Category: Voices
Time to stop gawking and get moving
Rev. Jerry DeVine encourages us, despite the cobwebs and sorrows of denominational divisions, to embrace the new things God is doing in the church and get to work.
‘We shall overcome someday’
Have we made progress in realizing Martin Luther King, Jr.’s dream? Cheryl Bistayi reflects on this question by telling the painful story of her granddaughter’s husband and the racism he… Continue Reading ‘We shall overcome someday’
Building Beloved Community
The Rev. Paul Perez points to King’s sermon on having a tough mind and a tender heart as a timely message for those working to build Beloved Community.
Making a case for our children’s spirituality
Forming a deep spirituality is just as important to our children’s development as learning to read or grasping math equations, and the Michigan Conference is helping families and churches do… Continue Reading Making a case for our children’s spirituality
Foster a dialogic culture in the church
In this month’s Joyful Journey, Bishop David Alan Bard asks us to dedicate ourselves to creating a spacious church with a dialogic culture where conversations are respectful, rich, and deep.
It’s time to set a ‘souls goal’ for 2023
Setting an objective for discipleship each year creates an achievable mission you can celebrate.
A change of heart that’s never too late
The Rev. Paul Perez reflects on his family’s tradition of watching Christmas movies and names this year’s favorite, a movie that depicts a Christmas conversion of the heart.
Prepare our hearts for Jesus
In this Advent edition of Joyful Journey, Bishop David Bard encourages us to open our hearts, our lives, and our communities so Jesus can show up in us and through… Continue Reading Prepare our hearts for Jesus
Being the church while it’s under construction
As we continue to face the uncertainty of The United Methodist Church’s future, Rev. Dwayne Bagley asks us to rely on God’s faithfulness and respond with faithfulness in return.
Three takeaways from NCJ Conference
The Rev. Paul Perez, clergy delegate, lists three important takeaways from last week’s North Central Jurisdictional Conference that every Michigan United Methodist should pay attention to.