By Rev. Denise Bender I always seem to become more aware of the weather in the autumn. I think it is because there is a tendency in Denver to have every season there is in the autumn. One day is sunny and I am watching a strawberry plant in bloom (silly thing), and the next … Continue reading Top 5 Favorite Things About Fall
Blessing of the Backpacks
Students in many parts of the country have already gone back to school, but others are still eagerly (or anxiously) preparing. If you want to acknowledge this special time of year for your community, consider having students - and teachers, and anyone else involved in resuming the school year - bring in their backpacks, laptop … Continue reading Blessing of the Backpacks
A Prayer for When the Institution Lets You Down
A Prayer for When the Institution Lets You Down Rev. Kerry Greenhill © 2018 God, you know I love you, but sometimes I find it so hard to love your people, so hard to see your goodness in the body we call the Church. What is it about humankind that makes us clutch at every … Continue reading A Prayer for When the Institution Lets You Down
Litany of Gratitude for Staff with a Servant’s Heart
by Rev. Kerry Greenhill © 2012 Let us give thanks for the ministry of small details: For greetings offered and doors unlocked for attendance entered and reminders sent for expenses processed and checks prepared we give thanks for your service in Christ’s name. For floors mopped and polished and carpets vacuumed for lilies ordered and mail … Continue reading Litany of Gratitude for Staff with a Servant’s Heart
When Love Looks Like Ashes
When Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine’s Day and Easter is April Fools’ Day, you might start to wonder about God’s sense of humor. The conjunction of these sacred and secular holidays got me thinking: is there a hidden truth in this year's calendar? After all, what could be more foolish than resurrection? And what is … Continue reading When Love Looks Like Ashes
Treasures Old and New
By Kerry Greenhill © 2017 Based on Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 The kingdom of heaven is like an old library, smelling of paper and wood and dust polished by fingers and feet hallowed by wonder and doubt full of poems, stories, certainties, questions that connect us to sages and ages past. The Kin’dom of heaven … Continue reading Treasures Old and New
Six Things the Church Can Learn from Comic Con
This weekend I decided at the last minute to attend the final day of Denver Comic Con, an annual convention celebrating comic books, science fiction, fantasy, and other popular culture, produced by the educational non-profit organization, Pop Culture Classroom. I was vaguely familiar with Comic Con from friends’ reports, social media, and pop culture depictions … Continue reading Six Things the Church Can Learn from Comic Con
Sunset in Costa Rica, by Rev. Denise
Jobs, Careers, Calling, Vocation – all require a great deal of physical and emotional energy. Those of us in ministry are probably more aware of that than in most other jobs. We encourage one another to observe Sabbath and routine self-care, and we can all agree that should be a part of our lives. We … Continue reading Sunset in Costa Rica, by Rev. Denise
When You Stop Walking on Water, by Rev. Kerry
A blessing for those stepping out of parish ministry. // The rhythms are different this side of the pulpit. Like walking ashore...
A New Year’s Poem, by Rev. Denise
Rev. Denise shared this poem with the Sacred Stones Ministries board at our meeting this month. We hope it offers you a moment of refreshment and inspiration as you look ahead to this still-fresh year as well.
