working for the unity of the church and the wholeness of communities through collegiality, collaboration, and connectedness

Dear friends, I loved absolutely everything about the John 17 Awards Afternoon Tea that Christian Associates hosted on August 30. I loved the opportunity to recognize Bishop David Zubik and Bishop Kurt Kusserow for their longtime service to church and community. I loved seeing a room full of ecumenical and interfaith colleagues greeting old friends, making new connections, and enjoying each other’s company. And I absolutely loved the scones with clotted cream and the petit fo

Dear friends, It is no small privilege for a white girl from New Hampshire to stand in the pulpit of a Black congregation. I grew up in a community that was almost entirely monochromatic. As a child, my only knowledge of Black history and culture came from classroom Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebrations and The Cosby Show on TV. As an adult, I’m so grateful to the Black colleagues and friends who have vastly expanded my perspectives and had patience for my mistakes. For a p

As he reflected on his mission to walk on the moon fifty-five years ago, astronaut Edgar Mitchell reflected on the shift in perspective that comes from seeing the Earth from space. (Warning: he uses saltier language than typically appears in these pages, but I think his point is well taken.) “You develop an instant global consciousness," he said, "a people orientation, an intense dissatisfaction with the state of the world, and a compulsion to do something about it. Fro