Rev. Dr. Craig M Howard Presbytery Leader choward@glpby.org Moses told this (message of God’s deliverance) to the Israelites. But they didn’t listen to Moses, because of their complete exhaustion and their hard labor. Exodus 6:9 CEB It happened again. I’m somewhere in hour number 4 of Zoom meetings. My eyes are aching. A slight headache is forming. I have three…
Blog Post by Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard Presbytery Leader choward@glpby.org Last night I participated in a webinar with the poet David Whyte. I was introduced to Whyte’s poetry through my spiritual director. In anticipation of the event I purchased two of his books and listened to some of his poetry online. It is always a wonderful experience to hear…
Blog Post by Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard Presbytery Leader choward@glpby.org I have been doing dream work with my new spiritual director. This means cataloging my dreams by recordings or writing them down in the night or first thing in the morning. Dreams can be elusive. It is difficult to remember them clearly. Some believe this is because the conscious…
Blog Post by Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard Presbytery Leader choward@glpby.org I often say that Jesus was the worst evangelist! Instead of trying to attract followers with sugary words or a gentle tone, we hear Jesus saying, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want…
Blog Post by Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard Presbytery Leader choward@glpby.org Last week we had our second Zoom presbytery gathering. It was an improvement in many ways over our first attempt in August. Worship with Daniel Ervin and Katheen Henrion was energic, creative, and spiritually enriching. Junie Ewing’s sermon was appropriate and edifying. The time with Ben Sanders created an…
Blog Post by Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard Presbytery Leader choward@glpby.org I recently reached out to an old friend who I haven’t contacted in a while. I simply asked, “How are you doing?” He emailed, “I am doing about as well as can be expected in the midst of a global pandemic, an escalating national crisis demanding racial justice, and the…
Blog Post by Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard Presbytery Leader choward@glpby.org I took a two-day trip to Chicago this week to celebrate my oldest daughter’s birthday. It was the first time I’ve traveled since March, and I hadn’t seen my daughters since February. My time with my girls was outstanding and worth the travel and challenges. However, entering into the…
Blog Post by Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard Presbytery Leader choward@glpby.org Be it further RESOLVED, That we lament and repudiate historic acts of evil such as slavery from which we continue to reap a bitter harvest, and we recognize that the racism which yet plagues our culture today is inextricably tied to the past; and Be it further RESOLVED, That…
Blog Post by Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard Presbytery Leader choward@glpby.org Everything I need to know I learned in Sunday school. Not so much as a child but as an adult. My love for Sunday school is rooted in my adult conversion and baptism, which happened during Sunday school at a Pentecostal church in Ann Arbor Michigan. I was deeply…
Blog Post by Rev. Dr. Craig M. Howard Presbytery Leader choward@glpby.org On Sunday I attended the final worship service of Calvary Presbyterian Church. This is the first time a congregation closed online through Zoom. Although faced with several technical difficulties, Pastor Emma Holley did an excellent job. She used the children’s sermon, liturgy, and sermon to point toward lament and…