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Holy Saturday’s Song

Today, brothers and sisters of the Jesus-named faith, You must stop and hear the still of death The Holy One takes in no oxygen and blood does not flow Flesh grown cold Still, you and I, be still If you must move, let it be a mourning dance If you must reverberate, a groaning trance Today we re-member death’s hard truth a day of finitude, of lonely tears and deep longing for what is gone And death, people of Jesus, is today’s purpose sitting, prostrating, falling, being thrown or carefully placed into a tomb The One who loved, who spoke … Read the full post

Important Study about Race and Privilege in America

One of the characteristics of white privilege is that it is intended to be and often is invisible.  And white culture benefits without trying to discriminate, even with intentions of fairness and assumptions of an even playing field. Making privilege visible and something at which we can critically gaze is an important practice of being anti-racist.  I hope you will take a minute to explore this new study from Brandeis University that helps to make privilege visible.  

V-Day–One Billion Rising

On Valentine’s Day, February 14, all around the world people will be gathering to take a stand, to heal, and to speak out on violence against women.  Chances are there is an event near you.  Go to the One Billion Rising Website and find a way to participate.  And watch this video if you want to be inspired!

Jesus, The Missing Years

I preached this sermon, JESUS, THE MISSING YEARS, on Luke 2:22-40, at Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church in Southern Pines, NC on February 3, 2013.   Jesus…. the missing years[1] That’s how singer/songwriter John Prine starts his song by the same name. He tries to fill in the blanks of what happened with Jesus between his miraculous birth in Bethlehem and his violent death in Jerusalem. Prine isn’t alone in wanting to fill in the blanks about the things we don’t know when it comes to Jesus’ life.  From the 2nd and 3rd century writers of texts we call today extra-canonical … Read the full post

Truth and Consequences: This Feminist’s Perspective?

I am a quarterly contributor to the Feminism and Religion Blog.  My post this time around asks the same question Pilate asked Jesus:  “What is truth?”  I hope you’ll read the post and join the conversation.  I welcome your insights.  I can’t think of many more important questions for us to ponder together these days….  Peace,  Marcia

Being Anti-Racist in 2013– Happy Birthday, Dr. King

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of the skin but by the content of their character.  I have a dream today! ~ Dr. Martin Luther King, “I Have a Dream” speech, August 28, 1963 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would be 84 years old today had his life not been ended by violence in 1968.    For those who shuttered at the vision he had the courage to share with our nation during his ministry, his death no doubt was an illusory … Read the full post

New way to subscribe to the blog!

Many of you were subscribed to this blog and receiving email notifications of blog posts.  We have switched our mail system to better serve you and to increase this website’s capacity to reach out to you and to respond to you.  I hope you will take a minute to resubscribe by just clicking on the “subscribe to the blog by email” icon in the right hand column.  And if you weren’t a subscriber I hope you’ll consider signing up now. Peace, Marcia

Wilderness Voices

Advent is a time of waiting, a wilderness wandering time.  This sermon, “WILDERNESS VOICES,” draws from passages in  Malachi 3:1-4 and The Gospel of  Luke 3:1-6.  I preached it at New Hope Presbyterian Church in Chapel Hill, NC on December 9, 2012. Last week we began our Advent waiting with the invitation to “see for ourselves.”  Jeremiah and Jesus and even Abraham Lincoln called to us from their own waiting, in their own resolve.  Each man stood up straight and trusted that God’s promises of redemption are true. This week we encounter another man, John the Baptist.  Another man who stood … Read the full post

Thanks, Amazing Student Athletes from John Shoop

My husband, Coach John Shoop, has been writing for Chapelboro.com this fall about Triangle area college football.  The articles have generally been a coach’s perspective on things like game preparation, offensive philosophies, and related topics.  This week his final column is worth reading for anyone–even people who don’t care about football.  It’s about diverse community and mutual relationships–it’s about giving thanks. I hope you’ll take a look.

The Petraeus scandal has me wondering about the “David Syndrome”

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel like we’re all in Junior High or High School again with the Petraeus scandal?  There is drama at every turn with boundaries crossed and accusations slung across every lunch table there is.  

I am a quarterly contributor to the Feminism and Religion blog.  I hope you will check out my most recent post there on the Petraeus Scandal.