(My 43rd birthday cake - a few years ago) When I was a child I was intrigued by my mother’s coin collection. She had bicentennial quarters and wheat pennies, both of which were minted before I was born. I was especially intrigued by her stories of celebrating America’s bicentennial. [...]

(Bissel Cove) 1 Thessalonians 5:17 exhorts us to “pray without ceasing.” That’s a pretty tall order. Afterall, we do have other things to do! Prayer, however, is something we can do with each breath. Each step we take through a day can be a prayer - a connection [...]

(Catedral Basilica Menor de San Juan Bautista) This past weekend I was in San Juan with my daughter and had the opportunity to sit for a while in two beautiful Catholic churches. In those quiet, cool spaces I found myself praying about some things I had been wrestling [...]

I’ve spent a bit of time in church camps this week. Earlier this week Laurie Mokaba, moderator, and myself toured ABC of CT’s Camp Wightman and today I am writing this from ABC’s Green Lake Camp and Conference Center. I’ll talk more about how close to my heart camping is [...]

Last night the rain held off just long enough for our Bible study group to roast a few marshmallows over a bonfire (not the one pictured above, that was from a few weeks ago). One of our group members reflected on how mesmerizing fire is to watch. The thing about [...]

Last night I spent some time at my loom. I hadn’t been able to get to the actual weaving before my surgery in February, but my loom had sat warped and ready for almost three months. I discovered yesterday that a warp thread or two are out of pattern. But, [...]

Yesterday I visited a local tulip farm (Wicked Tulips Flower Farm in North Kingstown). Friends, my first look at those tulips took my breath away. But, one bed in the display garden struck me as particularly fascinating - it was filled with all purple tulips except one orange and yellow [...]

Each spring when the blooming cherry tree in front of the original building is dressed in all her spring glory, I am reminded of Spring 2022. On April 24th of that year, this congregation and this pastor committed to walking together in faith and ministry. That tree will always remind [...]

I am writing this from Cleveland, Ohio, where the American Baptist Home Mission Society’s “Space for Grace” conference for pastors and spiritual caregivers has just concluded. The theme this week was “Storytelling.” Friends, I heard the Gospel story told in sermon, song, drama, and poetry of many  kinds: stories of [...]

A couple of days ago I had to walk home from the church building when I forgot that my car was being serviced. Fortunately, it was one of these beautifully warm days we have had this week. Unfortunately, I did not wear my good walking shoes that day. But, as [...]