Yearly Archives: 2010


by Margay Whitlock Pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, Rahway, NJ and Chaplain of the Rahway Fire Department   Delivered at the Rahway Fire Department on September 11, 2010   People often ask me what I think of the Cordoba Project –the Cultural Center being proposed near Ground Zero.

September 11 Remembrance


 When I first read the book of Judges, I marveled that the Israelites kept turning to Baal in a recurring cycle of apostasy, tragedy, repentance, deliverance, and back to apostasy. It was so obvious to me what their problem was, having the benefit of a carefully edited narrative specifically designed […]

Civil Religion vs. Christianity




By Luann Albanese   I used to feel intimidated about tending to plants and flowers, but a friend of mine gave me all sorts of information and websites to read on plants and flowers.   Last year I planted several perennials and was unsure of what would become of them […]

Jesus Is My Life’s Gardener





By the Rev. Margay Jo Whitlock   Ash Wednesday 2010 Joel 2:1-2; 12-17 Psalm 51 2 Corinthians 5:20b – 6:10 Mathew 6:1-6; 16-21   I was thinking about giving up sandwiches for Lent.  But, then, I thought about the prophet Joel.  “Rend your heart and not your garments”, says Joel.  […]

Abounding in Steadfast Love


It always seems odd to me when I observe people trying to “evangelize” others by quoting Scripture at them.  There’s a presumption that the content of Scripture is recognized by non-Christians as somehow relevant to them.  But why should that be?  Why would people who do not see themselves among […]

American Areopagus


In a recent blog post, Nadia Bolz-Weber reflects on the demise of congregational singing in many churches.  LutheranChik also observes how anemic congregational singing can be in churches these days.  Both consider the reasons for this development, especially in churches which historically encouraged enthusiastic singing from the pews.

The Singing Church