2/20/2026

When Zionsville Presbyterian Church in Indiana found itself in the enviable position of having a financial surplus at the end of a recent year, they faced a seemingly simple question: What to do with the extra?

They could tuck it away in a reserve account for future years when times might be lean. They could make capital improvements to the church campus, such as upgrade HVAC units or repair siding or sidewalks. Or, they could ask the congregation for ideas – which is what they did.

2/13/2026

Fundraising should not be a dirty word in our churches.

In fact, conversations between church leaders and generous saints can mean the difference between ministry happening or not. Whether it is a pastor sitting down with a generous church member with the capacity to make a matching gift or a trusted elder gathering with peers to lead the way in funding a new mission initiative, your congregation’s new ministry may only be a conversation away — if you are willing to have that conversation.

2/12/2026

This month of the lectionary, our Christian calendar explores Christ’s ministry in the Gospel of John. The Gospel of John brings about many powerful Jesus narratives that are formative in understanding the life and ministry of Jesus.

1/22/2026

Sharing bad news isn’t easy – but it only gets harder the longer you wait. That’s especially true when it comes to churches and finances.

Keys to sharing that news with your congregation include consistent messaging, talking about the church’s needs rather than its deficits, and creating a culture of sufficiency rather than scarcity, according to experienced experts.

1/21/2026

A few short days after Christmas, I wandered through several big box stores and was struck by how quickly the seasons had shifted. The red, green and gold of Christmas had already disappeared, replaced by the familiar red and white of Valentine’s Day.

1/20/2026

By all accounts, the transfiguration of Jesus was a beautiful sight to behold. Jesus and his key disciples are on a high mount with sweeping views of the ground below. Jesus appears in all his glory and is flanked by two of the greatest figures in Jewish history. Transfiguration places Jesus squarely as a prophet and leader in the tradition of Elijah and Moses.

12/9/2025

One Sunday morning, I circled back to thank a dedicated usher. She had welcomed, greeted, escorted and cared for me on arrival, and she was in the sanctuary long after most departed, taking care of the sacred space. I thanked her.

12/8/2025

You can call them snowbirds or “seasonal visitors,” but they are often an untapped resource in many church communities.

These part-time residents typically exit their colder homes in the northern USA and head for sunnier, warmer, non-snow-shoveling second homes in warmer climes from November through March.

12/4/2025

Maybe it is too easy to memorize Micah 6:8b. It is not hard to memorize or turn into a cross-stitch piece, or to put on poster. It is the low hanging fruit of memory verses. Many will remember seeing Micah 6:6b on the wall in a grandmother’s kitchen. Some will still find it underlined or highlighted it in their study bible. Micah 6:6 in poster form in Sunday school classroom after classroom forever and ever and ever. “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

11/14/2025

Many of you are reading this having made your way through another stewardship season and dedication Sunday. Some of you are energized by a hopeful and positive congregational response. Others of us are feeling anxious and defeated because, by all indications, difficult ministry decisions are going to have to be made in the months ahead. All of us find ourselves at the beginning of another Advent with its mix of joy and seemingly endless demands.

11/13/2025

To paraphrase Forrest Gump, Mama always taught us to write a thank-you note…

Every year, non-profits send letters to donors to acknowledge gifts. But why stop there – why not use that typical form letter to establish or reaffirm a personal relationship?

You’re already spending the cost of an envelope and postage, so you might as well invest a few minutes to cement the connection.

11/12/2025

One of my childhood memories is late afternoon, Indiana, December 24. I would ask “Is it Christmas Eve?”

I was told to wait for sunset. When the light slanted and touched our backyard bare trees just so and then disappeared, I would know: it was Christmas.

Even as a child I learned to love the gathering dusk because it meant that time turned toward the next day and this turning was especially exciting on the 24^th! Our Christmas feasting started that evening with relatives and friends gathered for a festive meal before the 11 p.m. church service.