We live in an increasingly diverse nation.  Even a small town like Rawlins Wyoming (pop. 10,000) boasts an Asian food market, authentic Thai food, top notch Mexican food, Chinese food, Cajun food, Italian food, and what's known as American food. 

The funny thing is, the aforementioned choices are increasingly the preferred foods of many Americans.  At numerous holiday tables in our Conference tamales, green chili, and enchiladas figure as prominently as turkey, stuffing, and ham.  The Diversity Index in the United States is high and getting higher. 

Not so in most of our churches.  How can we welcome and embrace this rich diversity?  Some say it can't be done.  Shouldn't be done, even.  I disagree. 

In fact, I suspect that intentional building of multiracial, multiethnic churches could be what spells Holy Spirit renewal for the United Methodist Church. 

Read on...

What is a Jewish Passover Seder? A Jewish Passover Seder (SAY-der) is not so much a service as a feast--a relaxed, joyous, celebratory feast.

• a deeper understanding of the religion of Jesus
• a fuller experience of Holy Week
• the opportunity to reflect personally on bondage and freedom
• the chance to experience God as deliverer
• outreach and community-building opportunities

It's snowing.  Again!  We've had more than 2' of snow fall on these high, desert plains this month.  My husband Jerry, a Wyoming native, tells me he hasn't seen this kind of snow since he was a kid. 

Hard to believe that we are experiencing global warming when the white stuff is piling up so high!  Yet, this record-breaking accumulation comes against a backdrop of shifting climates world-wide. 

At the same time that the snow is falling here, startling news has surfaced from NASA climate scientist Dr. Jay Zwally. Upon reviewing his recent research in the Arctic, has revised his estimates about summer Arctic ice melt.  Climatologists used to think it might (unthinkably) melt by 2100.  Then the year was revised downward to 2040.  Now Zwally estimates that by the end of summer 2013, the summer ice might be all but gone in the once frigid North. 

That's not good.

Accelerated melting will speed up warming in other parts of the globe and rising sea levels world wide. 

That's not good either.  In fact, it's terrible.  Catastrophic.  And the poor will suffer the most. 

Fortunately, there are things we can do to help protect the integrity of God's Creation and minimize the effects of climate change.

Churches can play a vital role in this. Because what we need to do is change--the way we think and the way we live.  And that's what the Church is best at:  helping people understand the positive consequences of sacrificial change.

So this Lent, consider a "Carbon Fast."  Last year, St. John's Episcopal Cathedral in Denver invited their congregation to participate in a Carbon Fast.  In addition to their terrific ideas, here are some additional ways to practice a Lenten Carbon Fast:

Read on...

 
*Thanks to my colleague and friend Bruce Palmer for this zippy title.