Continue reading Giving thanks

Jesus for Joshua

This question was posed on a friend’s blog recently: The other day, a friend of mine, who is also a mother of an autistic child, asked the question, “When should my son get baptized?” I’ve been thinking about this and other related questions a lot these days. Specifically, I am wondering, “What does spiritual growth… Continue reading Jesus for Joshua

Where it belongs

Mercy and Aaron both decided to stay with me for “big church” this morning. I gave them little activity handouts and pencils, and Mercy had a bottle of water my Mom had given to her. They spent the beginning of worship waving frantically at Deb who was on stage playing bass with the worship team… Continue reading Where it belongs

Dispensers of grace

I remember moving toward the counter in a daze. Surrounded by the noise and elbows and roller bags of the Southwest ticket counter at Midway, I felt out of body, suspended above the chaos. I think it was a Sunday. A warm smile greeted me as I slid my paper confirmation printout toward the woman… Continue reading Dispensers of grace