The idea begins in youth group. Perhaps it’s never been done in this church before. Perhaps it’s an annual event. The youth pastor/youth minister brings the idea forward. Reveals the destination. Gasps from the senior high group, and maybe even the junior high group — if a group that young is allowed to join in. … Continue reading Unraveling: part 6
Author: The Rev. Janie Koch
Unraveling: part 5
A tingling force grips the core of my being within my chest. This Cage…. This Cage…. The bars are not rattling or twisting now, but the entire edifice shifts. The metal scrapes across the concrete with the force of movement. This Cage created by years of manipulation and indoctrination and abomination. The Being within, birthed … Continue reading Unraveling: part 5
Unraveling: part 4
“Wives, be subject to your husbands as you are to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church, the body of which he is the Saviour. Just as the church is subject to Christ, so also wives ought to be, in everything, to … Continue reading Unraveling: part 4
Unraveling: part 3
Today, I would like to tell you the story of the Tower of Babel. The twist? I’ll tell you the story of the Tower of Babel from how I was taught in the Southern Baptist Church in Texas. As a recap, this deconstruction, or as it feels to me as an unraveling, is a modern … Continue reading Unraveling: part 3
Unraveling: part 2
What is this “unraveling?” What does it mean? How long does it take? Does it hurt? Well…. Hmmm…. Those questions are really good. And, really difficult to answer. Umm. Wait — No. They aren’t difficult to answer. Actually, they’re easy to answer. The difficulty arises within you, the reader, and your ability to read with … Continue reading Unraveling: part 2
Unraveling: part 1
At each pulse of my blinking cursor the unseen Being pounds the cage inside. This cage crafted by instruction and stories and time and rules and shame and fear. This Being began its life many years ago; in fact, it’s been alive-not-yet-birthed for close to 40 years. Dormant for much of of those years, prowling … Continue reading Unraveling: part 1
Sweet Dreams, Little One
So, I was driving to work this morning. Turned right on 9th. Saw a small lump of something on the double yellow lines in front of the Assembly of God Church. Looked like a child’s t-shirt. Got closer to see that it was a tiny dead kitten. Oh! You poor sweetie! A pang in my … Continue reading Sweet Dreams, Little One
How will you share your story?
I am not cradle Episcopalian. I was raised in the Baptist Church…Southern Baptist in Texas. Grew up with the beliefs, the traditions, the doctrine, and the expression of that denomination within the Christian faith. I am an alumnus of Baylor University which is the Baptist university within Texas. I will return to this in a … Continue reading How will you share your story?
Who are you?
In the 1997-1998 school year, I taught in an old two-story school building. K-12 in one building. And everyone ate lunch together. All the little children ate with their older brothers and sisters and cousins. It was really a beautiful experience. And 6-man football playing on a 50-yard field with all the trucks parked around … Continue reading Who are you?
Where are you going? Where have you been?
Today, we are a week past the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus. A week ago, Jesus left His disciples and walked the Via Dolorosa, the Way of Pain, alone. Some watched Him. Some left Him. One denied Him. One betrayed Him. And then there’s Thomas. Our Thomas who says that he will not … Continue reading Where are you going? Where have you been?
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