Stephanie Peirolo

3 weeks ago | ncronline.org | Stephanie Peirolo |Valentine Benjamin |Rhina Guidos

As a culture, we don't like failure. We want to be winners, not losers. American Christianity influences the larger culture's dislike of failure. Many strains of Christianity echo with the prosperity gospel, asserting that if we don't have wealth, abundance, and success, then we must lack the favor of the divine. If we can't feel God in a specific way, we must be doing something wrong. It must be we who have sinned, strayed, failed.

3 weeks ago | globalsistersreport.org | Stephanie Peirolo |Valentine Benjamin |Rhina Guidos

They get back in the boat and take Jesus out from the shore to continue his work. The Gospel story doesn't say how long Simon and his friends waited on the boat while Jesus preached, but after Jesus is done, he tells Simon to put his nets back in the water. Simon protests, saying they've been fishing all night long and got nothing. Not one fish. But, Simon says, "If you say so, I'll give it a try."We know what happened next. An abundance of fish.

Jan 7, 2025 | globalsistersreport.org | Stephanie Peirolo |Patrick Egwu

You can't rush grief or grace. After my son died, people tried to rush me through my grief. I felt pushed into stories that made others more comfortable, like the one about God having a plan, or my son being in a better place. His death devastated me, and I wasn't ready for those stories. I felt isolated and resented those well-meaning friends and neighbors who preferred my experience of grief to be tidy and swift.

May 6, 2024 | globalsistersreport.org | Stephanie Peirolo

Thomas doubts. When Thomas returns to his friends and hears the unlikely tale of their dead teacher showing up in their locked room, he doesn't believe it. What does he say he needs? He needs a physical, actual experience to believe. He doesn't want a story, an idea, an image, theology. He needs to touch Jesus' wounds. He proclaims his doubt, asks for what he needs, speaks up loudly in his community. And what happens? Jesus shows up and gives Thomas what he asks for.

Mar 25, 2024 | ncronline.org | Stephanie Peirolo |Valentine Benjamin

My granddaughter, Ruby, is 4. She likes to play chase games. Sometimes, we chase her; sometimes she chases us. Shrieking with delight is involved either way. Her parents aren't churchgoers, but they like me taking her to church. It gives them some time with her baby brother and gives Ruby some one-on-one time with Nana and Coco. Talking about God to a child growing up in a house with different ideas about God than I do is a great exercise.