News & Stories

Dear Outlook readers,

In Pittsburgh, we are seeing the first signs of spring — bright purple and vibrant yellow crocuses are blooming in soil that was covered in snow just days ago. By the grace of God, life and beauty are birthed out of what once appeared barren. May we carry this hope in our hearts and minds.

In Christ,

Rose Schrott Taylor
Outlook interim associate editor

P.S. Looking for worship resources? Check your inbox on Mondays for our "Looking Into the Lectionary" newsletter or go to our website.

Editors' picks

Putin’s war: A trauma-informed analysis of a holy crusade by Kristopher D. Schondelmeyer

Rethinking mission trips for college students by Maggie Alsup

Five hidden superpowers of congregational mission leaders by B. Hunter Farrell

Thousands of churches close every year. What will happen to their buildings? by RNS

In case you missed it...

In You, God, We Have Put Our Trust
Dwyn Mounger shares a hymn for churches and interfaith gatherings to sing in solidarity with Ukraine.

Holy Communion in a time of COVID-19: How PC(USA) elders are being trained to serve increasingly small, virtual congregations
Leslie Scanlon explores how PC(USA) elders are being trained to serve increasingly small, virtual congregations.

Podcast review: “Ear Hustle”
Launched in 2017, “Ear Hustle” was the first podcast created and produced in prison by incarcerated men.

Stated Clerk joins other faith leaders to urge more work on Puerto Rico’s debt crisis
The Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson II has joined other faith leaders to endorse a letter asking Congress and the Biden administration to continue the work of addressing the debt crisis in Puerto Rico.

Conversations with Calvin: Daily Devotions
Roy Howard reviews Donald McKim's recent book.

From Dry Bones to Living Hope: Embracing God’s Faithfulness in Late Life
"Each brief meditation includes a prayer of lament that expresses the core challenges our late-life elders face and ends with concrete steps to affirm their true belonging in the world." — Jenn Zatopek

Humility over competency
As we move through this issue, it would serve us well to not only rethink how we carry out church mission work but also ask ourselves, what else should I approach with more humility? — Teri McDowell Ott