NCF recognizes Nathan Welsh’s voice reading scripture, on the music team, and as father and spouse. My heart leaped to see his family at worship after so many months. Many times honored for his work as a surgical nurse who regularly goes above and beyond for his patients, Nathan spoke at the special commemoration of the
Read MoreI was trying to explain a decision that seems, at this point, somewhat nonsensical. Or doesn’t clearly benefit our family. One of the joys of raising mature children is having conversations about a wide range of topics. Including, and especially, why we do what we do. I found myself hearkening back to the process of
Read MoreThe sanctuary sat empty. Our parking lot borders a busy street, and the fire trucks are frequently active on Sunday mornings. NCF has no cemetery of green space for distanced worship. And meeting in a park never seemed quite right to me. Listening to professional recordings of our own music as I tramped through forest preserves,
Read MoreI almost didn’t open Richard Rohr’s email about how to get through the next few months. So many voices telling us what to do, I resist advice. Perhaps you also tire of well-intentioned messages. But Rohr’s words ring true: “Stand as a sentry at the door of your senses for these coming months, so ‘the blood-dimmed tide’ cannot make
Read MoreI have been thinking about investing. Our time, our energy, our money. Who invested in me? I fondly remember walking properties in the Northwest, listening to my grandfather describe the importance of a reliable water source- a deep well, a natural spring that never dried up. We clambered through construction sites, learning how to translate rough framing
Read MoreWhat would entice you to sign up for a virtual conference? I’ve wondered this, myself. I am an in-person kind of person. I like to survey the snacks, find my place at the table, flip through the handouts, arrange an assortment of beverages around me. I resist online training. There are advantages to Zoom; I realize this, with
Read MoreMost mornings, after coffee and reading scripture on my own, I listen to Pray as You Go while walking, running, or exploring a park. “Today is Tuesday the 1 September, in the 22nd week of Ordinary Time.” But it’s not. For most of us. Anything approaching ordinary time. Far from it. I listen to the birds. They
Read MoreSunlight filters through the trees. Things are heating up again, a big August burst before fall. There are moments when things seem normal. But mostly not. It has been so long since I have seen you. I hear the longing in the New Testament letters. But also gratitude. Encouragement. Strengthening communities across the distance. But
Read MoreAs we try to make sense of our new reality, Paige Weston contemplates the meaning of memorial services, and how we can re-imagine the rituals that help us process the huge changes in our lives. May her musings be a help and a comfort to us on this journey. -Renée The day after the graveside
Read MoreHow do we experience Christ, and God’s care for us? Glor Franczak relays how the pandemic has affected her- managing technology and an extensive web of friends and helpers that coordinate her daily details of living. Through these, God’s blessings flow. Thank you, Glor, for sharing the everyday graces of your life.-Renée Even before the COVID-19
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