A Rent in the Fabric of the Earth
Forty years ago a memorial wall, placed in a rent of the earth’s fabric, spoke eloquently to the American people about both the heroism and the futility of war. May we have ears to listen.
The Day the Chorus Sang . . . And the Journey to Get There
There is light at the end of the tunnel. There is joy after the rain. In a totally unscientific analysis, we may have already gained as many people since our Welcome Statement as we lost. Of course, it’s still early—while these people are a joy and a gift, they’re new friends. Things are still tentative, a little unsure yet. Not like the deep, decades-long, old friends who are no longer with us. In five to ten years will these new…
How I Became a Zoom Parishioner
My heart is grateful for the opportunity to worship on Zoom. It has given me respite; it has kept me lightly connected to a congregation; it has nurtured my ponderings of the mysteries of God; it has given me a glimmer of hope for the institution of the church. It has given me time to become a more dimensional person whose identity is not solely centered in the pastorate. I expect that at some point I will return to in-person…
Adoption: Two Voices
How are your churches, schools, and other religious institutions preparing themselves to deal with adoptees and foster children? When deeply traumatized children walk through your doors and push your boundaries of orthodoxy and orthopraxy, are you going to receive them with compassion, grace, and understanding?
Disaster at the Pine Car Derby
Pine cars, like Little League trophies, find their way from shelves and fireplace mantels to boxes in the garage, and sometimes reside in the heart. If, as some have said, character is who we are in the dark, the shadows of Sam’s bedroom revealed the genuineness of one boy’s heart, and the workings of the Lord in a different kind of race.
A Sacramental Moment in Hebrew Class
I was deeply moved by this simple gesture. The students and Amanda thought nothing of it. They did it naturally, instinctively. I realized that we were learning much more than the meaning of the Hebrew verbs, a’lu and ridu; we were learning to be attentive to one another and to share in each other’s learning. It was a sacramental moment, a foreshadowing of the community that Jesus has called us to be, a community in which the barriers dividing people…
Holy Little Things: Finding Delight in God’s Small Gifts
How have I become who I am to this point? I can’t point to any single event or moment, but to an overflowing pile of little experiences. I suspect that these small things, these holy ordinary times will continue to be the ones that count the most.
Latest from the Blog
Daily blog by our regular bloggers & guest contributors.
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Small MusingsHow blessed I feel that people take time to read my contributions. It feels like a privilege to hang out with such smart, thoughtful people—and that’s on both sides of the keyboard. -
What Do You Have?Jesus channels his grief into compassion. He stewards his pain, turns it into service. I’ve been asking Jesus to do the same thing in my own heart in this season.
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It Comes in Pretty HandyAs we always note this time of the year, the Reformed Journal is a labor of love. But maintaining a good website and being able to fix the glitches that inevitably come does require some money.
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Talking to PeopleI want to listen in to other people’s conversations. But it is exhausting to keep up with everything. I have learned to value particular voices in the cacophony of competitive voices.
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Something’s Gotta GiveSomeone’s gotta give. . .in order to kindle conversations that help us find a way between and through and above and beneath the suffocating and exhausting impasses. -
In Advent, all creation waitsOur creature-kin are here to help. They enact, in their responses to the dark and cold, the mystery at the heart of Advent: The dark is not an end, but a door. This is the way a new beginning comes. -
The Simplest GiftIt is such a small sacrifice, to fill our feeder with seed. The benefit and the blessing far outweighs any hardship that we could possibly have incurred. -
LifelinesThings break, disturbance and disruption come along, there’s a mess to clean up. In our culture, our churches, our politics. How do we manage? Well, one way is to find our lifelines.
Book Reviews
Poetry
Latest Podcasts
“This Cup” by Marda Messick
In this episode of the Poetry Edition, Rose Postma interviews Marda Messick about her poem "This Cup." Marda's poems have appeared in The Christian Century, Delmarva Review, and several other journals. Marda is also a retired Lutheran pastor. She used to pastor at St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Tallahassee, Florida.
“Ruach Elohim” by Bethany Besteman
Rose Postma interviews Bethany Besteman about her poem “Ruach Elohim.” Bethany Besteman works as a worship coordinator and a church administrator for Silver Spring CRC in Maryland. She's also the intake editor for Reformed Worship, and is currently working toward a PhD in English Literature at Catholic University of America.
“Leaning” by Sean O’Neill
Rose Postma interviews Sean O’Neill about his poem “Leaning.” Sean O’Neill was born in Scotland, but has lived in the US for the last 15 years. He has published fifteen books of poetry and two books of light verse. He is also the author of the best selling book, How to Write a Poem: A Beginner's Guide. When Sean is not publishing books, he is translating Italian and French books into English. You can find more of his work at…
“Litter Me” by L. Ward Abel
In this episode of the Poetry Edition, Rose Postma interviews L. Ward Abel about his poem “Litter Me.” L. Ward Abel’s work has appeared in hundreds of journals including a nomination for a Pushcart Prize, and he is the author of three full collections and ten chapbooks of poetry, including his latest collection, The Width of Here. He is a reformed lawyer, he writes and plays music, and he teaches literature. Abel resides in rural Georgia.
“Grief” by Ann Iverson
In this episode of the Poetry Edition, Rose Postma interviews Ann Iverson about her poem “Grief." Ann is a writer and artist. She is the author of five poetry collections: Come Now to the Window by the Laurel Poetry Collective, Definite Space and Art Lessons by Holy Cow! Press; Mouth of Summer and No Feeling is Final by Kelsay Books. Her poems have appeared in a wide variety of journals and venues including six features on Writer’s Almanac. Her poem "Plenitude" was set to a choral…
“Canadian Summer Psalm 23” by John Terpstra
In this episode of the Poetry Edition, Rose Postma interviews John Terpstra about his poem “Canadian Summer Psalm 23.” John is a poet and non-fiction writer residing in Canada, as well as a long time furniture maker and carpenter currently working on practicing retirement. Check out his poetry collections In the Company of All and Wild Hope, and find out more about John at http://johnterpstra.com/.
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