… the Mud:
The Mystery and the Mud is an exploration of incarnation — that crazy Christian notion that the Creator is expressed in the Creation, the Universal in the Particular, and the Sacred in the Sloppy. The blog’s name was inspired by the work of Sallie McFague, and her quest for a vision of God that “embraces both the guts and the glory, both the mud and the mystery.”
Mud wrestling, then, is what happens when our lives and our theology come into contact. The book of Genesis tells this story: While traveling through the wilderness, Jacob wrestled in the darkness with a mysterious stranger. As daybreak approached, the stranger told Jacob to give up and let him go, but Jacob replied, “I refuse to let you go, until you bless me.”
… the Author:
Liza B. Knapp is the pastor of the First Church of Deerfield, Massachusetts (UCC/ UUA), the “Brick Church” in Old Deerfield Village. A former science teacher, she previously served as designated term pastor of the Belchertown United Church of Christ, as youth director of First Churches of Northampton and as seminary intern at Northampton’s Cathedral in the Night, an outdoor ministry that welcomes the housed and the homeless for shared worship and a free common meal. A 2013 graduate of Andover Newton Theological School, Liza also holds graduate degrees in environmental studies and forestry.
the Mystery and the Mud 
I just read, and was nourished by, your message from the porch of your church, and would like to hear more. I grew up in Worcester, MA Unitarian Church, and now live in Delaware and attend Quaker meeting. The Unitarian church here is too secular for my needs and I have Quaker background as well as Unitarian. So, your message spoke to my condition. I hope to read more of your lessons in your blog. Or, do you publish sermons in a church newsletter?
Hi Janet, thank you for your comment. I’m glad my message found its way to you, and that it nourished you. You can find many past sermons here in my blog, but for current services look for The First Church of Deerfield on Facebook. (If you would like to receive our weekly worship service via email, just send me a note at deerfieldpastor@gmail.com.)
I am, by the way, a Presbyterian-raised, Quaker-educated, UCC-ordained pastor, serving a combined UUA/UCC congregation.
Ours is a spacious faith.
Peace,
Liza