What does peace sound like to the prisoner who writes about it? For the prisoner whose time stretches from months into years, one wonders if there are words of peace in thoughts, prayers and words exchanged between fellow prisoners and few visitors.

Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Ga., has announced that author, scholar and renowned preacher Dr. Frank A. Thomas, the Nettie Sweeney and Hugh Th. Miller Professor of Homiletics at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, will be the 2019 Smyth lecturer.

Looking out at the A Corporation’s board Thursday, the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II told the 10 directors his prayer is they’re not seated behind an ordinary corporate table. Make it a praying table, a hoping, dreaming, risk-taking table, the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly urged.

In her 15th year of teaching Christian Education at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Va., Karen-Marie Yust had never received an invitation to be part of a conversation like this. She, along with faculty and staff representing seven of the 10 PC(USA) seminaries, gathered around a table last week to offer input on Christian formation — that is shifting its focus from age and stages ministry to intergenerational faith formation.

There’s a reason Blue Christmas and Longest Night services have become popular in recent years. They recognize that amid all the shopping and get-togethers, the holidays need tidings of both comfort and joy. Comfort, because loneliness, grief and pain can be especially potent this time of year. Joy, because we need the hope of the gospel.

“Today the playground is transformed, adorned with flowers and the presence of many dignitaries.” Those were the words of the Honorable Rebecca Joshua, government minister of Roads and Bridges in South Sudan’s capital city, Juba, during Monday’s ceremony celebrating 15 graduates of Nile Theological College. Presbyterian mission co-worker the Rev. Bob Rice is an instructor there; his wife, Kristi, also a mission co-worker, is an economic and development adviser for the South Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church. This report is taken from a Wednesday post on their blog, “Embracing Hope.”

As the board of directors for the A Corporation, the corporate arm of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), prepares to meet Thursday and Friday at the Presbyterian Center, a three-page letter of advice and encouragement awaits.

The Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, the Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), has sent a letter to Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin, speaking against his position on companies that participate in boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel. The governor recently signed an executive order to ban the awarding of state contracts to companies that support the BDS movement.

The love story between Ralph and Mary Hamburger began at a Presbyterian church when Ralph introduced himself to Mary after hearing her play the piano.

If you Google “Sandy Hook,” the search engine’s “People also search for …” menu offers these grim options: 2012 Aurora shooting, Stoneman Douglas High School, Columbine High School massacre, 2014 Isla Vista massacre, Orlando nightclub shooting. And it could go on.