Tag Archives: community

I’m coming home

Posted on September 10, 2014 by Shawn C. Branch

I’ll confess that when I first heard of Back to Church Sunday, I thought this was ironic and had an image of someone in full clericals standing on the doorstep of the church, yelling out, “Come back…come back…we’re still here!” I’m glad that we haven’t seen that…I hope. Continue reading →

Posted in Engage | Tagged back to church sunday, church growth, community, feature, outreach, valentine's | 2 Comments

What am I doing?

Posted on September 4, 2014 by David Burrows

I was frustrated, and in a moment of clarity, I said to myself, “What am I doing? I am a priest; this cannot be the work of the church!” Continue reading →

Posted in Easter(n) Pilgrims | Tagged community, environment, Faith Formation, feature, God, identity, practice, prayer | 3 Comments

Where is my point of reference?

Posted on August 21, 2014 by David Burrows

Like the spinning compass, I feel as if my reference points are adjusting to the new learning and new encounters that I have experienced. I find myself longing for control, for direction, for ways to step forward and to step in confidence into the future. Continue reading →

Posted in Easter(n) Pilgrims | Tagged community, faith, Faith Formation, feature, God, identity, love and respect, Shake Me Up | Comments Off

The Lord in random places

Posted on August 5, 2014 by Kyle Norman

If we fully believe that God is everywhere, then these random occurrences of our lives are never really ‘random.’ They are but the subtle workings of the one who is Lord in all situations and in all places. Continue reading →

Posted in Pop Culture Piety | Tagged community, faith, feature, God, message, ministry, telephone, text | 2 Comments

I don’t want to be needy!

Posted on June 17, 2014 by Laura Marie Piotrowicz

Expressing a need does not make us needy – it actually helps us to build up community. Continue reading →

Posted in Everyday Christianity | Tagged community, feature, need, needy | 6 Comments

Encouragement and Generosity

Posted on June 12, 2014 by David Burrows

We are called to take the example of others in the faith, who have gone before us, like Barnabas. Perhaps we need to show generosity by selling or sharing the buildings and land that we have, so that others who cannot afford to live in this beautiful place may find a way for the church to bring them home. Continue reading →

Posted in Easter(n) Pilgrims | Tagged baptism, community, Faith Formation, feature, justice, love and respect, Love thy neighbour | 3 Comments

Go Big and Get Home!

Posted on May 28, 2014 by David Burrows

However we begin to address the mystery of the Ascension, we must come to the realization that it is a part of the journey of Jesus, and thus can be celebrated as a part of our faith journey encounter, each and every year. I use this time to make this the “king of feasts” for our parish, inviting parishioners and newcomers to come home, and celebrate. Continue reading →

Posted in Easter(n) Pilgrims | Tagged Ascension Day, community, Faith Formation, feature, identity, justice, liturgy | Comments Off

Life is Blank. In Search of Hope.

Posted on May 14, 2014 by Allison Chubb

Often, our brothers and sisters living with mental illness feel far away from their very surroundings, so it is no surprise that God also feels far away. They have no words to pray. Life is blank. Or: life is chaos. Where is God in the blankness and the chaos, I wonder? These are the treasures of the Church given to us in our time and place. What they seek is hospitality and belonging and hope. And that, my friends, is what we do. Continue reading →