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Team Members: Beth Foreman, Alice Carnes, Merna Hesse, Hugh Hammond, and Rev. Robin Tanner. The Healthy Congregation Team (HCT) continues its mission to promote the emotional health of our beloved community.  You might be wondering; how does the HCT do this?  In the past year, the HCT has promoted two exciting learning opportunities at Piedmont […]

Dear Lake Norman Gathering and Piedmont Friends, As our congregation continues to deepen our relationship with the Piedmont congregation, I would like to announce the members of the Lake Norman steering team.  This group will plan and facilitate the ongoing programs for our gathering.  They are: Team Facilitator: Nicole Gantz Membership: Marjorie Flowers Fellowship: Grace […]

This is the first article in a series where the President-Elect of the Board of Trustees, ask questions to the Lay Leaders of our gatherings. Each month, our leaders will answer a few questions about their: committee/teams, experiences, and aspirations. In the next year, we will learn more about the Committees/Teams of: ADORE, Buildings & […]

It was always a looming fear for the liberal chaplain; you begin a prayer and get prayer-jacked by a visiting family member or friend in the hospital.  Sure, it begins innocently enough.  A good engagement with a patient.  They share that they are of a particular faith tradition.  They would appreciate a prayer.  You have […]

Dear Folks, Welcome to November!  Thank you to the Care Team Co-Chairs, Cathy Tata and Michelle Murphy and to all the Pastoral Associates for offering me such a spirit of welcome these last few months at Piedmont.  This is an amazing beloved community—filled with kind people who truly do care about one another.  Thank you, […]

Beginnings are, let us be honest, sometimes hard. Anyone who knows a new routine, town, or job will tell you that the newness can be uncomfortable and unsettling. Some of us may even attempt to resist a new beginning. Consider when you were a student and may have tried to “sleep in” on that first […]

Spiritually Speaking: Falling Back into Belonging More often than that not today, people find themselves living at a distance from the place they once called home.  In part because of the economic stressors, fewer people spend their entire lifespan in one place.  On the one hand, this roaming dynamic helps create opportunities for cultural learning […]

Spiritually Speaking:  As Good as… In one of my favorite Toby Keith songs, “As Good as I Once Was,” the country singer croons:      I ain’t as good as I once was      But I’m as good once as I ever was      Maybe not be good as I once was      But I’m as […]

Spiritually Speaking: The Messiness of Life In the last few months I have been more aware of the difficulty of living in this world than anytime previously. It is not just the violence that is wrought daily, but it is also the new life emerging.  It is not just the pain of those in our […]

Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius — and a lot of courage — to move  in the opposite direction. — E. F. Schumacher   Courage. It’s not your typical place to begin. But maybe that’s good. It reminds us of what we already […]