Tag: Faith
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Come to the Stable
Growing up, my Oma (grandmother) would invite her grandkids over to help set up the Nativity scene at her house. She would get out her shoebox filled with the chipped porcelain figurines, all wrapped in old newspapers. We would scramble to unwrap them quickly, grouping them together on the coffee table: shepherds and their sheep,…
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Leveling Up
Yesterday, May 31, we celebrated the Feast of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus’ followers and gave them the ability to speak in other languages (Acts 2:1-12). This wasn’t the first time that Jesus sent out his followers to preach in his name (Mt 10:5-15; Lk 9:1-6; Lk 10:1-12). What makes this time…
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The Best Laid Plan: Gratitude
Someone recently commented that this fall has been ‘spicy’, and I couldn’t agree more. I came into it thinking I was prepared. And I was, in the best way I could: lots of food in the freezer for busy weeks, running task lists, and thoughtful plans with flexibility. And not a single thing has turned…
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Listening to God’s Dream
The prophet Jeremiah often has to remind me that God has a plan for me, a plan for a future of hope, not harm (29:11). Lately, I’ve been asking God to share this plan by asking him to dream for me – not the random dreams I have while asleep (I don’t want ogres chasing…
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When the Good Things End
Last night I had my final middle school program until the fall. It’s a group of students I love working with. They make me laugh, lose my voice, and want to pull my hair out – usually all in the same night. But it doesn’t change the anticipation I have when their program rolls around; I don’t…
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The Non-Praying Minister
The non-writing writer is a monster courting insanity – Frank Kafka As we launch in Holy Week, I feel more and more like the monster courting insanity. Life in a large parish is busy enough in the first place, but add the extras of Lent, and other diocesan events to attend, plus trying to keep…
Lauren van Vliet, author 