Always a New Beginning: a guide to navigate the inevitable losses not as a shrinking of the options but a hopeful anticipation of the new ways that may yet emerge

This book offers a positive perspective in the midst of tragedy, suffering, and despair. Recognizing that life experiences frequent setbacks, it demonstrates how facing those negative experiences but also anticipating healing possibilities helps one move forward with courage and expectation.

Biography for Steve McCutchansteve@smccutcacan Steve spent thirty-eight years in the pastoral ministry interpreting the Gospel to lay people who experience the tension of division in their world. For twenty-three years, he combined ministry with his middle-class congregation with monthly involvement in counseling the poor in his city. He helped found the Presbyterian Inter-Racial Dialogue that in November 2012 celebrated twenty years working with six Presbyterian churches, three predominantly black and three predominantly white, building cprimixommunity that breaks down the barriers of racism. His book, Let's Have Lunch, Conversation, Race, and Community: Celebrating 20 Years of the Presbyterian Inter-Racial Dialogue recounts that journey. He also helped establish a Hispanic ministry in Winston-Salem. His church has participated in regular activities with the Jewish community. Five times the church shared in an interfaith, interracial Habitat build that included Christians, Jews, and Muslims; Caucasians, Blacks, and Hispanics. He has been a featured speaker at Moravian, Catholic, Episcopal, Lutheran, and Presbyterian convocations.The author published Experiencing the Psalms with Smyth & Helwys in 2000 that received the Jim Angell award from the Presbyterian Writer's Guild. He has published three devotional books based on the lectionary, and a commentary on Matthew, Good News for a Fractured Society. He has coauthored two plays exploring racism, one of which has been performed several times. Since retirement in 2006, he has focused on developing resources to assist in the care of clergy. These include two CDs, A Deep Well for the Pastor, and Laughter From the Well. The latter builds on his interest in performing standup comedy. He has published nine books in a Healthy Clergy Make Healthy Congregations series. His first novel, A Star and a Tear, explores the symbiotic relationship between sexuality and spirituality. His second novel Blessed Are the Peacemakers, explores how the church confronts the violence of our society. His third novel, Shock and Awe, addresses violence in society. His fourth novel, Hospitality for Alien Strangers, expands neighborly love throughout the universe. He blogs regularly on various aspects of the support of clergy www.smccutchan.com and is passionate about how congregations can discover spiritual depth in confronting racism.He lives in St. Petersburg, Florida. In addition, to continuing with his twice weekly blog, he is developing a video guide and booklet to enable pastors to guide church members in their spiritual development. If he can assist you, contact him at steve@smccutchan.com