Rebecca M. Blackwell

Christmas Presence

Last week our country was rocked by another mass shooting – this time at an elementary school. Such events are becoming more and more common. Many are pointing fingers at our country’s easy access to guns, lack of care for those with mental illness, culture of violence and even to the increasing secularization of ourContinue reading “Christmas Presence”

Giving Thanks Amidst the Rubble

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5.18 Years ago, I played the role of Sarah (the wife) in “JB,” a play based on the Biblical book of Job, written (in verse) by Archibald McLeish. In this play, as in many other worksContinue reading “Giving Thanks Amidst the Rubble”

Dummies and Other People

Or, how I spent my summer vacation… As many of you know, my husband is a retired magician and entertainer. As an off-shoot of his professional work, he owns a company that makes puppets, which we sell at fairs, conventions, etc.. And so it is that we recently found ourselves at a Ventriloquist Convention nearContinue reading “Dummies and Other People”

Rejoice With Me!

I celebrated the Thanksgiving of 2007 in Ghana, at the tail end of a two week mission trip with Presbyterian friends from Chicago and Bainbridge Island (Washington). We had been working with a school and hospital in the small town of Kasei (or Kase) in the far northeast of the Ashanti Region beyond the townContinue reading “Rejoice With Me!”

I ♥ the PC(USA)

I ♥ the PC(USA) I did not grow up in the Presbyterian Church. My family belonged to the Church of Christ (of the early 19thcentury Restoration movements). One of the good things I received from that denomination was knowledge of scripture. They taught me to read the Bible… and I did… and so when whatContinue reading “I ♥ the PC(USA)”