NEWSpirit Blog
The NEWSpirit Blog shares diverse, connectional viewpoints from conference, district and local church leaders, serving as a companion blog to the NEWSpirit Weekly Digest and NEWSpirit quarterly newspaper.
From Pulpit & Pew
From Pulpit & Pew is an experimental blog through which we hope to attract and share interesting news and views from clergy and laity about key concerns in congregational and community life.
Managing the fast pace of change
The Rev. Steven Morton
“Your word is firmly fixed in heaven.” —Psalm 119:89b “The only constant in life is change,” Heraclitus, a Greek philosopher of the sixth century BCE, taught us. But when is too much change just too much for a system to handle? In considering some of the unusual causes of stress… Read More
Be Flexible
By the Rev. Steven Morton
“Who knows whether he will not turn and relent?” (Joel 2:14a) The Washington Post, on Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, in the midst of Advent, led off its Sunday Books section with an inquisitive, bold headline: “Can we still change each other’s minds?” Within the first paragraph, the use of such words… Read More
‘Star Words’
By the Rev. Julia Singleton
It’s that time of year again to choose a new Star Word. What is a Star Word? It’s a tradition gaining in popularity where people choose life-guiding words on Epiphany Day (Jan. 6) or on Epiphany Sunday. This is a word chosen at random to help guide you on your… Read More
Drop by drop: Employ random acts of appreciation
By the Rev. Steven Morton
“I do not cease to give thanks for you…” (Ephesians 1:16a) A recent card I received in the U.S. mail warmed my heart in an unusual and lingering way. It was an expression of thanks for something I had done—in-and-of-itself, no big deal! But the sentiment was unexpected and, in… Read More
What we have here is a need to communicate*
By the Rev. Steven Morton
“We speak of these things in words—words not taught by human wisdom, but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to those who are spiritual.” –I Corinthians 2:13 “What did you say?” Some of my best ministry ideas have gone unheard or underappreciated, at least initially. I remember 20 years… Read More
Thankful Giving
By John W. Coleman
In all this, I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ Acts 20:35 The apostle Paul was departing for Jerusalem to preach the… Read More
Veterans Day: Honoring former Buffalo Soldier, revered church scoutmaster
John W. Coleman
As America honors its military veterans on Friday, Nov. 11, Wharton-Wesley UMC in Philadelphia, is proud that one of its own served during World War II in a U.S. Army unit with a special inherited history. Louis M. Stukes Sr., the church’s oldest male member at 99, was a member… Read More
The best leaders champion their teams
The Rev. Steven Morton
“Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,…let us RUN.” (Hebrews 12:1) When my granddaughter Mia scores an occasional goal during a soccer match, there is jubilation on the sidelines—her father, her grandfathers, all the wives and mothers unsuccessfully masking their absolute delight at her success. Mia… Read More
All Saints Day/All Saints Sunday
John W. Coleman
All Saints Day (Nov. 1 or All Saints Sunday, the first Sunday in November) is a day of remembrance for the saints, with the New Testament meaning of all Christian people of every time and place. We celebrate the communion of saints as we remember the dead, both of the… Read More