This past Sunday, Parish Almoner Jan Freeman and I offered an adult learning session on a new experiment in disbursing the rector's discretionary fund. We're calling it "Breathing Space": a "guaranteed gift" each month, for 12 months, to each of two neighbor-partners, for these persons to use as they see fit. "Breathing Space" is inspired … Continue reading Trying to open up “Breathing Space” for neighbors
I’ve moved in!
Last week, I celebrated being named rector time certain by moving into my office at St. Luke's. When I started my sojourn with St. Luke's in January, Covid and icy weather were both raging. It didn't seem like the right moment to settle into an office. And then I got busy...maybe you know how that … Continue reading I’ve moved in!
Rector quoted in new article from “Faith & Leadership”
"Pastors are uniquely equipped to help people contemplating suicide." This new article by G. Jeffrey MacDonald, journalist and UCC minister, backs up its headline. But pastors aren't the only people who can support friends and neighbors who might be in a suicidal crisis. Fellow parishioners can, too, especially with some training. I'm the Rhonda Mawhood … Continue reading Rector quoted in new article from “Faith & Leadership”
Home again with my avian friends
I just recently returned from a vacation in London, England. My spouse, a faculty member at UNC, was teaching there, which made it possible for our fortunate family to pass two weeks in a city I enjoy deeply. Museums, the British Library, local pubs, Westminster Abbey: we enjoyed them all. There’s one thing I missed … Continue reading Home again with my avian friends
“Woman, why are you weeping?”
That's what the angels at the tomb asked Mary Magdalene in John's version of the Resurrection story. Mary was weeping because, seeing the empty tomb but not yet having met the risen Jesus, she had no explanation for what had happened to him. She could only imagine the terrible things that might have happened to … Continue reading “Woman, why are you weeping?”
Lent Madness: the Fun Lenten Devotional
Are you looking for a Lenten devotional that's fun? That will teach you something? That your whole family, household or friend group can do together? You've found it in Lent Madness: the annual offering from Forward Movement in which 32 saints are placed in single-elimination brackets, with members of the public voting daily, online, for … Continue reading Lent Madness: the Fun Lenten Devotional
Holding onto life, together
One of the benefits clergy receive, for which I’m grateful, is two weeks every year to devote to continuing education. I have used this time for retreats, writing workshops, catching up on my reading, studying conflict management, and visiting historic churches. I’m not as creative as my friends who have taken improv comedy classes or … Continue reading Holding onto life, together
Blessings, in spite of it all.
We had hoped to worship together in person on Sunday the 23rd of January. We had hoped to meet in the nave at St. Luke’s, masked and keeping a reasonable distance from each other, while still livestreaming the Eucharist to those of us who couldn’t be present. The Covid indicators looked OK—still high, thanks to … Continue reading Blessings, in spite of it all.
The Grumpy Bump
This week I attended Diocesan Clergy Day. It was at Holy Trinity Greensboro. They have a meeting room that opens with multiple french doors onto a large, gracious outdoor space. The ceiling of the outdoor space looks like a traditional church’s upside-down boat shape, with hanging light fixtures much like in church. The walls are … Continue reading The Grumpy Bump
Future of St. Luke’s Guided Imagery
When our Discerning Vision team met this month, I asked them to do this Guided Imagery meditation to invite God and their own imagination offer a vision of the future St. Luke’s. --- Get into a very comfortable and relaxed position. Focus your awareness on your breathing. Breathe in easily and effortlessly. Then breathe out. … Continue reading Future of St. Luke’s Guided Imagery
stlukesdurham.org 