Welcome.

I’m Leigh Rachal—a Presbyterian Church (USA) pastor, a writer, an advocate, and a seeker of sacred connections in everyday life.

At the heart of all I do is a simple, yet powerful belief: Love is at the center of everything. I strive to live that truth in my ministry, my writing, and my relationships - with God, neighbor, self, and creation.

Through projects like Breathe Deep; Love Wide, I share reflections that encourage us to slow down, root ourselves in grace, and live with wide-open compassion. Whether I’m preaching, leading worship, planning an ecumenical gathering, leading a retreat, or writing a social media post, I invite people to root themselves in God’s loving presence and then live from that place of abundant love as we collectively respond to the call of justice, peace, and joy.

I’m glad you are here. I hope that the sermons, reflections, and resources I’ve shared will invite you to breathe deep, love wide, and journey faithfully.

Faith-rooted reflections and resources for living with courage and hope.

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Faith-rooted reflections and resources for living with courage and hope. *

Leigh Rachal - My Statement of Faith

 

I believe in God Who Is - the Ground of All Being.

I believe in God Who Is - in all and through all.

I believe in God Who Is - perfect Faith. perfect Hope. perfect Love.

pure Mercy. pure Justice. pure Righteousness.

The Prince of Peace that surpasses understanding.

I believe in God Who Is - more than any words can describe.

I believe in God Who Is - The Word.

God’s Word is – a unique and authoritative witness -

Commanding us to love God and neighbor as ourselves.

  The Bible is - inspired and inspiring; faithful and fallible.

The God-breathed Word – written and interpreted by human hands.

I believe any attempt to describe God will fall short. And yet, humans need to try.

I believe humans need to be part of faith communities.

In community we attempt to describe God with words AND with actions.

The world needs to see God with flesh on.

I believe Jesus the Christ shows us God with flesh on.

Fully human. Fully divine.

I believe God is incarnational.

God is with us. Emmanuel.

I believe the sacraments of the Church are a sign and a seal

of God’s abundant, radical, incarnational, perfect Love for God’s people.

In baptism we die to self and rise in Christ -

claimed and beloved as children of the Most High.

At the Lord’s Table we taste the Kingdom of Heaven -

blessed and broken for the world.

From font and table, we are called and equipped to be:

Christians. Little Christs. God with flesh on.

God-bearers. Christ’s hands and feet for the world.

Sent to walk with God in kindness, justice, & humility.

Blessed to be a blessing. Saved to serve.

Able to Glorify and Enjoy God forever.

I believe God is active in the world, creating a new heaven and a new earth.

Even now. Even among us. With us and through us.

Never without us - though often in-spite-of us.

I trust the Holy spirit to sigh and worship and labor and speak through humanity -

Even when all human words and actions fail.

I believe we are forgiven sinners who find our rest in the Lord.

I believe every person and all of creation is included in God's incarnational Being.

Neither death nor life nor powers nor anything can separate any person or any part of creation from God.

God Has Been, Is, & Will Be the ONE

in whom we all live and move and have our Being.

I believe God is - in me, in the other, and in the Trinitarian Spirit - connecting all to all.

I believe these things with every ounce of my being.

I also believe that I may be wrong.