Many kids and teens today aren’t sure they want to be involved with Christianity anymore. I can’t say I blame them. After all, a lot of them are hesitant because of stories like mine. You see, today I openly and proudly identify as bisexual. I love my role as Associate Pastor of Children, Family and Youth here at Winnetka Congregational Church. I have a lot of questions about who God is. A lot of doubts. And a...
In the wake of the most recent mass-shootings – one in an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, and one in Buffalo, New York – words are inadequate. Inadequate to describe the anguish that those most directly affected (the families, the close friends, the immediate communities) are feeling. That we, as a nation, have been here so many times before makes the words feel all the more inadequate. Perhaps, even hollow.This does not mean that we...
Our kids haven’t had an easy time these last few years. As the parent of a teen, I’ve been paying close attention to the effects the pandemic and the social isolation that came with it has had on my daughter and her peers. It’s a lot to take in. Statistically, teens are more at risk than ever - 20% of high schoolers say they’ve at least thought about committing suicide, and after the pandemic, over 44%...
The science vs. religion debate has been raging for a long time. People have been surveyed. Scientists have been polled. There are whole conferences you can attend to hear all the arguments - some saying 500 years of science have made it all too apparent that God isn’t real. Others asserting, “The questions to which God is the answer are not scientific questions." The pandemic has only exacerbated the debate (and the divide) as many Christians...
This is a strange time. A time when pandemic numbers, at least here in the United States, are improving and things are relaxing… at least for now. And, yet a time fraught with images of Russia’s ravaging assault on Ukraine and of the now over 3 million displaced people pouring primarily into Poland. A time when we can see, sense, even smell the earth coming back to life as winter’s grip slowly slips. And, yet a time...
As a parent with two kids in college these days, I find myself saying goodbye...
Last week, I broke my brand new car. Well, part of it, anyway. I’m not really a “new car guy.” It’s been the better part of two decades since the last time I purchased a new vehicle. So, when I invested in a new car this year, I promised myself I’d take excellent care of it.I’ve been choosing my parking spots intentionally – no tight spaces, no messy trees, no chance of grocery cart dings or...
What’s on your Christmas season wish list? I’m not talking about your Christmas gift wish list…I’m talking about those events and traditions you’re hoping for this month. Cookie-baking with the kids? Decorating the tree? Watching holiday movies? Christmas caroling with old friends? And maybe there are others too… more in the “feelings and experiences” category… those deep down, often unspoken, almost too-vulnerable-to-name wishes most of us carry around about this time of year… for us...
We’ve been talking a lot about being an “open house” at Winnetka Congregational Church. I really love this metaphor for our church. The other day, I was thinking about why it seems so right for us, and a sound came to mind.Yes, a sound.The sound of a slamming screen door. Now, I realize for some people, that is an incredibly annoying sound. But for me, it’s a good one. A sound that brings me joy. Maybe...
I want to just start by saying, if you and your family don’t go to church, this is not meant to feel like a “should” in any way. We all have enough “shoulds” in our lives, right? I have a lot of friends who haven’t made religion a part of their lives. And I understand why - these days churches don’t have such a great reputation. Mostly seen as judgmental, exclusive, mind-numbing, too often churches can also...