From Access to Equity: Women’s Pathways into the Church “Wherever two or three women gather together . . . the men get nervous.” Judging by the laughter in the room, Molly Marshall’s sound bite of wisdom hit the mark. Marshall,…
Read MoreOrdinary Time XII
Revamping Keeper of the Fire Hi, Friends – Thanks for stopping by my blog. Keeper of the Fire has been a part of my work for nearly four years now. Time for another revamp! And I need your help! Here…
Read MoreOrdinary Time XI
Late Summer Six-Word Stories We’ve just turned the corner from summer to autumn. Before the warm days slip away entirely, I want to share a few late summer six-word stories.* Most are from trips in September. The first three were…
Read MoreOrdinary Time X
An Open Letter Seeking Support for Equity for Women in the Church September 17, 2013 Dear Friends, I’m just returning from a great trip to England and Scotland. My purpose for the trip was to present a paper about the…
Read MoreOrdinary Time IX
“Living Testaments: How Women’s Ministry Renews Ecclesial Imagination for the Church” Baptist women and Roman Catholic women. Called to ministry in denominations that don’t ordain women. Stories of four women will help me show how their lives are both a…
Read MoreOrdinary Time VIII
Opposing War 9/4/2013 I just sent this letter to my representatives. ++++++++++ Dear Rep. Cooper and Sen. Alexander: Please accept my urging that you oppose U.S. military action against Syria. While allegations of chemical weapons attacks are extremely serious, the…
Read MoreOrdinary Time VII
Planting Sequoias Last week I traveled to the Northwestern U.S., land of giant sequoias and redwoods. I’ve been thinking about sequoias this summer, thanks to my congregation’s shared “Season of Green” during Ordinary Time. The first Sunday of Pentecost we…
Read MoreOrdinary Time VI
Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman are My Neighbors On Saturday night I went downtown. I felt safe and happy walking through an urban center and meeting up with friends for dinner. When I arrived home from the evening out, I…
Read MoreOrdinary Time V – Remembering Will Campbell
Remembering Will Campbell: Does Anyone Here NOT Know Amazing Grace? Memorial Service for Will Campbell, Mt. Juliet, Tennessee Saturday, June 22, 2013 Sitting under the words “Love your enemies” I feel my heart swell. They are painted on the…
Read MoreOrdinary Time IV
James Lawson’s Homily for Will Campbell’s Memorial I am currently seeking permission to share a full transcript of Rev. James M. Lawson, Jr.’s Homily from Will Campbell’s Memorial Service. Please check back. Thanks, Eileen
Read MoreOrdinary Time III
Practicing Resurrection II This picture is part of a series of six-word stories that capture Wendell Berry’s provocative idea of “practicing resurrection.” In late April the pathway around a lake near my house flooded. The walkway and surrounding fields were…
Read MoreOrdinary Time II
Practicing Resurrection I During Ordinary Time this summer, my congregation is taking a point of departure from Wendell Berry and crafting worship around “practicing resurrection.” We are looking to the created world to see what speaks to us of God’s…
Read MoreOrdinary Time I
Supermoon Tonight’s moonrise over Nashville was impressive. A few times a year the moon is closer to the earth when it reaches full, and actually appears larger that usual. A supermoon. Tonight is one of those nights. My telephoto lens…
Read MoreEastertide III
A Six-Word Story* ____________ * This idea came from Six Word Story Everyday. At that site contributors offer pictures worth a lot of words, but they only use six to tell each story. Since that discovery, I’ve posted a number of these short…
Read MoreEastertide II
Beyond Our Wants and Fears Note: This week’s lectionary readings include Psalm 23. My congregation followed the Good Shepherd throughout Lent, inspiring this story. Saturday “Maaa-maaaaah!” The wail comes over my phone. It’s late in the afternoon following a beautiful…
Read MoreHoly Week VIII
Holy Week | Postcards Silent Saturday This Holy Week has been full with my family’s travels across South Florida. It has been a good practice to share digital postcards with family and friends this week as we were away for Spring…
Read MoreHoly Week VII
Holy Week | Postcards Good Friday Mama hens, baby chicks, and roosters have the run of Key West. They can be heard at all hours and seen roaming every street, beach, alley, and yard. Each rooster crows with more vibrato than…
Read MoreHoly Week VI
Holy Week | Postcards Maundy Thursday From an amazing treehouse hammock in South Florida, I’m thinking about Maundy Thursday and Jesus’ commandment to love (John 13:34-35). I have taken this to be the highest directive from Jesus most of my adult…
Read MoreHoly Week V
Holy Week | Postcards Wednesday As we move deeper into Holy Week, today’s digital postcard taps into deeper harms and betrayals as well. For all the beauty of the places we are traveling on Spring Break this week, and all the beauty of…
Read MoreHoly Week IV
Holy Week | Postcards Tuesday Today’s digital postcard is the third in a series of posts from our travels this Holy Week (and Spring Break for my family). This photo comes from standing in line near the “southern most point” in the…
Read More