Katherine Willis Pershey
March 21, Lent 5B (Hebrews 5:5–10; John 12:20–33)
In ancient Israel, priests were the gates through which God poured mercy.
For Valarie Kaur, love is sweet labor
A memoir of an activist whose life is grounded in Sikh mysticism
Books for pandemic reading
Nine writers tell us about a book they’ve read recently that’s helped them reframe what it means to be a person of faith and a reader right now.
We need our screens right now. But what about later?
Ed Cyzewski’s prepandemic takedown of the digital formation of Christians is still surprisingly useful.
A former Jehovah’s Witness tells her story
Amber Scorah’s memoir has a breathless quality that makes it compulsively readable.
Back to Margaret Atwood’s Gilead
The Testaments returns to the world of The Handmaid’s Tale. Is this a good idea?
The time my psychiatrist sent me on retreat
He leaned back and sighed. “I think what you need is a spiritual experience.”
Kate Bowler faces off against cancer and bad theology
Bowler’s memoir honestly confronts the pervasive idea that we get what we deserve.
The fast I chose
Giving up donuts for the sake of cholesterol didn’t bring me closer to God. But it did teach me something about sacrifice.
A do-gooder’s tale
D. L. Mayfield wanted to help Somali refugees. She ended up mostly baking them cupcakes.
Dressing for the job without looking like someone else
Jesus says not to worry about what we will wear. Usually I fail at this.
On knowing (yes, in the biblical sense)
When I first had sex, it wasn't just teenage hormones. I wanted to know and be known.
The morality of marriage equality
Many Americans have gone from being squeamish about same-sex marriage to being squeamish about telling their gay friends that their relationships are less than valid.
What Google doesn’t know: Lessons from the Ashley Madison hack
What if someone released all our e-mails and texts? It would make the Ashley Madison hack look quaint in comparison.
Holy lion
I’ve been reading the Chronicles of Narnia to my daughter at bedtime. As a kid I only read as far as The Voyage of the Dawn Treader; the endless shelf of Babysitter’s Club books distracted me from the Narnians. We’re on The Silver Chair now, and while I’m still not sure about that Jill Pole, I continue to marvel at C. S. Lewis’s masterful Christian allegories.
I’ve always loved Aslan, but I am newly convinced that the lion really does capture the essence of Christ.
Come slowly, Lord Jesus
I want the kingdom of God to be civilized. If possible I'd like to be able to keep sleeping in my own bed.
Wearing God, by Lauren F. Winner
I read Lauren Winner's new book with the sort of joy one feels when watching someone utterly hit their stride.
The afterlife of a church
A few weeks ago, I was feeling nostalgic. It was the fifth anniversary of my family’s pilgrimage from Southern California to suburban Chicago for my interview weekend at First Congregational Church of Western Springs. It feels odd to call it that, though; it wasn't so much an interview as a time of holy conversation, prayer, worship, laughter, feasting, and fellowship. The terms of my call were unofficially worked out at a kitchen table while the Super Bowl droned on in the other room.