It’s that time of year again, when church starts ramping up after summer’s relaxed schedule. Youth rooms are filled with laughter, Sunday school finds everyone from toddlers to adults reunited with their favorite teachers, and the return of small groups elicits joy all around. These activities represent different aspects of lifelong Christian formation, one of the seven marks of church vitality that we’re exploring together this month. Our passage, Deuteronomy 30:15–20, sheds light on this mark as a lectionary selection for Sept. 8 — take time to read it now.
Religion is messy, says Lee Hale, a reporter at KUER, the National Public Radio station in Salt Lake City. And for many Americans, especially young people like the 30-year-old Hale, that messiness is something to celebrate, not sweep under the carpet.
The Rev. Dr. Paul Huh, the PC(USA)’s associate for Korean translation, used the Études of Polish composer Frédéric Chopin during Wednesday worship at the Presbyterian Center Chapel to help worshipers pray and meditate.
The Rev. Tom Willadsen of Oshkosh, Wis., has become a fixture at the Synod of Lakes and Prairies’ Synod School. The Synod School connection, when one thinks about it, is likely caramel rolls. Willadsen, hands tucked snugly into plastic gloves, personally distributes the sweet treats to breakfast diners on those days the caramel rolls are available in the cafeteria. But he’s also known for his classes, and the classes are known for humor.
I never thought of myself as a crafty person. The small motor skills required for sewing or crocheting make my brow knit in frustration. Coloring books meant to lower blood pressure increase mine. But I confess that there have been weeks where I’ve been crafting some sort of visual aid to go with the sermon I’m preparing.
@CHURCH, a new card game that invites players to consider the nature of church and how disciples are formed in it, will debut next week at the Presbyterian Youth Triennium.
Headlining the Presbyterian Youth Triennium’s music ministry is The Nettletons — PYT’s house worship band formed especially for this vibrant five-day youth-centered event. And while it’s not unusual to have a worship band at a church event, putting a band together for an event that occurs every three years can be a challenge.
