Merianna Harrelson

I am the Pastor of Garden of Grace United Church of Christ in Columbia, SC and the Director of Consulting at Harrelson.Co. I am always looking for a good cup of coffee and a great book.

Parallel Pathways

Before the morning light, I sat in the stillness nursing our nine-month old, wondering at this life becoming before our eyes. Even with the sleepless nights, time has passed much too quickly. My mind wanders to the other Mamas who are on parallel pathways. The ones who waited with us for an open delivery room, …

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On Being Here Before

Since the calendar turned to 2024, there’s been conversation and recognition that things feel strange…not just because it’s another leap year. The same two teams were in the Super Bowl as four years ago. That’s not the only parallel. It appears right now that the same two people are somehow going to be running against …

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Ripples of Peace

When Jesus first appears to his disciples after the resurrection in the gospel of John, he says, “Peace be with you.” I’ve been thinking a lot about that greeting that Jesus shared with his disciples and that we use as a way to call ourselves together at the beginning of worship. I’ve been wondering about …

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Spring and New Beginnings

Yesterday marked the first day of Spring. It was a chilly one here in South Carolina and necessitated digging through the coat closet to find the winter coats we had put away thinking the cold mornings had passed. This isn’t unusual for where we live. There is often a taste of Spring that tempts and …

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Lent: Finding Rebirth

Our kids love going on nature walks. They want to find creatures and treasures. It’s always interesting and fun to see what they find that qualifies. Often our Saturday trip to the park ends with what we call “turtle time,” or the search for turtles in the pond that is adjacent to the playground. For …

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Changing Routines

If you were to ask our six-month old what she thought about her crib, I think she would say she tolerates it. She does like being able to see through the sides of the crib and she does like having space to roll over onto her stomach, which is currently her favorite sleeping position. But …

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Genuine Love

Ashes to Ashes  Dust to Dust Soften our hearts Renew our trust That you breathed  Into the dust And call us to adjust To our belovedness.