Why doesn’t Vicki come to church?

When Bill met Vicki

Many of you may have noticed that my wife hasn’t been to church lately. There’s a reason for that, but first, let me tell you a bit more about her.

There are no atheists on top of rockets!

If you were like me last week, you kept following the news about Artemis II and its four astronauts. I was only three years old when Apollo XI landed on the moon and had only a vague memory of Apollo XVII’s return, so I eagerly watched and hoped for Artemis II’s success until they safely came back to Earth. Thank God they made it home safely.

Why can’t every Sunday be like Easter?

I love Easter Sunday. The church is usually more crowded than usual, with the congregation dressed in their spring finery. The church is decorated with flowers and Easter lilies, the choir sings its best songs, the pastor delivers an outstanding sermon, and everyone feels joyful. Anyone visiting or attending infrequently would be eager to return to church the Sunday after that, but if or when they do, something feels different.

Giving blood

Many years ago, I left work early to donate blood at a local blood drive. I checked in and started filling out the form. When I handed the form back to the woman at the desk, she thanked me with a smile and said, “You picked a good day to give blood, it’s Good Friday!” That’s when I remembered joy and felt ashamed because I had been so busy that day that I had forgotten it was Good Friday.

The mark of Jesus

This Sunday is Palm Sunday! I fondly remember celebrating it at the UCC church where I grew up in Louisville, KY. After Sunday school, my friends and I would gather in the Fellowship Hall, each receiving a palm branch. We’d then go outside to find a donkey waiting for us