by Rebekah Simon-Peter | Jan 21, 2020
It’s easy to get depressed these days. Between meanspirited win/lose politics, the dismissal of fact-based debate, public shootings, brutal treatment of migrants and asylum seekers, extreme weather events, and destabilized foreign relations, the darkness around us...
by Rebekah Simon-Peter | Jan 9, 2020
The Season of Epiphany is framed by two key events in the life of Christ: his baptism and his transfiguration. In between these two major experiences, this liturgical season covers Jesus’ entire life and ministry. It’s a season of deepening in spiritual growth....
by Rebekah Simon-Peter | Dec 3, 2019
The Advent the liturgy instructs us to pray—solemnly, hopefully, deeply—is “Come, Lord Jesus, come.” This hopeful prayer set against the backdrop of darkening days—both seasonally and politically —implies waiting with expectation. Yet I can’t help but wonder...
by Rebekah Simon-Peter | Nov 15, 2019
Gender and Christianity has been in the news the last couple of weeks. Specifically the role of women in church leadership. After telling wildly popular evangelical bible teacher Beth Moore to “go home,” influential fundamentalist preacher John MacArthur clarified...
by Rebekah Simon-Peter | Nov 12, 2019
At Shepherd of the Hills Church, it’s been a long time since the cries of children interrupted worship. That’s okay with this aging congregation. Although they miss younger people, they appreciate less commotion. If only they could get some responsible families,...
by Rebekah Simon-Peter | Nov 5, 2019
What’s the difference between a “disciple” and an “apostle?” The word disciple comes from the Latin discipulus, meaning scholar. A disciple is a student of Jesus’ whose primary focus is on mastering his teachings so that he or she can live out Jesus’ way. An apostle,...
