John 20:1-18 Hallelujah, He is Risen! Let us rejoice! We have been through the valley of death with Jesus as he was beaten, falsely accused, and lynched. The events of Holy Week remind us that our savior is acquainted with sorrow and knows first-hand the kind of pain that many people endure. So often, little […]
The Day That Jesus Was Lynched
John 18:1-19:42 As we enter this weekend, many of us are preparing for Easter Sunday. Will the weather cooperate with our sunrise service and Easter egg hunt plans? What will we eat? Do we have special clothes for the little ones to wear for our photos? We look forward to worshipping and proclaiming, “Hallelujah and […]
Faith like the Syrophoenician Woman
“From there he set out and went away to the region of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know he was there. Yet he could not escape notice, but a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately heard about him, and she came and bowed down at his feet. Now […]
Emerging from a Liminal Year
2020 was a year we will ever forget. There is no doubt that for many people, this past year may have been one of the most challenging in their memory. There have been too many lives lost, jobs affected and businesses who are struggling or who have had to close. Some are struggling with the […]
Claire…ification: It’s Time for Women to Rise Up!
Several months ago, I was exposed to a documentary called Pray the Devil Back to Hell, a story about ordinary women who had extraordinary courage. It is the untold story of women in Liberia who brought a warring nation to its senses…armed only with the courage of their convictions. I highly recommend it! The women […]
Claire…ification: Am I like Jonah?
Earlier this week, I read from Richard Rohr Daily Meditations that “Change is Inevitable” during this week’s theme of “Wisdom in Times of Crisis”. We read about how change normally refers to new beginnings, but in the mystery of transformation, more often happens not when something new begins, but when something old falls apart. And […]
Claire…ification: Life Update from Claire
I’ve started and stopped writing a number of times over the last few months, but I just wasn’t sure what I wanted to say, so I chose not to share much of anything! When I left my position in December, I entered into liminal space. Here’s a Claire..ification column I wrote about that in early […]
Claire…ification: Living in Liminal Space
Liminal space is the time between the “what was” and the “next.” It is a place of transition, a season of waiting, and not knowing. Liminal space is where all transformation takes place, if we learn to wait and let if form us. Richard Rohr, one of my favorite authors and theologians describes liminal […]
A Time of Spiritual Gestation
Mary, the mother of Jesus inspires me. Like Mary who sought out Elizabeth when she learned that she was pregnant, I have been drawn to a few spiritually wise companions in recent weeks. One of my “Elizabeths” told me about a book and how relevant it was to our ongoing conversations. I ordered a […]
A New Thing in My Life (Part 2)
Last week I posted the message below on my Facebook page, and it will be my last Claire…ification message to the Capital District. There seems to be a lot of curiosity afloat since I’ve announced my resignation as the Assistant to the District Superintendent of the Capital District of the UMC. I appreciate the Facebook […]