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From the Editors

Border encounters

The US-Mexico border is rich with ordinary life—not just the sort of stories amplified by political rhetoric.

Latino churches are social service hubs

Yet their extensive efforts go largely unseen outside their communities.

by Annelise Jolley

Early Christianity, fragment by fragment

A new published volume of ancient papyri contains sayings, attributed to Jesus, that were previously unknown—including a dialogue with a disciple named Mary.

by Elizabeth Schrader Polczer

How might God bless a divided America?

On a recent trip to the US, I went to church—and found myself pondering three liturgical moments.

by Samuel Wells

The buddy-cop feminist detective series I didn’t know I needed

Deadloch is one of the funniest, smartest, most unexpected delights I have watched in a long time.

by Kathryn Reklis

Books

Centering Chloe and decentering Paul

Womanist scholar Mitzi Smith offers resources for understanding the reception of 1 Corinthians among Black readers.

by Jeremy L. Williams

A novel driven by kindness

There are many reasons to adore James McBride’s latest book.

by Beth Kissileff

Connecting the dots

Heather Cox Richardson guides us through serial attempts to overturn the liberal consensus in America.

by Randall Balmer

Mitri Raheb takes on Christian Zionists (even the liberal ones)

The Palestinian theologian challenges Christians to examine their feelings about Israel—and to ask what their faith has to do with these feelings.

by Emilee Walker-Cornetta

In This Issue

In the Lectionary

April 21, Easter 4B (Psalm 23; John 10:11–18)

A dead shepherd isn’t helpful to anyone, least of all to the sheep left behind.

by Austin Shelley

In the Lectionary

April 14, Easter 3B (Luke 24:36b–48)

Why doesn’t Jesus just remind the disciples of a story or an inside joke they shared before he died?

A magical world of daily bread

In Luci Shaw’s new collection of poems, ordinary objects trespass their boundaries.

by Diane Glancy

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Latest

Centering Chloe and decentering Paul

Womanist scholar Mitzi Smith offers resources for understanding the reception of 1 Corinthians among Black readers.

by Jeremy L. Williams

From the Editors

Border encounters

The US-Mexico border is rich with ordinary life—not just the sort of stories amplified by political rhetoric.

A novel driven by kindness

There are many reasons to adore James McBride’s latest book.

by Beth Kissileff

Latino churches are social service hubs

Yet their extensive efforts go largely unseen outside their communities.

by Annelise Jolley

Voices

Illustration of columnist Samuel Wells

Samuel Wells

How might God bless a divided America?

On a recent trip to the US, I went to church—and found myself pondering three liturgical moments.

Illustration of columnist Debie Thomas

Debie Thomas

A deeper legacy than hard work

The psalms of ascent press hard against the norms of our bootstrap culture.

Illustration of columnist Julian DeShazier

Julian DeShazier

Why I came back to the lectionary

My job as a preacher isn’t to change the game. It’s to run the plays well.

Illustration of columnist Heidi Neumark

Heidi Neumark

Bearing the scars

Years ago, at a barbecue in Argentina, I realized I was the only person present who wasn’t a survivor of torture.

Jonathan Tran

God or basketball?

Which one has a greater hold on my heart? Let’s take a look.

Brian Bantum illustration

Brian Bantum

Can inclusive churches grow and thrive?

When my spouse’s church became more affirming, the major givers left.

Politics

From the Editors

Border encounters

The US-Mexico border is rich with ordinary life—not just the sort of stories amplified by political rhetoric.

Latino churches are social service hubs

Yet their extensive efforts go largely unseen outside their communities.

by Annelise Jolley

Connecting the dots

Heather Cox Richardson guides us through serial attempts to overturn the liberal consensus in America.

by Randall Balmer

Mitri Raheb takes on Christian Zionists (even the liberal ones)

The Palestinian theologian challenges Christians to examine their feelings about Israel—and to ask what their faith has to do with these feelings.

by Emilee Walker-Cornetta