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We join in solidarity with the people of the Middle East through this poignant prayer for peace and justice, authored by the Rt Rev Rosie Frew, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. (Matthew 5:9) Loving God We come before you in sorrow For once again we are a world affected by war So many lives disrupted So much destruction So much needless loss So much fear and uncertainty So much gr

An email arrived in my inbox. “He is in seminary in Charlotte and lives in Rock Hill. His wife arrives tonight – from China! He has been sleeping on an air mattress and no furniture for them or their six-year-old daughter. Can you help?” The father became a follower of Christ in his home country of China. A scholarship was awarded for him to attend seminary in the U.S. He worked for over a year to bring his family here to join him. The visa came and it was necessary for them

Despite four years of relentless drone attacks and infrastructure collapses, Ukrainians are fiercely preserving a sense of normalcy by maintaining daily routines, attending church, and keeping local businesses open. While the human toll of the conflict continues to rise and peace negotiations remain stalled, many find the strength to endure through community support and a deep-seated spiritual resilience. This "ordinary" life amidst the trauma of war serves as a vital act of

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a towering civil rights icon and protégé of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., has passed away at the age of 84. A two-time presidential candidate, Jackson is credited with reshaping the Democratic Party into a multicultural "Rainbow Coalition" and paving the way for future leaders like Barack Obama and Kamala Harris. Beyond his political legacy, he was a tireless advocate for the "voiceless," known for his fiery oratory and global humanitarian efforts, inclu

The 2025 Impact Snapshot for The Off Ramp and Threads by Nomad highlights their commitment to creating stability and dignified work for displaced individuals through resettlement support, artisan mentoring, and rapid disaster response. Key achievements include furnishing 19 households, providing 270 hours of artisan mentoring, and launching new initiatives like a support group for Afghan women and a school supply program in Uganda. By combining direct support with long-term o

Cultivating genuine well-being requires more than just avoiding "bad" habits; it involves a deliberate practice of "mental contrasting" to find joy even in a broken world. By utilizing the WOOP  (Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan) framework, anyone can bridge the gap between their spiritual desires and the internal barriers that often lead to stagnation or sorrow. This approach invites a shift toward a "high theology of everyday living," where mindfulness and intentional planning

After a 2,000-mile, 108-day "Walk of Peace" from Texas to Washington D.C., a group of 19 Buddhist monks completed their viral journey this week to share a message of mindfulness and compassion. Despite facing extreme weather and a tragic roadside accident, the troupe concluded their trek with an interfaith service at the Washington National Cathedral, capturing the hearts of millions during a time of deep political division. Click here to read the full article. This article w

Watching Buddhist monks traverse the United States on a pilgrimage for peace, a Methodist scholar reflects on how their disciplined, mindful walking mirrors John Wesley’s early movement of "holiness of heart and life." The post explores the "spiritual resonance" between the two traditions, suggesting that peace is not a political strategy but a practiced way of inhabiting the world with compassion. Ultimately, the author finds that the monks’ public embodiment of love offers

In response to the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents, South Minneapolis faith leaders are mobilizing a public "Christian witness" against the violence and intimidation of Operation Metro Surge. This summary highlights how local congregations are moving beyond quiet prayer to engage in direct action—including airport protests, "Know Your Rights" workshops, and community monitoring—to protect their diverse Hmong, Somali, and transgender neighbors.

Rising political conflict has strained families and friendships, with many Americans reporting estrangement and lasting emotional harm. Drawing on research and counseling experience, the author argues that forgiveness is often misunderstood as requiring reconciliation, when in fact it can be an internal process of releasing ill will to promote healing. By distinguishing forgiveness from reconciliation, the piece offers a more realistic and compassionate framework for navigati

Following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent, tens of thousands of protesters and a revitalized network of faith leaders have mobilized across Minneapolis to resist mass deportation efforts. Drawing on the organizing infrastructure built during the 2020 George Floyd protests, these "movement chaplains" and multifaith groups are providing spiritual support and moral witness to a community demanding the immediate removal of federal agents from their city. Click he

The  Welcoming Prayer  is a contemplative practice that helps us surrender to God, Reality, and Love in the midst of ordinary, often messy moments. The prayer has been embraced by many as a way of finding peace not by avoiding our feelings but by gently welcoming them.  How to Practice the Welcoming Prayer Notice what you’re feeling. Pause and gently become aware of what’s present—fear, anger, sadness, grief, joy, numbness, or something else. Notice it not just in your though

As the New Year prompts many to seek healthier, more intentional lives, digital technologies often undermine those very goals by pulling us away from embodied habits and relationships. In a conversation with historian Christine Rosen, Mike Cosper explores how constant connectivity erodes patience, attention, and human responsibility, and why resisting technological overreach requires reclaiming practices like waiting, rest, and face-to-face care. Together, they argue that def

Drawing on memories of lullabies and storybooks, this reflection reads Mary’s Magnificat as a fierce act of maternal love — a song that begins in tenderness but swells into defiant praise and protest against unjust power. Rather than a passive, overwhelmed girl, Mary emerges as a clear-eyed prophet whose words promise the lifting of the lowly and the undoing of systems that hoard power. In a heavy Advent season, her song is held up alongside contemporary acts of communal care

Dear Friends and Neighbors,  As we reflect on the strides made this year, one thing is clear: when our community comes together, housing happens. Thanks to your partnership, the Housing Development Corporation of Rock Hill has moved more families toward stability, safety, and opportunity than ever before!  This year, we helped more than fifty households move from homelessness into safe, stable housing through our partnership with CACH. We completed our entire Owner-Occupied

Sufjan Stevens’ Songs for Christmas  and A Charlie Brown Christmas  share a surprising spiritual resonance, each embracing the season’s strange alchemy of melancholy, nostalgia, and quiet wonder. From a burning-spatula vision of the Christ Child to Charlie Brown’s hard-won glimpse of true meaning, both works follow holiday ache to its sacred center. Their enduring power lies in showing how Christmas holds together sorrow, mystery, and unexpected joy. Click here to read the fu

As Advent begins, some Southern California congregations with large immigrant communities are experiencing the season not as peaceful anticipation but as a time overshadowed by fear. Recent immigration enforcement actions — even near churches — have left many worshippers, including asylum-seekers and undocumented families, feeling unsafe in spaces meant to offer refuge. Still, pastors and congregants lean into Advent’s message of welcome, drawing strength from traditions and

Jesus’ promise of “abundant life” in John 10:10 is reframed as a call to deep connection with God rather than the pursuit of material success. True abundance is found in recognizing God’s presence amid a fractured world and allowing that “overflowing fullness” to guide and sustain us. Daily spiritual practices, healthy relationships, and intentional acts of goodness help fuel this abundance so it can overflow into service to others. Click here to read the full article. This a

In seasons of transition—when old certainties fade and new realities have yet to take shape—faith calls us to dwell in the in-between. Reflecting on personal experiences of loss, change, and spiritual reorientation, the author explores how waiting can become a sacred vocation: a time to meet God beyond easy answers, to receive reality as it is, and to be slowly transformed. In the mystery of delay, we discover that even life’s pauses are filled with grace. Click here to read