Praise for the Past Curiosity: Thank you, Lord, for calling Pillar to be curious about the future of the church years ago. Risk: Thank you, Lord, for giving Pillar the courage to step out in faith and take a risk, following You where you were leading them. Openness: Thank you, Lord, for opening the hearts of your people to welcome … Read More
Centering Prayer
Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God…” Let’s try this simple prayer. Sit comfortably. Settle yourself with your feet flat on the floor and your arms in a comfortable position. Close your eyes. Be aware of your body. Maybe there is tightness in your muscles, or distracting thoughts that are filling your mind. Try to relax. Now, … Read More
Visio Divina
Choose one of the pieces of art in this journal. What is the first thing that caught your eye? Breathe deeply and gaze on that for a few minutes. Now, look at the whole picture. Take it in slowly. Reflect on what you are seeing for a few minutes. Then consider the following questions: a. What emotions does this image … Read More
Lectio Divina
Let’s try this prayer practice of lectio divina with this passage from Mark 10:46-52. Find a quiet place if possible. Begin with a few moments of silence. Read: Read the text slowly as if you have never heard it before. Read it aloud if you want. 10 11 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with … Read More
Journaling
If you have never journaled before, don’t worry. There is no set formula or right way to do so. You may just want to write out some thoughts that are filling your mind; ideas you want to remember to share with others; a poem to express your thoughts to God; or write a simple prayer. Just share with God what … Read More
Introduction
What Might God Do? (a poem/prayer by Nancy Boote) What might God do in us, if we asked the Maker of the Universe? What might God do in us, if we asked the One who is Majestic and mindful of us? What might God do in us, human beings, whom He cares for? What might God do in us, if … Read More
A Letter: Joel Boersma
Dear Pillar community, Even during Lent, I confess my mind is on sports. I was raised in a sports-loving family, so my soul has been shaped by long loyalties and entrenched memories. Chief among them are Hope-Calvin classics and fall college game days at the Big House. More recently in graduate school, I witnessed the ritual that is Duke basketball … Read More
Not What I Want – Bryanna Manning
When I was younger, I remember hearing other people’s testimonies and thinking “how do I get a testimony like that?” I admired them, but, if I was honest, I didn’t want to go through what it would take for my story to look like theirs. It seemed that God only worked in hard places- through mistakes made, radical discipleship or … Read More
A Letter: Chris De Vos
A Cruciform Life Dear Pillar, One Good Friday a church I once pastored decided to worship using a liturgy modeled after the stations of the cross. Two people dressed in black carried a cross from one position in the sanctuary to the next while various members of the congregation read gospel passages describing key moments in Jesus’ journey to the … Read More
Not What I Want – By Jonathan Harlow
A year and a half ago my dad was diagnosed with stage four melanoma. The news seemed unreal and almost like a bad dream that I wanted to wake up from. I really didn’t know what to think. Doubts, uncertainty, and fear were constantly at the forefront of my thoughts. My dad and I have had a very close relationship, … Read More