Fit for a Queen
By Steve Beard -- Richard Griffin, a former member of the royal security detail to Queen Elizabeth II, tells a delightful story about walking with the monarch near her beloved Balmoral Castle in Scotland and meeting two American tourists. “It was clear from the moment...
Africa Again the Stepchild?
By Thomas Lambrecht -- This week, 14 new bishops are being elected in the five jurisdictions of the United States. In a few weeks, three bishops will be elected in the Philippines and one bishop in Central and Southern Europe. All these newly elected bishops will be...
Living in Loneliness
By B.J. Funk- How well do you know the people in your pew? What lonely thoughts are they hiding behind their Sunday smile? What hurts are they keeping a secret? With so much negative news happening in our world, our church recently started a “Surprise Someone”...
Navigating Forward
By Thomas Lambrecht - With apologies to Robert Frost, one of my favorite poets, he describes the current situation in The United Methodist Church in his poem, The Road Not Taken: “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood.” Two roads are diverging within United Methodism...
Mennonites Divide Over Sexuality
By Thomas Lambrecht- The Lancaster Mennonite Conference, largest of the Mennonite Church's 25 conferences, has ended its 46-year affiliation with America's top Anabaptist denomination. According to stories in Christianity Today and Mennonite World Review, this...
A New Year Leading to a New Day
By Rob Renfroe- It's a new year. But will it be a new day for the people called Methodist? That's the question many of us are asking as we look forward to a year that will be instrumental in determining the future of The United Methodist Church. The called General...
God’s Christmas Gift of Love
In a recent sermon, the Rev. Rob Renfroe reconnects us with the true meaning of Christmas, originating in God's love. "Whatever you have done, God is for you. Wherever you have wandered, God is with you. However you struggle, God understands you. Whatever you feel...
A Snake in the Manger
By Steve Beard One of the memorable scenes in the quirky 2003 British romantic comedy Love Actually is a dialogue about a school Christmas play. Actress Emma Thompson plays Karen and her daughter Daisy (played by Lulu Popplewell) proudly announces her upcoming role in...
