Weekly Outlook - Finding unity in a polarized church

Dear readers, Happy New Year! As we slowly reenter our lives from the post-holiday daze, may you be kind to yourself and others. I'm going to practice that today by only picking one thing to accomplish on my long post-work to-do list and being content with small progress. Peace, Rose Schrott Taylor Digital Content Editor

Elegy for a quiet man by Paul Hooker Daily Bread: Grace, renewal and a restored baptismal font by Alan Olson Staff picks: Our favorite Outlook stories of 2024 by Rose Schrott Taylor Finding unity in a polarized church by Ron Byars In case you missed it... Jimmy Carter, beloved Sunday school teacher, ex-president, dead at 100 Carter was the only U.S. president to have taught Sunday school while in office, according to the White House Historical Association. — Adelle M. Banks The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World “What if scarcity is a social construct?” Amy Pagliarella reviews Indigenous botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer's latest book. We Will Rest! The Art of Escape Tricia Hersey calls readers to liberate themselves from "grind culture," Amy Pagliarella writes. New resource on Israel-Palestine available Two-page document explores how Presbyterians can work for peace in the region. — PNS Given into each other’s care Jerry Andrews' grandson Silas, who has spina bifida, teaches him faith, courage, and joy, inspiring a shared journey toward wholeness. Defiant Hope, Active Love: What Young Adults Are Seeking in Places of Work, Faith, and Community Why are young adults leaving the church, and how do we compel them to return? Howard Cha-Young Kim reviews Jeffrey F. Keuss' "Defiant Hope, Active Love." The Salt of the Universe: Praise, Songs, and Improvisations Amy Leach riffs on her her religious upbringing and present like a jazz trumpeter improvising, writes Andrew Taylor-Troutman. Beautiful Bodies: Augustine, Nunc et Tunc Who was the real Augustine? In "Beautiful Bodies," Margaret R. Miles reexamines Augustine’s later sermons, showcasing a journey from reason to heartfelt emotion. Samuel McCann offers a review. We are all public theologians "Your life, your words, your actions speak of your beliefs and profess your faith. Your medium is whatever blank canvas God unfurls for you to share the good news," writes Teri McDowell Ott.

Did you know loneliness is America’s most significant health problem, according to Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy in 2022? Explore biblical wisdom and practical steps to cultivate meaningful friendships with this “Friendship” Bible study by Katy Shevel.