You all have been graciously asking, “How was Sabbatical?” And we keep responding, “Sabbatical is going well! Six more days—four more days—” And now—we’re back, and we are working on our new response. Larry and I will be excited to share with you the gift that the last two months has been for us and […]
Is God really good? Because this is awful.
Twenty people came into a video booth after the worship services this past weekend and shared their stories of being in need of healing. They shared why they reached out to Jesus and how they were healed, just like the woman in Mark 5:24-34. I didn’t realize how much I needed these stories until I […]
Crazy hope amidst difficulty
More than four years ago now we shared with Chapel Hill about suffering with infertility. It was one of those moments on which our life has hinged. Our seminary professors advised to keep some parts of our lives to ourselves—some are just too vulnerable for the pulpit and recording. But I felt compelled, truly, by […]
Is There Room for Me?
The last thing you want your church community to ask you to do is to add one more thing onto your calendar. I get it. But do we really want reams of checklists and pages on the calendar without meaningful people in the midst of them? Without noticing how much you’ve grown from one season […]
Help a Sister Out!
You know this moment: life transition. You don’t know where anything is. Can’t find a rhythm to save your life. You go to bed at crazy hours. Workout, what’s that? Oh—you want to ask about my soul? Seriously, did I eat recently? I can’t remember. I hope you had a tribe of people to get […]
Death and Life: Ash Wednesday and Communion
One particular Tuesday in 1995 ruined my love for moon pies. I had loved them as a child. I was raised where moon pies are the local fan favorite, much like Tillamook ice-cream. They’re the perfect combo of chocolate, marshmallow and soft cookie yumminess. But then that fateful Tuesday happened. Fat Tuesday. Attending a family-friendly […]
Get Outside
The Lord answered a very specific prayer of mine in June. I have lived in the same house just a mile from church for 4 summers now. I knew the names of the neighbors on either side and across the street for both the kind of reasons you’re glad for and the ones that aren’t […]
Stay & Pray
Last year, I met Maggie at the women’s retreat. She had met Bridget when she registered for MOPS and then made another connection with Bridget’s sister-in-law the next day. Maggie and her husband just moved here, and she was about to have a baby. Bridget went out on a limb: “Do you want to come […]
Give Up or Give Away?
Lent begins next week on Ash Wednesday with a worship service in the Memorial Chapel at 7:00pm. If you aren’t sure what Lent is, it’s a season the followers of Jesus have recognized since just a few generations after Jesus rose from the dead. This is a time to slow down, be reflective, and prepare […]
Welcome to Advent
This is the first week of Advent! Advent comes from the Greek word adventus which speaks to the second coming of Christ. When was the last time you actively thought— I wonder when Jesus is coming back? I know the things I’ve waited for more recently are for the milk in the bottle to get warm, for […]