Sweet Surrender by Rev. Leslie Boies, M.A. June 2010 "As-salamu ‘alaykum." Peace be upon you. "Wa ‘alaykum as –salam." And upon you peace. This is the greeting the Prophet Muhammed taught his followers to use. Today this greeting is exchanged millions of times each day throughout the Muslim world. Rev. Leslie Boies

Apology for Atheology by Rev. Rachel Findley June 2009  “all ignorance toboggans into know then trudges up to ignorance again; but winter's not forever, even snow melts; and if spring should spoil the game, what then?” (e e cummings) Chaplain Rachel Findley My theology—what and how I think about God, if

Truth: The Heartbeat of Ministry by Rev. Barbara Harris November 2008 What is your truth? Rev. Barbara Harris I see truth as a paradox. It is ubiquitous, as Rumi points to in the poem, "A Basket of Fresh Bread." Yet it is particular, individual—what inspires, opens and deepens each of us. Truth

The Practice of Praying by Rev. Sharon Mooney Prayerfulness. Praying. Prayer. I am wrestling with the practice of praying particularly with my clients, but even within myself. When I explore the idea with my fellow chaplains we often talk about how prayer is presence, how chatting or playing cards can be prayer with

Sabbath: The Holy Practice of Rest by Rev. Elizabeth River November 2009 Rev. Elizabeth River I want to talk about the Sabbath as a time to take a day of rest. More than that, I want to lift this thing—rest—to a higher plane, because in my experience it is a spiritual

Humor is Serious Business by Rev. Elizabeth River June 2007 Rev. Elizabeth River Sometimes in my ministry I make people laugh. This is probably the best of all my ministering, but I don’t always know when it will happen. It’s a Mystery…. a God-thing. Are you laughing right now? Did you

Offering Yourself to the World by Rev. Elizabeth Stamper, MS, LMHC October 2009 “The purpose of [Buddhist] meditation practice is not to become a good Buddhist … The purpose of meditation is to realize your self— to be more deeply in touch with who you truly are and have the courage, kindness and goodheartedness

Psalms, the Ten Commandments, and an Examination of Conscience by Rev. Sharon Leman, MLA November 2008 Rev. Sharon Leman Informed by both Catholic and Jewish sensibilities about sin, I created an "Examination of Conscience" as a tool for prayerful reflection on life—both its personal triumphs and its shortcomings. I chose the

Clergy Renewal and Circles of Trust by Rev. Caryl Hurtig-Casbon September 2009 Rev. Caryl Hurtig-Casbon I have always resonated with James Hillman’s notion of the acorn theory regarding vocation, which claims that we come into life with an acorn within us that wants to take seed and grow; it ‘chose us

‘Where Do I Fit?’ The Discovery of Personal Wisdom and a Place in the Universe by Rev. John C. Robinson, Ph.D., D.Min. January 2009 Rev. Dr. John Robinson I believe that the discovery of personal wisdom and a place in the universe are two incredibly important and deeply connected ideas. Now,