By Douglas Mitchell Associate Pastor for “Faith in Action,” Douglas Mitchell conceived the following article as a presentation for a church
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This resource for worship or study is freely available for use and adaptation. Please remember to give us a shoutout! A Printing-friendly pdf of these reflections is available HERE (7 two-sided pages). Note from the Editors Though Advent is a season
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Reflections on an Ethical Dilemma Looking Back as We Prepare to Move Forward As we approach the 221st General Assembly of the PC(USA), we prepare for a longstanding controversy to come back to the floor — divestment from Caterpillar because of its manufacture of bulldozers used to demolish homes in
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Called to Live in Intentional Communities? Samuel was sleeping in the shrine away from home, being taught by the old priest Eli, when God called him. Samuel is the one who heard God’s voice calling him in the night. Not Eli’s kids. The time described at the beginning of the
MoreFive years ago, I discovered the Young Adult Volunteer program and thought it would be a great way to transition from college to…whatever I would do after college. As a YAV, I served in Nashville, Tennessee, working with children and volunteers at Preston Taylor Ministries – an after-school program for
MoreBirth, Death, and Solidarity in the YAV Program Our Church’s approach to mission work has changed dramatically in recent decades – and continues to change! In the traditional understanding of mission, the missionary operates from a mission compound, from a position of power and control, and relates with a condescending
MoreI continue to be impressed by how deeply the 2008 recession has impacted the faith of today’s 20-somethings, and I continue to be frustrated by how poorly institutional churches as a whole have responded to this exciting and game-changing generational trend. While previous generations expected self-sufficiency, there is a strong
MoreMy son is growing up in a house with homeless people. In 2004, my wife Amy and I started an intentional community (with two hospitality houses) that centers its daily life around the practice of hospitality—welcoming the stranger. Most folks tell us that the work we do is noble. But
MoreOn the one hand we are called to play the good Samaritan on life’s roadside; but that will be only an initial act. One day we must come to see that the whole Jericho road must be transformed so that men and women will not be constantly beaten and robbed
More“I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city… a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.” -Luke 2:10b-11, NRSV (emphasis added) The “city” has been an important image in Christian theological and popular imagination since its
MoreThe Unity of the Gospel and our Common Need for God’s Compassion Urban ministry is often typified by a focus on those who live in depressed socioeconomic conditions. This type of ministry is almost always associated with conditions of poverty and Jesus’ preferential option for the poor. In reality, however,
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“Why are you doing this when you could be at the pool or playing video games with your friends?” This is the question that I loved to ask campers every summer for the four years I co-directed “Summer in the City”, a mission based camp for middle school youth in
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