In the ritual of baptism which we were reminded of recently through the baptism of Aubrey Loliger, parents are asked at one point, “Will you nurture this child in Christ’s holy Church, that by your teaching and example they may be guided to accept God’s grace for themselves . . .” In other words, would our children through what we say and do be able to see and know God?

“So … what should we give up for Lent this year?”

Nothing quite captures our imaginations like the Christmas story…

This wonderful month overflows with moments that recall the past, relish the present, and look towards the future.

I am a baseball fan. Part of the attraction is seeing teams succeed in ways they haven’t for years surging in the second half of the season…

When summer is months away, we find ourselves nostalgic for the season.

Too often we leave our faith at Easter. We stand outside the tomb and celebrate God’s incredible act of love which forgives and the moments of grace where Christ is visible before us.

We like ice skating and, until recent years, always made a point of a few outings a year. As we went again after a couple of years had gone by, it honestly tested my patience to regain my confidence while frustrating me that I couldn’t as easily or quickly move the way I remembered.

While many reasons could explain the popularity of Christmas, perhaps the best is the appeal to lose ourselves in mystery…

These months of waning sunlight call us to long thoughts. As we walk the streets in these months, we smell those fires burning around us as the labor of daylight ends early in the early advent of evening. Maybe that’s why there is more time for pondering our place in this vast world.

While the new year begins on January 1 and the lectionary year begins on the first Sunday of Advent, for most the rhythm of the year is set early in life and remains…

As I think of the three months which comprise this issue of the Caller, it brings a flood of memories from Iowa and PA Park Chaplaincy to picnics and pools…