Welcoming Hope while Living in Lament

By Rev. British L. Hyrams Please read Lamentations 3 (slowly and deliberately).  If you are familiar with this text already, please read it in another translation in order to see it with fresh eyes. This chapter is not for the faint of heart and may invoke feelings of...
Lifting Up and Celebrating God’s Promises

Lifting Up and Celebrating God’s Promises

By Rev. Cathy Hoop “My whole being hopes, and I wait for God’s promise.”  (Psalm 130b, CEB) As we turn to Advent’s hope, the promise of God’s gift of incarnation, the words of the prophets harmonize with the psalmist’s cry. God has promised to “execute justice and...
The Birth of Parents Take Five Podcast

The Birth of Parents Take Five Podcast

There are a lot of great parenting resources out there…but this podcast is different. It seems to be exactly what many people are looking for and that brings Arkansas pastor, Jen Evans, great joy. And that joy just keeps on stirring inside. The podcast Parents...
Covid Keepers: Ideas to Continue in the Post-Pandemic Church

Covid Keepers: Ideas to Continue in the Post-Pandemic Church

       .   When considering how to engage families in the story of the resurrection this year, our team wanted to focus on a family activity that respected our current congregational safety guidelines. I happened to be on the launch team for ‘Twas the Morning of...
Creating More Ways to Engage with the Advocate

Creating More Ways to Engage with the Advocate

As religious educators and learners it is important that we present information and receive information in a way that best suits our ability to offer and receive the information. We have steadied ourselves to embrace the necessary shift from an in-person learning...
From APCE Cabinet to APCE Leadership Council

From APCE Cabinet to APCE Leadership Council

Growing up, I always wanted to be a cheerleader.  Why? Because I so wanted to be part of the “in crowd.”  I would secretly attempt to do cartwheels and splits in my basement, but ultimately ended up being elected the President of the Pep Club instead. As a novice...

NEW TRAINING AVAILABLE FOR EDUCATORS IN THE PC(USA)

Are you serving as an educator in your church, council or agency—either as a volunteer or as paid staff? Do you feel like you would like to have a stronger biblical and theological foundation and greater skills in educational ministry leadership? Then the Educator’s...
Sparks and Seeds:  Celebrating Pentecost and the Growing Time

Sparks and Seeds: Celebrating Pentecost and the Growing Time

After the Party After every big celebration comes the crash. Party guests go home and we collapse on the couch with a headache. The special dinner that took days to plan and prepare is devoured in an hour, leaving only a kitchen full of dirty dishes. The warmth of...
Breathe. Breathe.

Breathe. Breathe.

How far you’ve come.   Ashes to go. Foreheads or hands? Ash Wednesday in a bag. Wilderness sand and rocks on a tray. Buried Alleluias. Virtually. Lenten family practices. We could try coloring. One Great Hour or Sharing. Maybe? Holy Week planning. Palms. Parades....
What Will We Tell the Children?

What Will We Tell the Children?

What Will We Tell the Children? It was a Good Friday service I will never forget. I was perhaps eight or nine years old, and since children in my church rarely joined the adults in the sanctuary for any part of worship, my going to worship on Good Friday was a very...