Staff Trax

This Sunday, Jan. 6, the season of Epiphany begins with the Magi giving their precious gifts to Jesus. Did you know that many countries celebrate gifts from the Magi instead of Santa? Children in Latin America write letters to the Magi detailing their good behavior and asking for presents, while children in Spain leave straw in their shoes by the door for the Magi’s horses on Epiphany eve,…

One of the things I love about our current times is that people feel empowered to make a real difference for others. Generations ago, we relied on large organizations to help those in need, but now the power of one person’s idea can create a tidal wave of kindness and giving. This time of year, with the cold of winter and holiday generosity, we really start to focus on being champions of peace…

The dichotomy of Thanksgiving week makes me cringe, but also laugh with the irony: we are given the excuse to do nothing but cook, eat, and be with those we love as we give thanks Thursday, and then jump right into the Christmas shopping craze. I think it’s brilliant that Tuesday of next week is now called Giving Tuesday, to encourage us to give to those less fortunate before we spend all…

I have several dear friends who have lost loved ones in the last few weeks: two are grieving their mothers, and one is a widow at age 47. I scrambled to do what I could to console them, but words are hard to come by with such loss.

I tend to go from my own experience when trying to ease grief, and my greatest comfort when I lost my dad was the memories people shared of how he touched their…

Our ninth graders at Salem have spent the last month or so writing their statements of faith. They will share them with us during services on Oct. 21, in preparation for their confirmation the following Sunday. One of these amazing kids happens to be mine, and she has invited me on her journey to discover what she believes, and how to put it into words.

Have you ever attempted to share…

I love that our youth are leading worship this Sunday with this scripture from Mark 9:37: “Whomever welcomes one of these children in my name welcomes me … and the One who sent me.”

Our church works hard at being welcoming, and if you want to see that in action, come on Sunday and watch our youth joyfully lead worship. They have been encouraged since they were little to stay in…

I know we have a lot of writers in our congregation, and I think what they do is amazing. Words have so much power in helping us interpret and navigate our lives — they can confuse or make clear the intent of the message. The Bible is a great example, with its many different languages and interpretations of scripture.

Here’s an example from this week’s scripture, Mark 7:15, from…

I absolutely believe in miracles. If you’ve worked with me, you know that I’m all about the big picture — if something amazing occurs, I don’t question the details or try to figure out the magic. I’m married to an auditor, so I leave the explanations to him!

My take on unexpected blessings is to give thanks for the wonders, and keep searching for more. I have a friend who calls…

Salem’s kids are performing their summer musical in both services this Sunday, which means I’ve been singing, dancing, and acting with our youngest talent every morning this week. Believe it or not, as much as I love it, the music is not my favorite part of our summer musical camp! What I absolutely love is experiencing scripture through the eyes of a child.

Monday morning, we met for…