pastor’s column (Page 4)
Pastor’s Column – Oct 2021
What is your favorite season? Is it Fall with her orange and yellow leaves? Is it Winter and his snow covered trees? Is it Spring, and the arrival of her warm rays of light? Or do you prefer Summer with its long days and vacation getaways? My favorite season seems to be whatever comes next or before. Instead of living in the moment and giving thanks for the season we are in, a part of me is never quite satisfied.…
Pastor’s Column – Sep 2021
Greek: μένω, menoEnglish: Abide, dwell, remain The Greek word μένω, pronounced meno, appears thirty-four times in the Gospel according to John, demonstrating its theological importance in that Gospel narrative. Simply put, μένω means to be with, to abide, to dwell, to remain with, and it is often used to describe one’s relationship with Christ. It is used throughout John, but most notably in John 15 where Jesus is the true vine. “I am the vine, you are the branches. Those…
Pastor’s Column – July 2021
They are like trees planted by streams ofwater, which yield their fruit in its season. Psalm 1:3a I recently heard someone explain that the “Church is a community of people where God nurtures, teaches, and challenges us in the ways of God.” Through our worship, in our prayers, by way of fellowship, we feel the nurturing presence of God with us. Through Sunday School and the studying of scripture, we dive deeper into the mystery of God’s immense love for…
Pastor’s Column – June 2021
“Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, ‘If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.’ Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, ‘Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.’ And instantly the woman was made well.” Matthew 9:20-22 I have always loved this scripture passage. Here is this woman, suffering with a horriblemedical…
Pastor’s Column – May 2021
Universal Resurrection Tradition (Click for image) Many of us have heard the old adage, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” which is a way of saying our interpretation of art is complex and contains many layers. The colors, the figures, the painter’s intentions, even the one observing, all contribute to the open-ended meaning revealed through art. In fact, a thousand words is generously low for the endless possibilities on could come up with. In that way, pictures offer us…
Pastor’s Column – Apr 2021
And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. Mark 16:3-4 The resurrection of Christ is transformative. It changes everything! No longer will death have the final word, but life…
Pastor’s Column – Mar 2021
by Rev. Sarah Are Reprinted with permission. God never begins letters with the words,“I hope this finds you well,”For those words imply distance.Instead, God begins God’s letters to you with the words,“Remember when?” Beloved child,Remember when we dipped our toes into the water?Remember when we dove right in?Remember when the ice cream dripped down our handsAnd the cicadas sang their song,And the seasons changed,And the days were long?Remember when we fell in love and the world was new?Remember when our…
Pastor’s Column – Feb 2021
We used faith as a shield against the false notion that anyone has the power to inflict pain, limitation, despair, or any condition upon us. We in the movement decided to actualize our belief that the hatred we experienced was not based on any truth, but was actually an illusion in the minds of those who hated us. -pg. 25 Across That Bridge: A Vision for Change and the Future of America, by John Lewis I have been praying this…
Pastor’s Column – Jan 2021
Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It ledthem on until it hovered over the place of the child. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! Matthew 2:9-10 (The Message) I wonder, what was it like for the Magi following that star in the eastern skies? Were there days when they questioned if it was the right direction? Were their eyes so fixed on the destination that they…
Remembering
O God of hosts, our faith renew, and grant us, in your grace, To join the songs sung by the saints in every time and place. Come, Let us Join with faithful souls, New century hymnal 383, verse 4 I’m writing this devotion from an empty sanctuary, having just arranged the candles that will be lit in remembrance of loved ones this coming Sunday for All Saints Day. Each candle is a life. Each life was not perfect or without…