“…The church cannot make people know each other. But we can facilitate connections with Christ and each other. We already do this, of course. Plenty of people feel connected. For those of us who do, Jesus calls us to share this blessing with others by making new connections and by willingly sharing our joys and sorrows. When we do, others feel more than included. They feel loved. They know they belong.“

“…intentionality is required as we seek ways to experience eucharist together. It doesn’t need to be around a meal or take place on our campus or become complicated by guidelines and ritual. Experiencing eucharist can be as simple as the newcomer lunch or sharing coffee at The Avenue Coffeeshop in Broad Ripple or whatever other ways we create spaces to share our stories, to listen to each other and to affirm ourselves as siblings in Christ.”

“…we need to offer God’s blessing freely, abundantly, generously, and equally to all who seek the love, grace, and affirmation of God through Christ. If we can’t do this, perhaps we shouldn’t offer any blessing at all. Has the church not driven enough people away with our centuries of judgments, restrictions and exclusions?”

“I’m always interested in book recommendations, so feel free to share books you’ve enjoyed. I added several of your recommendations from July to my book list for 2024. There’s so much to read!”

“…’Life’s mysteries and miracles are ours to seize and share, beginning this year and never ending.’ … it is acceptable to set aside our to-do lists, to make time to sit, to watch, to be grateful and then to share with others all that God gives us.”

“…the birth of Jesus reminds us that God is with us in the midst of the suffering. And by “us” I mean all of us, all of humanity. God is with the innocents, suffering with them and weeping for them….This Christmas, dare to hope. It is one way we can shine the light of Christ in a dark world. “

“…Christmas celebrates the wonder of the Incarnation; of God the Creator becoming flesh and dwelling among us (John 1:14); of God arriving as an infant to live among us in both the good and the bad of our world as well as the joys and the sorrows of our lives. At its best, Christmas inspires awe that God loves us enough to dare to do such a thing. “

“Advent waiting is not an invitation to passivity (Beth spoke of this in her excellent sermon this past Sunday). Jesus tells us to “keep awake” (Mark 13:35) not so we lie hopelessly in the bed but to encourage us to step out into the dark. Why? Because one of the paradoxes of our faith is that it is from the dark that we see Christ’s light emerging. Being awake and active in the dark allows us to participate in the emerging new dawn of God’s justice, peace, grace and healing.”