If you value people who are older—and also your own aging—these entries will help you rejoice in the fullness of this stage of life: its gritty realities, secret joys, hidden spirituality and cherished moments—reasons to be grateful that old age is always a gift from God!
Don’t look now, but pre-Lent Sundays are heading your way. Formerly known by their numerical designations—e.g., Septuagesima—these days were markers for what was surely coming: The tones and tunes of Lent. Those names may have been removed, but not the themes: “Get ready! Lent is coming!” For a couple of years now, I have had conversations with a team of remarkable *consultants. TheirMORE...
I really like going to church on Sundays. That hasn’t always been true all of my life, but right now Sunday morning worship is one of the high points of any week. This past Sunday, one of the prayers for the day included the phrase, “Whom saints and angels delight to worship.” Referring to God, of course. The word “delight” struck me as important, an idea that I had not considered all thatMORE...
Every so often in conversations I find myself about to say something like “I used to…” Maybe the same urge comes to the surface in your conversations? If completed, the sentence would recount some skill or experience from our past that might be relevant to the subject at hand. Perhaps some part of our storied histories could add personal notes that would enrich the conversation. Perhaps our faithMORE...
(This entry is part of an ongoing collection of blogs that examine the future of congregations post-COVID19. Each entry forms itself around a question looking for clarity or even answers.) The Church has always kept its vitality because of its capacities to draw people into the realm of God’s love, and then to send them out to preach and live that Gospel. But as an institution, the Church hasMORE...
It’s that time of year when leaders might need some help. Perhaps those of us who are full of years might be the ones to *hold up our Moses’ arms! Post-holiday realities are galumphing back into leaders’ priorities: Future planning, fiscal years wrapping up, performance reviews, annual meeting reports. Some leaders might be nearly overwhelmed by start-of-year tasks, roles or responsibilities; theMORE...
(This entry is part of an ongoing collection of blogs that examine the future of congregations post-COVID19. Each entry forms itself around a question looking for clarity or answers.) Two cedar trees in my front yard regularly host a large-group gab session for sparrows, also protecting them from predators. The birds seem to derive pleasure from their flitting and chirping. They return to theseMORE...
At this time of year, I’m happy to join the throng of 1palindrome-named people—those whose names can be read backwards and forwards—carrying out our special responsibility to examine both the previous and coming years with discernment. (Ada, Reinier, Eve, Otto, Anna, Aoloa, Elle, Nolon—you know what I’m talking about, right?) These first days of a new year are the time when 2Janus-likeMORE...
(This entry is part of an ongoing collection of blogs that examine the future of congregations post-COVID19. Each entry forms itself around a question looking for clarity or even answers.) I wonder who will do the necessary work of bringing congregations into the new post-COVID contexts for churches. Some possibilities… People out to pasture An interesting idiomatic expression, hmm? Horses andMORE...
My *elderly iPhone is showing its age. Its *battery health has been waning recently. It’s moving more slowly, not loading its featured programs as quickly. It takes longer to fully charge this sturdily useful piece of technology. As an artifact within my own elderhood, this phone may be like me in some ways—losing some energy, but still looking forward to more years of sturdy usefulness. InMORE...
Over the centuries, God’s people have pleaded, “How long, O Lord?” God’s answer? When *the fullness of time had come, God sent Jesus to save and rescue the world. During Christmastide, we might characterize that pleasant-sounding fullness as the result of God’s careful planning—choosing the perfect moment, when all the right conditions were in place for Messiah to arrive. The contexts surroundingMORE...
BOB SITZE has filled the many years of his lifework in diverse settings around the United States. His calling has included careers as a teacher/principal, church musician, writer/author, denominational executive staff member and meat worker. Bob lives in Wheaton, IL.