A week ago, as I sat down to plan out worship for this week, I noticed on the UCC website a reminder that 74 years ago this week two nuclear bombs were dropped on Japan.  I wanted to recognize that part of our human history.  I wanted to pause to consider how we as people […]

A wonderful place to observe human nature, and to participate in it, is the Hallmark card aisle in a convenience store.  Especially around a holiday.  Especially around three holidays in particular – Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day.  And if you are anything like me and don’t stand in front of those cases of […]

The story of Mary and Martha is another one of the more familiar stories from the Gospels.  In it we hear of two sisters, each responding to a visit in their home by Jesus.  Martha is busy doing – doing all sorts of things that she undoubtedly felt were what good hospitality looked like.  Mary, […]

So often when people think of this very familiar parable, people focus on the Good Samaritan.  Of course he stopped to help, we tell ourselves, and so would I.  However, this parable is not a nice little story about helping someone who has been hurt.  In fact, this parable is full of lessons, many of […]

I am what people call a “UCC nerd.”  By that I mean, I have a deep and abiding love for the United Church of Christ and follow along with the inner workings, public statements, and gossip of our national body.  I worked on the national staff prior to coming to Winona to serve as your […]

His name is John.  He is in his mid-seventies.  His hair is long and looks unkempt.  He wears a very odd mix of clothing, all clearly well-worn with frayed edges.  He sometimes says odd things and has several unusual daily habits.  He does not engage in conversation with strangers very well and sometimes stares a […]

While attending the Festival of Homiletics last month, I participated in a workshop about the Holy Spirit.  It was presented by Rev. William Lamar IV, who is pastor of Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, DC.  Rev. Lamar, the next night, also led the Gospel worship service.  He preached a fiery sermon, one that […]

When people ask me to describe the United Church of Christ, here is what I almost always say, “The great thing about the UCC is we provide no definitive answers to the big questions of life, simply a safe community in which to ask those questions, talk about them, and worship God in varied ways.  […]

Rev. Danielle K. Bartz                                                                                                Acts 9:36-43 “Miracles” When Peter first arrives, it’s an average pastoral care call. The scene, despite being ancient and in a far away place, feels very familiar to me and likely to many of you as well.  As a chaplain and then a congregational pastor, I have been in similar […]

Rev. Danielle K. Bartz                                                                                                  “Here I Am” Acts 9:1-20 The conversion of Paul, the road to Damascus story we have just heard, is a staple in Eastertide.  Paul, once called Saul, was a great persecutor of those who believed Jesus to be the messiah.  He took great delight in seeking out Jesus’ followers and […]