Blog Post by Rev. Zach Lysdahl First United Presbyterian, Collinsville, Illinois The word “good” is of biblical importance. God, the creator of heaven and earth, uses the word good seven times in Genesis chapter one to describe that which God has made. When something in the Bible is repeated over and over again, it is usually worth paying attention to…
Blog Post by Rev. Thirza Sayers Pastor to Hillside Presbyterian, Light for the Darkness, and Our Selah Light 4 the Darkness Begins Ministry to Pastors and Chaplains: Our Selah Startling stats: “38% of U.S. pastors have thought about quitting full-time ministry in the past year.”[1] In 2016, 85% of pastors rated their mental health as good or above. By Barna’s…
I hate roller coasters. I don’t hate that others love them, but they’re just not for me. My first roller coaster was THE VIPER at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, which I could only describe as a torture device intentionally meant to merge the fear of heights with the fantasy of flying without a helmet to project volunteer…
Blog Post by Rev. Bill Perman Pastor of First Presbyterian, St. Louis (University City) Member of Commission on Ministry Last weekend my wife Deb and I were driving home from Chicago and we decided to listen to a Christianity Today podcast called The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill. (https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/podcasts/rise-and-fall-of-mars-hill/). Mars Hill was a megachurch founded in Seattle in 1996…
I have been thinking a lot about how the pandemic has unfolded through a number of different stages. Like Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’s five stages of grief, we similarly may have experienced Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. Perhaps not in that order, and sometimes, all at once. All through these stages, I have found it healthy to work together as a…
Blog Post by Rev. Doug Mankell, Honorably Retired During my years as pastor at Calvary Presbyterian Church in Logansport, Indiana, a very active church member during those years was a man named Charlie Burks. Although Charlie was retired during my pastorate, his life prior to his retirement was truly remarkable, to say the least. Charlie had been a B-17 bomber…
For time to time, I will take random questions from across the presbytery! This will be an experiment that we hope will be a monthly offering. As I lead best by asking questions, I appreciate the questions you have asked and are asking! “Were you able to find a home nearby?” Even in this competitive housing market, Danielle and I…
Guest blog post by Ruling Elder, Mike Willock Member of Second Presbyterian Church, St. Louis, Missouri Every now and then a passage of Scripture springs opens in a new way – revealing something that was always there but was somehow hidden from view. That happened to me as I read the March 18 devotion from Luther Seminary. The passage was…
From Your Presbytery Leader: “Why I Attend a White Privilege Conference” When I was just starting out a little over ten years ago as a freshly ordained pastor, a debate about race was unfolding at one of my first presbytery gatherings. I don’t recall the exact issue, but I’ll never forget when a White colleague named Jeremy spoke out about…
Guest blog post by Ann Schmid, Member of New Hope Presbyterian Presbyterian Women Midwest, South Metro Cluster Communicator I imagine, like many people during this lengthy pandemic, I decided to straighten my bookcase and working area. As I processed materials, some saved and some recycled, I found a journal I began in 1971 with a focus on recording thoughts to…