Letter to the Editor– Associated Press

An article appeared yesterday in the Associated Press with a headline that I felt was way off. Here is my letter to the editor of the AP. Dear Editor, I am writing to express my disappointment and anger over a very poorly worded headline "Was Fla. shooter a vigilante or good neighbor?" article by Mike…

Diary of a Delegate: Abortion and the language of abuse

The following conversation will be very blunt, and may not be for the faint of heart. Persons having experienced pregnancy loss may want to skip this one. Being on the Church and Society 2 Committee for General Conference means that, in addition to reading and talking about homosexuality a lot, I also have the privilege…

Light a candle for healing

Today, World AIDS Day, I remember a friend, Steve, who lost his life to AIDS, and many more who I won't name, but carry in my heart. We seem to hear less and less about AIDS each year, and I don't know if that's because we are doing a better job preventing and treating HIV…

On Veteran’s Day

Yesterday afternoon, a 35-year-old veteran died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the middle of the Occupy Burlington encampment in City Park (read/view the stories from the local news and the AP). While many have been quick to rush to judgements and political statements about the occupy movement, my colleague Mark reminds us not to…

Because you had a bad day

Today is a rough day. In the past 24 hours, waves of loss and worry have swept the world-- the world out there and the world closer to home. As with any disasters, personal or global or anywhere in between, I feel a bit at a loss under the weight of all that pain and…

Prayer after violence

We are all broken people. Comments offered at prayer time in church for those involved-- victims, survivors, and perpetrator-- in the violence in Arizona.

Of darkness and discourse, culpability and connection

I try to refrain from being overtly political on my blog, but politics and theology (and ministry especially) are intimately linked, and the attempted murder of a Congresswoman, by definition, is a political issue. These are my rough thoughts following the massacre in Arizona, which took the lives of six people, and wounded 12 more,…

“Words Matter” guest blog post by Rev. Bri Desotell

This sermon, "Words Matter," was preached in observation of Children's Sabbath on 10/10/10 by the Reverend Bri Desotell, United Methodist pastor in Oscoda, Michigan. It is reprinted here with permission. Words Matter This is not the sermon I intended to preach today. You can ask my husband: this week, we’ve talked about this passage from…

Praise and Lament

I recently sat with a woman who felt more like lamenting than like praising, and together we pondered what it means to grieve, to mourn, to feel without joy or hope at times. We discussed Psalm 23, and the beautiful image of a shepherd caring for sheep, tending them, protecting them, helping them find green…

A year and then some

The one year anniversary of my miscarriage came and went, unnoticed by anyone. Including me. It was a Thursday, a week and a half ago. I was working. When I did realize it, three days later, I didn't even really feel badly about it. It's okay. Maybe even a good thing. But that doesn't make…