Author Archives: Rebecca M. Blackwell

  The theme of the day was “hospitality” and you could see and feel it all around.  Kids helping each other out.  Staff encouraging and listening to the campers or sitting with those who needed to cry for a minute.   Even I, a newcomer on the scene, was received with great hospitality. I arrived in the swelteringContinue reading “My Evening at Camp Cherokee”

Well, it has happened.  Citing the recent changes in our constitution, one of our congregations has asked to be dismissed to another denomination.  Several others are considering similar moves.  Some of these are congregations in which we have made considerable investments of time, prayer, energy and money.  All of them are congregations with faithful peopleContinue reading “Thinking About Denominational Division and Divorce”

I know that pride is a sin, and it IS Lent, but I can’t help but be more than a little proud of the work done by our Spiritual Development Team.  You may remember that last year, they treated our Presbytery meeting with an experience of group Lectio Divina.  After that meeting, so many peopleContinue reading “No brag… just fact”

A brief update on the book discussion for Peter Block’s “Community:  The Structure of Belonging.”  (see post from November 24, 2010).  You are invited (along with anyone YOU wish to invite) to come to the Presbytery office on Groundhog Day (Feb 2, 2011) at 11:30 to join in conversation about this book.  Please bring yourContinue reading “Discussing “Community””

I’ve been pondering some things lately, and this snowy, shut-in day finally allows me the opportunity to do some writing about it. Two comments have been on my mind:  Comment #1:  At our September Presbytery gathering, Rev. Mickey Shealy commented that rather than spend our time discussing ordination standards, new forms of government, etc. weContinue reading “Theology Anyone?”