I keep the flag which draped my father’s casket, neatly folded in its triangle on a shelf in my closet. I occasionally think to myself, “Liz, you need to stop by the craft store and pick up a display case.” But then a busy schedule takes over and there it continues to rest. My father, a veteran of World War…
Here’s a fact which may come in handy for your next trivia night: this year’s mashup of Valentine’s Day and Ash Wednesday will be the third time the start of Lent has been on February 14 since 1945. The other was in the wistful pre-pandemic year of 2018. They will sync up again for the last time in this century…
Our Selah’s Team Members’ Perspectives on Faith and Mental Health, and Caring for Pastors Our Selah is a Zoom-based, sister ministry of Light for the Darkness (L4TD) that serves clergy. It was created in response to a pastor’s plea and the current state of clergy. According to a 2021 Barna Research study, only 35% of pastors are healthy and almost half…
Waiting for a mental health gem? Wondering how you were going to work on your heart, your mind, and your soul fitness to do your best at the Greatest Commandment? This is it–Living Life. Our new six-week, faith-based, skills support group that Rev. Stephanie Allen (MDiv, MSW) and Kevin Jones (MAC, PLPC) have crafted collaboratively is going to lift people…
In Sunday’s gospel, John 14:15-21, Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” The GREATEST commandment is ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind–‘ the biggest “to do” of the Christian faith! How many of us hear we need to “work harder” at loving God…
Why are mental health awareness and mental health care important? While 14k die in the US from hunger each year, approximately 8 million die from mental health variances yearly, but this is not something we talk about. 67 percent of the homeless have mental health variances; if we can help stabilize people before they lose their homes, we are preventing homelessness instead…
May Mental Health Awareness Blogs brought to you by Light 4 the Darkness The Uninvited Guest just appears–entitled, bossy and ever so critical. They follow me incessantly, like flies on dung, and know just what to say to keep me isolated: “It’s warm here in bed and you can’t make things worse from here. You’ll have to contrive a smile…
Blog Post by Rev. Elizabeth “Liz” Kanerva Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy Associate Leader My father was a veteran and on Memorial Day I have found myself wandering among the markers at Jefferson Barracks pausing here and there reflecting on the steep cost of war. Independence Day is celebrated with parades, picnics, and good friends. It is a day to remember the…
The Second Week of Advent Message from Rev. Ronnie Osborn St. Charles Presbyterian Church, St. Charles, Missouri Click Photo to Watch Message
Blog Post by Rev. Dr. Chris Keating Pastor of Woodlawn Chapel Presbyterian & St. Louis County Police Chaplain In case you missed it, your church was packed on Tuesday. Every seat was taken—even the front pews that are only used during weddings. Even your uncle, who never attends, joined the countless host streaming through the sanctuary doors. Don’t believe me?…