Wits’ Ends Day: What Not to Say
After a discussion with my clergy group yesterday, I decided that many congregants could use some guidance in terms of interacting with their pastors–particularly in the post-worship receiving line....
View ArticleWits’ Ends Day: Summer Sermon Series
Well, preachers, we’ve made it through the high holy days. Our people expect certain things from us as we preach them through Advent and Christmas, Lent and Easter. But summer is on the horizon, and...
View ArticleWits’ Ends Day: Guidelines for Choosing Curriculum
For no particular reason, I have decided to offer some suggestions for choosing children’s curriculum. Whether it’s Sunday School or, say, Vacation Bible School, the lessons we share with the young...
View ArticleWits’ Ends Day: An Honest Sabbatical Grant Application
I’m in the midst of writing a grant application for some sabbatical and other continuing education funding. It’s so hard to write what I think I should say–and so much more fun to write this version of...
View ArticleWits-Ends-Day: Sharpie-Enhanced-Ministry Edition
While altering a National Weather Service hurricane map is . . . not cool, . . . the incident did get me thinking about how useful it could be in our ministry settings if we could, in fact, alter...
View ArticleWits’ Ends Day: Conspiracy Theories
Conspiracy theories are quite popular right now—everyone thinks that someone else is up to something secret and nefarious. And don’t be fooled; these conspiracies are not limited to the political...
View ArticleWit’s Ends Day: Reviewing the Review
We just finished a pastor/congregation evaluation process at my church. Actually, our consultant says that this is just the beginning! We have exciting work ahead as we explore the summary documents!...
View ArticleWits’ Ends Day: Holiday Fun
Hello, friends. I’m recovering from a sinus infection and haven’t had the mental energy to write a new Christmas column for you all this year. But please enjoy some holiday fun from years past: ‘Twas...
View ArticleWits’ Ends Day: Pandemic Pastor Types
I’ve been involved in several Facebook chats, Zoom calls, and email conversations with clergy from across the U.S. and around the world in these weeks of Covid-19. In these interactions—and through...
View ArticleWit’s-End-Day: COVID-19 Bingo Edition
While in “normal” times, I have very mixed feelings about bingo, right now- I’m all for it. I know we are all experiencing different griefs, pains, and hopes in our various places and vocations. This...
View ArticleWit’s Ends Day: TED Talks from Bible Characters
In these unprecedented (difficult, trying, challenging, unique, uncertain, etc.) times, the people of the Bible want you to feel supported and encouraged. That is why they are coming together for a...
View ArticleWit’s Ends Day: 10 Commandments of Zoom
I am the Reverend, your pastor, who invited you into this land of Zoom, out of the building where Coronavirus can spread. Thou shalt keep track of the Zoom links I send you. Thou shalt mute yourself...
View ArticleWits-Ends-Day: Church COVID-19 Survey Results
How comfortable would you be coming to in-person worship? Very comfortable. (33%) Fairly comfortable. (34%) Not at all comfortable. (33%) Comments: “Covid isn’t real and God will protect us from it.”...
View ArticleWits’ End Day: COVID Hymns
In these days of COVID, I find that some of our beloved hymns are troubling–all of that breathing and touching and singing. So I’ve re-written a few favorites to be more appropriate for our...
View ArticleWit’s-End Day: The Sweet Word of God
A few weeks ago, RevGalBlogPals president Julia Seymour invited her Facebook friends to make her choose between two entirely unrelated things. I asked her to choose between Girl Scout cookies* or the...
View ArticleWit’s End Day: What Pastors have learned during COVID
Sure, 2020 has been a rough year with lots of adjustments and some difficult losses. But just think of all the stuff we’ve learned along the way! Talk about “things they didn’t teach us in seminary”!...
View ArticleWit’s End: Weekend Edition
With thanks to all of you who have shared your ideas and stories of pastoring during a pandemic. Rev. Joanna Harader serves as pastor of Peace Mennonite Church in Lawrence, KS. You can read some of her...
View ArticleWits’ End: Coping in a time of Crisis
Dear Clergy Colleagues, It’s rough out there! Between a worldwide pandemic, the attempted overthrow of democracy in the United States, and the projected beer and Spam shortages, 2021 isn’t looking much...
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