What determines beauty? Is it intrinsic, as in the beauty of a rose in full bloom, or the giggle of a delighted baby at the silly antics of a parent? Or is it “in the eye of the beholder” - totally subjective, determined by the individual - the reason some prefer Mozart to Stravinsky, symmetry to asymmetry? On Sundays we are surrounded by beauty: majestic organ music filling our Sanctuary, a family’s joy during an infant baptism, 100 voices blended in choral song, friendly faces wreathed in smiles, the corporate affirmation of our beliefs. And it is easy [...]

How delightful that I was asked to share this week, as I am celebrating twenty entirely amazing years as Director of St. Luke’s Day School! My days are filled with loveable, inspiring young children and the adults who adore them. On any given day I am able to witness purely authentic moments of children’s wonder, imagination, and creative thinking as we play and learn together! Over the years, my favorite title has become Chapel Helper. Every week during the school year, I have a role in leading energetic worship services for two to five year old children! We [...]

When I met Sid Davis, I had that sense that happens occasionally that you are re-meeting a long-lost family member. We resonated immediately and deeply. We started a collaboration that is now almost 30 years old. Together we have written, produced and performed almost 60 shows with about 30 of them original works. We have done this in an effort to give gifted individuals a stage upon which to apply their gifts… but more importantly… to build and forward – community. Jesus was a very social guy. Water-into-wine is a great opener for starting to engage with the [...]

This summer, I had the chance to attend the camp Youth Becoming Leaders in Kentucky for two weeks to leap further into my faith. YBL has been a time for me to grow in my leadership abilities and in my knowledge of Wesleyan Theology. I would say that one thing God has done for me in those two weeks was making me more ambitious to serve further in his ministry by getting me to start my own ministry project with the resources, connections, and skills I was given at the camp. Thanks to the guidance of God, camp [...]

The goal to raise $5,000 for this year’s Vacation Bible School service project seemed lofty, especially with the impact Hurricane Harvey had on the city. But small things make a big difference in the kingdom of God. In total, the campers raised $8,093.11, which bought 404 special beds with netting for children in Africa that will help ward off mosquitoes and the diseases they carry. Raising this money was not all about children emptying out the excess change they have in their piggy banks at home, though. Through supporting a meaningful cause at the largest children’s event of [...]

There’s a memory from my childhood that’s meaningful to me. It’s a little blurred around the edges, as childhood memories can be. I was eight or nine years old, and it was near Christmas. My dad was going to run some errands and asked if I wanted to join him. I jumped at the chance to spend time alone with him. I don’t recall any of the errands we ran that day except for one, the stop at Dad’s bank. We walked in, and he introduced me to all the tellers and the bank president. He was an [...]