By Laurie Baron Among the many things 2020 upended was Freedom Writers. At the beginning of the year, Rhonda Edgington and I were meeting weekly with a circle at Harbor House, an OAR residential rehab house for women, and Elisabeth Bauman and I traveled weekly to the circle at the Allegan County Correctional Center. Along […]
From the Hope Church Pastors: “We are involved with a new community initiative on issues of social justice, and there is an upcoming community forum to provide information on these efforts. As we are engaged in these efforts, the pastors are in ongoing communication with the Consistory, and we are excited to be at a […]
Please join the Hope College Green Team, League of Women Voters-Holland Area, Macatawa Creation Care, and Citizens Climate Lobby-Holland Area for a FREE virtual film series. You can view each of the films anytime on your own: “Honeyland” Tuesday, February 9 and “Kiss the Ground” Tuesday, February 23 and then from 7pm-8pm we will host a reflective […]
Dr. Katharine Hayhoe, world-class climate scientist and evangelical Christian will be presenting on January 22nd as part of the virtual Calvin University January Series. Locally, the Holland Climate Collaborative has scheduled two separate virtual follow-up panel discussions. Details and signup links for all three events can be found at hollandclimatecollaborative.com
By Cindy Terlouw For much of my life I could remain in my guilt, shame, fear, and stupidity. I could focus for a bit, but always found something else that would take my attention. I could say all the words and even convince myself that my love and compassion meant I was engaged assuming that […]
By Peter Boogaart, Creation Care Coordinator There’s a new year coming. That used to mean being swamped with calendars, as everyone with something to promote sent them out. Not so much anymore. Still, I’ll bet there’s one on your refrigerator, and I’ll bet it has pictures. Think about those pictures. They’re almost always outdoor scenes, […]
By Phil Tanis, Executive Secretary for Communications & Operations, World Communion of Reformed Churches Living abroad in what has shaped up to be quite a season of discontent not only in the United States but around the world, I often consider myself to be in a privileged position here in Hannover, Germany, working for the […]
Books Pastor Jill recommended in her 2015 Sabbatical Report, “Reconciliation as a Way of Life” Transforming Church Conflict: Compassionate Leadership in Action, by Deborah Van Deusen Hunsinger and Theresa F. Latini NonViolent Communication: A Language of Life: Create Your Life, Your Relationships, and Your World in Harmony with Your Values, by Marshall B. Rosenberg Rene […]
The Tree of Light (Christmas collection of gift cards for church families, and for local families distributed through Community Action House & Good Samaritan Ministries) and White Gifts (Epiphany collection of personal care items for Resilience) are Hope Church traditions that will be carried out differently this season. These are usually interactive programs, but instead […]
Hope Church’s Christmas Offering will support the work of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), which is led by Bryan Stevenson (author of ‘Just Mercy’). The EJI provides legal representation to people who have been illegally convicted, unfairly sentenced, or abused in state jails and prisons. EJI also works with communities that have been marginalized by […]