Luke 16: 1-13 Beyond the Status Quo Most commonly this story is called “The Parable of the Dishonest Steward,” or “The Shrewd Steward.” I think this approach to the story, though generally accepted, is misguided for a couple of reasons. If, the story is about the dishonest steward, we think of the steward, the manager… Read more Worship Reflection Sunday, September 18, 2022
Season of Pentecost “The reason life works at all is that not everyone in your tribe is nuts on the same day.” – Anne Lamott Thanks for attending our Special Congregational Meeting this past Sunday. We passed a motion to adopt the proposed minor changes to the Constitution. Our next Congregational Meeting is October 2. If… Read more Moderator’s Corner 9/18/2022
Season of Pentecost “Sometimes the fact that there is nothing about you that makes you the right person to do something is exactly what God is looking for.” – Nadia Bolz-Weber It was a pleasure welcoming Rev. Charles Claycomb as our visiting pastor this last Sunday. If you were not able to attend our worship… Read more Moderator’s Corner 9/11/2022
The 28th Annual Alternative Gift Market will be held Saturday, November 12, from 11:00am – 5:00pm at the Hillside Christian Church (8330 E. Douglas Ave, Wichita). Change how you gift and change the world! PVCC will be participating with “Healthcare is a Human Right” This market is an uplifting alternative to the commercial norm—a different… Read more Save the Date!!! 11/12/2022
For most of us, arrival on the tip of the wedge blade is not life threatening. For some, it is. At my request, our Lisa Tos-Brightup gives us an account of her experience on a Christian Peacemaker Team. She adds that at the time she served, her future spouse Natalie, begged her not to return… Read more The Wedge Blade
Exodus 3:1-9 “Meeting God” When I first learned about the story of Moses and the burning bush, I thought of Moses as some kind of superhero alone on the mountain top having this strange encounter with God that was unlike anything I would ever know or ever could know. Then I read Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s… Read more Worship Reflection Sunday, August 28, 2022
Season of Pentecost “We’ve lost the plot if we use religion as the place where we escape from difficult realities instead of as the place where those difficult realities are given meaning.” – Nadia Bolz-Weber Although we’re not explicitly calling this Sunday Fall Festival, it does mark a time when we can all greet each… Read more Moderator’s Corner 9/4/2022
Psalm 133 “Living in Community” “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when people, women and men and children, live together in unity, in harmony, at peace with each other. Seems like a utopia doesn’t it. We are used to “red” states and “blue” states and never the twain shall meet. We have normalized violence… Read more Worship Reflection Sunday, August 28, 2022
Season of Pentecost “If someone’s color, gender, religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation keeps you from fully loving them – you’re doing love wrong.” – John Pavlovitz I really enjoyed getting together with everyone this past Sunday for our monthly Congregational Business Meeting and sandwich bar. We enjoyed some very creative sandwiches and conducted the business that needed… Read more Moderator’s Corner 8-28-2022
Examples of being on the point of the wedge blade abound. As previously noted, sometimes it involves taking a risk, possibly exposing oneself to an unwanted outcome, to achieve a greater good. Sometimes it involves ones considerable time and effort to help those in need. The phrase “laying down your life” does not necessarily mean… Read more The Wedge Blade