By Amanda Hines In his book Food and Faith: A Theology of Eating, Norman Wirzba writes, “The ministries of Christ demonstrate that the path to full or abundant life is not a magical path. It is a practical journey that begins with eating. Table fellowship is among the...
By LeAnn Hampton In 1983, I needed a change. The church where I was a member was filled with wonderful people, but I was ready for a different church experience. When I visited Wilshire, I remember two things that impressed me. First, the Sunday School class welcomed...
By Abbey Adcox We gather this morning in a world marked by division, fear and uncertainty. Headlines and social media tell of neighbors treated as strangers, voices silenced and power wielded without mercy. In such times, worship becomes an act of resistance and hope...
By Ariel Merivil Tim’s sermon series this month on story has me reflecting on my own personal story and how God has unfolded the story of my life. My mom was a school teacher her entire career. In fact, many of my aunts have dedicated their careers to teaching and...
By Timothy Peoples Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston is a coming-of-age novel that follows the life of Janie Crawford, an African American woman in early 20th-century Florida, as she seeks love, independence and a sense of self. The story begins with...
By Kelly Akins I recently traveled to Vancouver, British Columbia, to attend the North American Gathering of Godly Play. It was a beautiful time of retreat, renewal and connection. On the first day, we were invited to cross the threshold, and as we entered the chapel...
By Ariel Merivil As a five- or six-year-old in Boston, I grew up in a church with a vibrant and spirited hymn and choral singing tradition. We sang classic traditional anthems and gospel songs. Alongside hymns like Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, Praise to the Lord...
By Timothy Peoples We all know the song and have sung it at parties, restaurants and in some of the craziest places we would not want to admit. According to USA Today, “Every 5-year-old knows it. It is the most frequently sung song in the English language, according...
By Scott Spreier As I sit here this morning waiting for worship to begin, I have the strange sensation that somewhere between Sunday School and the Sanctuary, I passed through a time warp and now find myself back in 1958. I’m timid “Little Scotty,” sitting...
By Katie Murray Do you ever say a word so much that it starts to sound a little strange to your ears? This phenomenon, called semantic satiation, occurs because the repetition causes your brain to focus on the sound of the word and, in that process, loses the meaning...