She dresses us for the journey

She dresses us for the journey

by: Rev. Dr. Ralen M. Robinson She rises not because the world made it easy but because her spirit was fed and nurtured by women who guided and equipped her for life’s trials and tribulations. She speaks because generations of women urged her not to stay quiet. Grandmothers prayed over her, so she had the […]

Women of sacred presence: Stories of faith and strength

Women of sacred presence: Stories of faith and strength

by Rev. Dr. Ralen M. Robinson “Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” (Ruth 1:16) My heels echo off the floor, creating a click-clack orchestra, paving the way to the pulpit. I step onto the staircase leading up to […]

Faith Reflections: Psalm 139:1-18   

Faith Reflections: Psalm 139:1-18   

by Andrea L Walker Lately, many of us have been feeling the weight of the world. I pastor a congregation in Washington, D.C. Many of my members work for non-profits or for the federal government. I find myself standing on a Sunday, my heart being torn apart because I can see the fear and disappointment […]

Knowing your worth 

Knowing your worth 

by Andrea L Walker As a new pastor, I was often questioned and challenged about who I was, where I came from, or whether I knew what I was doing. It was a constant struggle in a congregation that never had a woman pastor before. Of course, I had done my time in seminary and […]

The grace of an unbalanced life

The grace of an unbalanced life

by Angela Denker I’m writing this article about balance at 7 p.m. on a Friday. The dishes are washed, the laundry is done, and my two boys, age 7 and 4, are downstairs playing basketball in the basement with their dad. I’m not home anymore, though. Every time I sat down to write there, I […]

Faith reflections: Healing after brokenness

Faith reflections: Healing after brokenness

by AmyJo Mattheis Sin is the source of our wounds, and forgiveness is the balm that heals. As a Christian raised in the Lutheran tradition, I believe that our baptism is at the center of how we interact with the violence and brokenness of sin. Baptism changes the way we see the world because baptism […]

Beginning again: Forgiveness and the promise of a new year

Beginning again: Forgiveness and the promise of a new year

The Rev. Minna Bothwell As the calendar turns to a new year, many of us reflect on the past and make resolutions for the future. Among the many goals we might set, one stands out as both deeply personal and spiritually transformative: forgiveness. The practice of forgiveness—of others and of ourselves—is foundational to a life […]

Time is a gift this Advent

Time is a gift this Advent

Lea “El tiempo es un regalo en el Adviento” por Kristina Diaz en Español. by Kristina Diaz Time is a gift we all need, and Advent, like Lent, is a time of year that invites us to take our time to slow down. The air is filled with anticipation as we count the days until […]