Monthly Archives: May 2022

When we started talking about turning Christmas upside down, I remembered this hymn written by the late Shirley Erena Murray.  Shirley lived in New Zealand.  So much of the artwork, poetry, and music of Christmas are based on the experiences … Continue reading →

In the birth song tradition attributed to the Himba people in northern Namibia, a woman who decides to become a mother goes and sits silently under a tree and listens carefully until she hears the song of the child that … Continue reading →

A woman is barren, prays for a child, then—at last!– conceives.  In response, she offers a beautiful song of thanksgiving to God.  A great story!  Hope-filled!  Miraculous!  Inspiring! Annoying. Don’t get me wrong.  I’m happy for Hannah.  She really wanted … Continue reading →

Welcome Welcome to worship with First Congregational in downtown Asheville!  When we say welcome, we mean it–no matter who you are or what you’ve done, no matter how faithful (or unfaithful) you feel today, no matter who you love–you are … Continue reading →

Bartimaeus begged.  He was blind; he couldn’t work; his society assigned him the role of beggar.  And so, Bartimaeus begged.   Bartimaeus followed the rules of begging–doing so quietly, in the designated area, and in the proscribed way–Bartimaeus followed the rules … Continue reading →

In Flannery O’Connor’s story Revelation, the protagonist, Mrs. Turpin, accompanies her husband, Claud, to the doctor’s office.  The narrative ping-pongs between Mrs. Turpin’s conversations with people in the waiting room and her internal assessment of each person present…and assessments she … Continue reading →

The last 18 months have been hard for all of us.  The pandemic has upended our way of life.  For those of us who are still working, we’ve had to completely rethink how we do our jobs.  Here at church, … Continue reading →

Last week’s reading from Jeremiah painted a bleak picture.     Your ways and your doings    have brought this upon you, he wrote. This is your doom; how bitter it is!    It has reached your very heart.’ I looked on the earth, … Continue reading →

Have you ever gone to a park and watched the ducks?  Have you ever gone to a park, watched the ducks, and not laughed?  Allen and I have begun frequenting Lake Tomahawk Park in Black Mountain.  I’ve been watching the … Continue reading →

This time last year, the sanctuary was being painted…which meant that I wasn’t able to record worship services in the sanctuary.  Because September is the Season of Creation, and because we live in these beautiful mountains, that wasn’t a problem … Continue reading →