Monday, January 5, 2026 Happy Monday and Happy New Year, my friends! When I was in college my friend, Lara (now the Rev. Lara Case Halsey) and I decided that we were going to found a retreat center. It would probably be out in the woods somewhere so we could offer an environment for peaceful reflection as well as respite from the world. Ever the pragmatist, Lara was already thinking of the business plan while idealist me was dreaming of founding a monastery and what the worship space would...

Wednesday, December 31, 2025 - New Year's Eve The Rev. Dr. Ben Huelskamp (he/they) Executive Director, LOVEboldly Queer Christian   Should old acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? Should old acquaintance be forgot in the days of auld lang syne? For auld lang syne, my dear! For auld lang syne! We'll drink a cup of kindness yet; for the sake of auld lang syne.   Auld Lang Syne —the traditional toast to the old year and welcome to the new year across much of the English- speaking...

Monday, December 29, 2025 Happy Monday and Happy Holidays, my friends! There’s a certain magic connected with the winter holidays and often the best place to find it is in the eyes of a child who still believes in Santa Claus. For me that’s my nephew, Jack. On Christmas Eve we continued a tradition started by my brother-in-law’s dad of feasting on Chinese food and then opening presents among the six of us. After presents and dinner, we drove around Urbana looking at Christmas lights,...