As Presbyterians in the U.S. prepare to celebrate Reformation Sunday on the last Sunday of October along with millions of other Reformed church members across the globe, the Presbyterian Historical Society (PHS) is once again offering a fascinating glimpse into the key events and figures of the Protestant Reformation. Read more »
October 8, 2024
Reformation Sunday resources for Oct. 27
As Presbyterians in the U.S. prepare to celebrate Reformation Sunday on the last Sunday of October along with millions of other Reformed church members across the globe, the Presbyterian Historical Society (PHS) is once again offering a fascinating glimpse into the key events and figures of the Protestant Reformation. Read more »
How do hymns do theology? How much interpretive work is possible within the limits of poetic expression? How does any of this make for more compelling and memorable sermons?
The Rev. Dr. Catherine E. Williams, Associate Professor of Preaching and Worship and the Director of Chapel Worship at Lancaster Theological Seminary, handled all those questions and more during a fascinating and engaging talk last week as part of the “Equipping Preachers” series offered most months by the Synod of the Covenant. 
Pastors receiving training from the PC(USA)’s Transitional Ministry Education Consortium learn one thing from the get-go: All ministry is transitional ministry. 
Speaking for the third time this year as part of New York Avenue Presbyterian Church’s McClendon Scholar in Residence Program on Saturday, the Rev. Dr. Brian McLaren shared his thinking on what the world needs most from Christians today. 
When word began to circulate that western North Carolina had suffered massive damage from Hurricane Helene, one of the landmarks that came to the mind of many Presbyterians was Montreat Conference Center. 
“What does it feel like to be stuck?” asked the Rev. Sara Hayden, host of the “New Way” podcast, a production of the 1001 New Worshiping Communities (1001 NWC) movement. Her guest, Dr. Corey Schlosser-Hall, deputy executive director for Vision and Innovation at the Presbyterian Mission Agency, gave both a theological answer and a personal anecdote. According to Schlosser-Hall, to be stuck is to be without confidence and faith, i.e., lacking in “con-fidelis.” Feeling stuck reminded him of driving a brown Ford Pinto station wagon in high school and having to navigate the North Dakota winters with only rear-wheel drive. Sometimes, one needs more to get unstuck and stop spinning one’s wheels than to exert more effort doing the same thing. Sometimes, one needs a group of people pushing from behind or sand to help with traction under one’s tires. 
As Stewardship Kaleidoscope 2024 opened in Portland, Oregon Sept. 23, attendees had probably seen the “Keep Portland Weird” slogan in several places. The annual conference is presented by the Presbyterian Church (USA) and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. 
The perils of the Civil Rights Movement and the need for continued racial healing and activism were apparent as the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program took a group on a humbling journey through the Deep South and to other historically significant spots. 
In preparation for its annual conference, the Association of Partners in Christian Education (APCE) has announced its educators of the year. Among the honorees is Miatta Wilson, associate in the Office for Christian Formation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Wilson has been recognized as the Enrich-Educator of the Year for 2024. Two Sustain-Lifetime Achievement Awards were also announced to honor retired educators the Revs. Roberta Dodds Ingersoll and Zeta Lamberson. 
As the one-year anniversary of the horrific actions committed by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, approaches, and the subsequent sustained response by Israel in retaliation for the taking and killing of hostages commenced, there appears to be no let-up in the violence that’s left more than 40,000 killed and nearly 2 million people displaced within Gaza. Neither does there appear to be any increased hope for a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, and fears of a wider war within the region increased when Israel launched ground operations targeting Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and Iran launched ballistic missiles into Israeli territory earlier this week.