My Dream for the Church is …

Finishing the aforementioned phrase is one of the ways that I conclude a workshop that I frequently do with churches in the Iowa Conference UCC. As you might imagine, the ways that people finish that sentence varies from person to person, church to church.Embedded in...

Seeing the ‘through line’

Many years ago, I took a weekend “course” through a local community college on mountain biking. We packed our bikes, camping equipment and everything else we needed and headed to northern Wisconsin.I had no experience of mountain biking; consequently, I was terrified....

The Power of Story

Frequently, I am asked to teach Sunday School or a workshop after church services in the Iowa Conference UCC where I serve as associate conference minister for youth and young adult ministries. When I first began to get those requests, I brainstormed ways to make it...

Just what is Nicole doing now?

After starting my new position as associate conference minister for youth and young adult ministries in the Iowa Conference UCC about nine months ago, I quickly realized that people have a variety of ideas about what it is that I can/should do in this position. I,...