By Bryan Sickbert Max De Pree has said that “volunteers are at the heart of our society and become the grace notes in our American song.” Musically, grace notes are embellishments to the underlying melody which are not essential to the musical line, but add nuance that draws out beauty and meaning from the theme.…

By The Rev. Kenneth V. Daniel President and CEO, United Church Homes  A CEO search is a unique time in any organization’s life. CHHSM is entering this time of leadership transition with great optimism. We celebrate the accomplishments of the organization under the Rev. Bryan Sickbert’s distinguished leadership for 22 years. While we prepare to…

By Bryan Sickbert A Nollau class member recently shared a column from Sojourners entitled “’Nones’ and the Common Good.” The column, written by Eboo Patel, a Muslim American and founder of the Interfaith Youth Core, asks the question, “What will happen to U.S. civil society as the pews empty out?” Patel cites the well-documented membership…

By Bryan Sickbert Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink. (Exodus 17:6) Water from a rock? Certainly more biblical nonsense! But the image did not seem far-fetched to me as I listened to the Old Testament Lenten reading this week (Exodus 17:1-7). Our home in southwest…

By Bryan Sickbert As once the winged energy of delight carried you over childhood’s dark abysses, now beyond your own life build the great arch of unimagined bridges. Rainer Maria Rilke This first stanza of Rilke’s poem “Once the Winged Energy of Delight,” is my favorite piece of verse. Last week, the first retreat of…

By Bryan Sickbert Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? Isaiah 43: 18-19 In these verses, the prophet reveals God’s intent to bring about a new exodus that will release Israel from exile in Babylon and…