by Monica A. Coleman | Jun 2, 2010 | Monica's Blog, The Beautiful Mind Blog
Growing up in the Sunday school programs of black churches and in Catholic elementary school, I was taught that although there were many disciples, but there were only twelve apostles. That is, there were many people who followed Jesus, but there were only...
by Monica A. Coleman | May 25, 2010 | Monica's Blog, The Beautiful Mind Blog
My father was a student of history and ensured that I would be as well. More specifically, he was a student of African American history. I knew who Mary McLeod Bethune and George Washington Carver were before I went to first grade. I read Carter G. Woodson’s...
by Monica A. Coleman | May 19, 2010 | Monica's Blog, The Beautiful Mind Blog
I like the way the gospel of John talks about the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ farewell to his disciples (John 14-17), he talks about a Spirit – a Comforter – that will come to bring peace to the disciples after his death. I like how Jesus...
by Monica A. Coleman | May 14, 2010 | Blog, Monica's Blog, The Beautiful Mind Blog
when we put the gospel to hip hop and host u2charists, when we share the church building with the Korean congregation, when we preach against homophobia when we break bread with jews and muslims, when the teenagers lead worship on a regular Sunday (not just youth day)...
by Monica A. Coleman | May 12, 2010 | Monica's Blog, The Beautiful Mind Blog
In Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston writes about the protagonist Janie Crawford’s relationships with her three husbands and how they reveal her evolving relationship with herself. During an argument with her second husband, Janie realizes that...
by Monica A. Coleman | May 7, 2010 | Monica's Blog, The Beautiful Mind Blog
I recently sat at dinner with a group of seminarians talking about whether or not theological education prepares student-ministers for the everyday tasks of ministry. At this particular time, we spoke about how classes in liturgy prepare seminarians to conduct some...
by Monica A. Coleman | Apr 30, 2010 | Monica's Blog, The Beautiful Mind Blog
When I first finished divinity school, I subscribed to a journal of Christian spirituality called Weavings. That was when I first heard of the concept of “active waiting.” Often associated with the liturgical seasons of Lent and Advent, “active waiting” describes...
by Monica A. Coleman | Apr 21, 2010 | Monica's Blog, The Beautiful Mind Blog
The disciples get a bad rap for not recognizing Jesus. I’ve heard sermons about how we should not be like Thomas – we should not doubt (John 20:24-29). We should not need physical evidence. I’ve heard sermons about how we should not be like those men on the...
by Monica A. Coleman | Apr 15, 2010 | Monica's Blog, The Beautiful Mind Blog
The camera pans to a living room. Dark hues mute an anguished woman’s face as her body blends into the couch. Quiet, sentimental music crescendos. Voiceover: “Are you depressed?” One last shot at the blank, bleak face. Not two seconds later the world is...
by Monica A. Coleman | Apr 7, 2010 | Monica's Blog, The Beautiful Mind Blog
“Are you sure sweetheart that you want to be made well?” These are the opening lines of Toni Cade Bambara’s amazing novel The Salt Eaters where black faith healer Minnie Ransom leads a community of friends and clinicians who respond to Velma Henry’s attempted...
