Dear Cottage Readers: Sunday Musings accidentally went out on Saturday night this week — because yours truly hit the publish button instead of the “schedule post” button! Oops. ? I know many of you look for it in your inbox on Sunday morning. In case you missed it when it went out last night, here’s the link: I hope you’ll enjoy it. And maybe a desperate preacher out there needed a little extra help on Saturday night! We’ll be back to the regular schedule next Sunday. Peace, Diana Subscribe now ..read more

The Cottage is a newsletter for head and heart — it both informs and inspires readers about concerns of faith and culture. Midweek posts are usually on religion and the news; Sunday posts are always reflections on scripture and poetry. Almost all of the content is free and open because some readers support this project with a monthly or yearly subscription. Reader subscriptions are the only financial underwriting of the Cottage — there is no institutional sponsor, no advertising, and no list selling. The Cottage happens because readers and friends believe in it. Please consider joining them. T ..read more

Today is the Fourth Sunday of Easter. By tradition it is known as Good Shepherd Sunday. The biblical texts are familiar, however, even to those who don’t regularly attend church — Psalm 23, a letter from 1 John on love, and a well known portion of the Gospel of John: I am the Good Shepherd. Every week, I get amazing notes from people who are discouraged about church, Christianity, religion — all of it. The Cottage invites readers to imagine faith differently — as we wonder together about our world, ancient texts, theology, poetry, and the spirit. This wordy online place has become a corner of ..read more

Dear friends, It is April! In my neighborhood, that means flowering trees and pollen everywhere. I LOVE the first, and am suffering from the second. Welcome spring! And to our friends south of the equator — blessings for autumn! Seasonal change is in full swing. And that’s what today’s letter is about — a change of seasons. Read more ..read more

Today is the Third Sunday of Easter. In addition to being a festive holy day, Easter is an entire season of fifty days — Eastertide. The themes of these weeks focus on new life, love, connection, and community. Eastertide lasts until Pentecost which, this year, is Sunday, May 19. The Cottage depends on the financial support of readers. When you contribute, you help ensure that this newsletter continues to reach people who are seeking a way of openness in faith, hope, and love. Thank you so much! Luke 24:36b-48 Jesus himself stood among the disciples and said to them, “Peace be with you.” The ..read more

Sarah McCammon has written a beautiful, deeply personal book about a trend in American religion — the generation of evangelical adults now leaving conservative churches. She joined us at The Cottage for nearly an hour to talk about her own spiritual journey to discover integrity beyond the boundaries of her childhood faith. The story she tells in The Ex… Read more ..read more

Sarah McCammon, NPR National Political Correspondent and author of the brand-new bestselling book, The Exvangelicals, is coming to the paid subscriber gathering at 11AM eastern this morning. In the final chapter of her book, she referenced a post from The Cottage that was published in October 2022 — “Evangelical Wreckage.” It meant a great deal to her, “When I read Bass’s words, I felt deeply seen.” Less alone, a spiritual journey in company with others. That’s what The Cottage is all about. As most of you know, I’m an exvangelical, too. But we didn’t have that word thirty years ago when I was ..read more

Today is the Second Sunday of Easter. In addition to being a festive holy day, Easter is an entire season of fifty days — Eastertide. The themes of these weeks focus on new life, love, connection, and community. The readings will primarily be from the Gospel of John and the epistle of 1 John. Eastertide lasts until Pentecost which, this year, is Sunday, May 19. The Cottage is a reader-supported publication. The Cottage depends on the financial support of readers. When you contribute, you help ensure that this newsletter continues to reach people who are seeking an open, courageous, thoughtful ..read more

For paid subscribers at The Cottage: Join me and Tripp Fuller of Homebrewed Christianity talking about religion and politics. Anything could happen (and often does). But I imagine we’ll be talking about my Cottage essay from last night on Trump’s idolatrous Easter among other topics. 11:30 AM Eastern/8:30 AM Pacific TODAY, THURSDAY April 4. Read more ..read more

On Easter Sunday, a friend sent a text wishing me a good holiday. To the greeting, he attached a link to the 1974 song, simply called “Easter Song,” from Second Chapter of Acts, one of the original bands in a genre of music that would eventually become Contemporary Christian Music. I clicked the video: Hear the bells ringing, they're singing That we can be born again Hear the bells ringing, they're singing Christ is risen from the dead The angel up on the tombstone Said He has risen, just as He said Quickly now, go tell His disciples That Jesus Christ is no longer dead Joy to the world He has ..read more