Cultural Studies… I Long to See You Face to Face 29 Oct 20211 Nov 2022 It’s been a rather confusing year for worship. We’re called to stay focused on relationship. By Justin Rossow As COVID-19 drags on (and on, and on, and on...), our novel…
Gifts Wrapped in Darkness 22 Sep 20212 Nov 2022 By Justin Rossow At the end of our congregational information meeting last night (on Zoom no less), one of my pastors was asked to close the gathering in prayer. “A…
For My Friends Blessings in the Midst of Anxiety 7 Jun 20216 Jun 2021 By Naomi Rossow I am at a point in my life where I am starting to create a life for myself and make decisions independent of my family. I have…
Unexpected Emotions 6 Jun 20216 Jun 2021 By Kim Longden One evening during the recent Memorial Day weekend I took a walk through our neighborhood. It was noticeably quieter than usual—many houses empty and closed up as…
Cultural Studies 10 *Good* Things about Daylight Savings 13 Mar 2021 By Katie Helmreich My Facebook memories lately have been full of my chronic complaints about Daylight Saving Time. Normally, I'm a fairly optimistic person so I challenged myself to find…
Discipleship Tools… Transitions 10 Mar 2021 By Alli Bauck Dictionary.com defines a transition as “the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another.” As we acknowledge the anniversary of the COVID-19…
For My Friends My Zoom Room 4 Mar 20213 Nov 2021 By Kim Longden I remember a year ago sitting with my Bible study group praying for those in the world who were facing the coronavirus. Unbeknownst to us as we…
Uncategorized Our Family Covid-versary Meal 23 Feb 202123 Feb 2021 By Heidi Goehmann This last week, I noted to a friend that I could feel the ghosts of grief clawing just at the corners of my psyche. It wasn't that…
Cultural Studies… Loss of the Familiar 20 Feb 2021 By Jamie Wiechman Do you remember what it was like before life started throwing us so many curveballs? When work, school, sports, restaurants, churches, etc. were a standard part of…
Discipling Leaders What is Truth? 30 Jan 202130 Jan 2021 Radical Postmodernism might be Killing Us, but a Retreat to Modernity isn’t the Answer. By Justin Rossow I just got off the phone with a pastor I haven’t spoken to…
Cultural Studies Have A Very … Christmas 18 Dec 2020 By Justin Rossow I love Christmas time! Except when I don't. And a Covid Christmas brings up all kinds of mixed emotions (shaken, not stirred). My parents decided not to…
For My Friends My Virtual Secret Santa 17 Dec 2020 By Naomi Rossow This time last year, I was in Detroit on Wayne's campus with my friends gearing up to take my first round of college finals. My friends and…
Dear Jesus, I Have Survivor Guilt 13 Dec 202014 Dec 2020 By Kristeen Bruun Over the past ten days, I have been working on writing my annual Christmas letter, something I have sent out for at least the past 30 years.…
Cultural Studies My Identity, On Deposit 4 Dec 2020 By Justin Rossow I’ve been struggling a lot lately with the question of identity. Well before COVID made working from home a common, cultural experience, I left a job and…
Discipling Leaders Cultivating a Preaching Ministry in an Age of Covid (and Beyond): Think Compass, Not Canoe. 9 Oct 20209 Oct 2020 To build a preaching ministry that reaches people in today's communication environment, integrate your sermons into the discipleship life of your congregation. (Think Compass, not Canoe.) by Justin Rossow How…
For My Friends Dwell In Unity 1 Oct 20201 Oct 2020 By Katie Helmreich It was a beautiful summer evening. Perfect for prepping the driveway for new concrete. My job was to wet the gravel so it would compact well. I…
Discipling Leaders Sermon Series in the Age of Covid: Think Tinker Toys, Not Jenga. 30 Sep 20204 Nov 2020 To build a sermon series that reaches people in today's communication environment, build connections, not a tower. (Think Tinker Toys, not Jenga.) by Justin Rossow If over half of my…
Discipling Leaders Sermons in the Age of Covid: Think Weekly Meal Plan, Not Sunday Buffet. 22 Sep 20207 Jun 2021 To reach people in today's communication environment, expand your one shot Sunday sermon into multiple communication channels. by Justin Rossow Our communication culture has been shifting for awhile. Covid may…