I guess this is a good time as any to think about change. Nature is teasing us with suggestions that biting wind and freezing temperatures will soon be distant memories; I even saw a few crocuses pushing their leaves up…
When Ash Wednesday isn’t what you expect
Last week I received several expressions of gratitude for making myself available to impose ashes at two Ash Wednesday services. People said the kindest things, like: “I know you have so very much on your plate. Thank you for taking…
When Ash Wednesday isn’t what you expect
By Amy Butler Last week I received several expressions of gratitude for making myself available to impose ashes at two Ash Wednesday services. People said the kindest things, like: “I know you have so very much on your plate. Thank…
Grace as a default system
Too often, we begin relationships by assuming we experience the world exactly the same way. I recently had an opportunity to share lunch and conversation with a group of female seminarians. Over the course of the conversation I heard several…
When church really isn’t what we think it is
By Amy Butler One of the best things about being a pastor is that over the course of experiencing the pastorate you can collect really great stories. Only some of those stories can be repeated in polite company, but that’s…
5 ways to respond when your pastor actually turns out to be human
By Amy Butler Before you begin reading this column, I want you to know that I’m assuming we’re all clear on the fact that the pastor is a human being. This might sound like a strange way to start off….
When miracles fly thick
By Amy Butler There’s a short story written by Phillip Gulley, well-known Christian writer and Quaker pastor from Indiana. Here’s how it goes: I was born deep in the winter. Each birthday my father phones to recount the events surrounding…
From pride to fear
By Amy Butler Even the memory feels vaguely cheesy, as do most things Disney (in my experience). I was 6 years old; the date was July 4, 1976. For that year of my life my family lived in Orlando, Fla.,…
The downside of diversity
By Amy Butler For some time I’ve been of the conviction that cultivating diverse communities of faith is critical to living the gospel. Some tell me creating a diverse community is just not a reality for their church; the community…