by Rozella Haydée White Lent is my favorite church season. Lent can be a time of remembering how we have become disconnected from each other and from who God intended us to be. During Lent, we are invited to remember and relearn who we are as God’s creation. Not giving up Many people think […]
by Jenna Pulkowski Huntsberger When I was a teen, my family attended a congregation that wasn’t a very good fit for us. One of my most vivid memories of that congregation is that only little kids were allowed to have food and drink in the sanctuary. On the rare occasions when I was […]
by Heidi Eickstadt Hangry. How many of you know that feeling when you’ve waited a little too long to get your lunch, your blood sugar is low, and you’re feeling so irritable that every little thing makes you feel like you’re gonna snap? When you’re famished, you can’t think straight to make a decision as […]
by Casey Parrett The season of Advent and the secular season of “the holidays” can be both extremely joyful and deeply sad for many people. The holiday season seems to bring up feelings of joy and love, loneliness and grief – and hope. Year after year, I am filled with childlike hope and eagerness for […]
by Sharei Green I’m that person. I love Christmas. Like really love Christmas. People have even compared me to Buddy from the movie “Elf.” But beyond the lights, trees and music, my true excitement is for Advent, the time of expectant waiting before Christmas–the season of hope. During this time, I reflect on the […]
by Elizabeth McBride As we prepare to visit our loved ones over the holidays and plan meals with our family, friends and others, here are some of Café‘s most popular articles on the topic of being thankful. Each article offers thoughtful discussion questions to start your conversation. A perfect topic for your Café group. […]
by Amanda Bornfree On a Sunday evening, my one-month-old baby girl starts making hunger cues with her soft little heart-shaped lips. She pushes them out as she sits in a bouncer at the door of our bathroom. I’m in the bathroom with a blob of hair conditioner in my wet hands, telling my six-year-old […]
by Tiffany C. Chaney Like most of us these days, I can say that my career path hasn’t been a straight line. I’ve moved across state lines for work five times – twice even across the country! Looking back at all these twists and turns in my professional journey, I can see now […]
by Meghan Johnston Aelabouni A year into my first call as a youth and family pastor, a man named “Fred” started volunteering with our high school youth group. Fred was exuberant and charismatic. He showed up early, stayed late to clean up, and took vacation time to help lead the mission trip. Best of all, […]
by Jana L. Howson My grandmother-in-law-to-be told me on the night before the wedding, “Never do anything in the first week of marriage that you don’t want to do for the rest of your life.” While that might be a bit of an exaggeration, the first year of marriage is a time to set […]