Blogs
Honest questions. Genuine experiences. Fresh insights. Stirring thought.
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How one member prepared her thought before a lecture. more
by Elise Moore
Why do visitors come to our church and what will meet their human and spiritual needs? These are questions I ask myself frequently. There may be many answers. But as I visit congregations and lecture for branch churches, I’ve begun to think of people who visit our churches or attend talks as coming for comfort, forgiveness, and healing. more
by Annette Dutenhoffer
Just as God’s house in Solomon’s time was filled with the glory of music, ours is too. more
by Peter Jackson
The branch church where I’m a member is a lovely, grand building, situated on one of the main roads leading into the heart of town. It has a happy membership, who makes up for their modest size with their dedicated efforts and loving unity. It is an ideal place, you might say, for inspiring worship, sharing, and learning.
It’s true, however, that within this sturdy edifice on a typical Sunday morning, the number of seats in the auditorium far exceeds the number of congregants.
by Jenny Lobl
Recently, I’ve been considering Jesus’ parable of the sower in relation to praying for our church services (see Mark 4:4-20). It’s giving me some food for thought about being alert to the ways error might suggest itself to us, dampening our receptiveness to the Word when we’re attending a church service, or even try to talk someone out of being at church at all. more
by Jane Mirianki
Church’s role in healing is very important to Christian Science. Anytime I pray, I feel united with Church and its goodness. As a Christian Scientist, it is my duty to pray daily and to understand God’s presence in church.
For many years our Christian Science Society had desired to be the First Church of Christ scientist, Nanyuki, Kenya. But whenever we were ready to apply to become a branch church something would come up and we would forget the whole thing. more
by Evan Mehlenbacher
Church is more than just a building. It’s the house divine Love built for God’s children to live in. more
by Terry Ann Homan
The story of Elijah inspires one member to see Church in a new light. more
by Louis Benjamin
A poet grasps a glimpse of the true nature of church. more
by Joni Overton-Jung
Sometimes I am tempted to feel saddened by the disparity of what church/religion/spirituality should or could be versus what it sometimes looks like on the surface. Or I am tempted to feel impatient with what sometimes may seem like the glacial pace of spiritual progress in myself or others. When this occurs, I am prompted to reflect on transformative, transcendent glimpses of grace—to rise up in thought and heart to feel the actuality and presence of God here, everywhere; to move past dormant, dark, dreary thoughts of life to catch the impelling, illumining light of Christ. more
by John Biggs
Is church a building that some folks go to on Sunday, Saturday, Wednesday, or Friday? Is it a place or thing that some people love, some people hate, others avoid and others still can’t seem to find the “right” one? Is it an experience dependent on the charisma of the pastor, rabbi, imam, or sheikh? If you go to church, is it more or less vibrant based on your church’s integration with multimedia, unified singing, youth attendance, and location?
by John Biggs
Something I love about my branch church is how warm it is. Living in central Oregon, I certainly do appreciate the literal warmth of the church on a chilly Wednesday night! But what I’m most grateful for is that deeper, abiding sense of warmth, which welcomes, comforts, and encourages all, no matter what the season is. more
by Matthew Hoffman
Have you ever found yourself making excuses about why you can put off doing something you know will bless others and is good for you, too? I used to think that attending church and participating in occasional events and substitute teaching was “enough” because I didn’t seem to have time to do much else due to the ever-increasing demands of family and work. Boy was I wrong! more
by Catherine Revels
Even when I arrive on Wednesday evening feeling burdened or tired, I always leave more buoyant—often singing as I walk or drive home—and I carry this feeling of buoyancy with me into the rest of the week. . .Wednesday evening meetings have also taught me the value of appreciation. more
by Kate Robertson
A Christmas hymn sing helps a mother heal and find peace. more
by Abby Hillman
I often teach the youngest classes. Here are some of the things that I’ve found useful—sometimes as a springboard for sharing spiritual ideas, sometimes as practical exercises in becoming familiar with the Bible more
