pastor’s column (Page 6)
How Long, O Lord?
How Long, O Lord? ~Psalm 13 If there was a prayer of the year, it would be Psalm 13. How long, O Lord? How long until we can reunite with loved ones without fear of contracting or spreading the Coronavirus? How long do we have to wear unflattering masks that are both hot and uncomfortable? How long until we can safely sit down in our favorite restaurants with close friends? How long until we can worship together in the sanctuary?…
…from the pastor
Dear Friends,We are starting to see the slightest signs of spring. In between the days of gustingwinds, snow and sleet we get glimpses of what is coming. There is some learning and skills inbeing able to see these signs. It reminds me of this quote from Thoreau: “We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aids,but by an infinite expectation of the dawn, which does not forsake us even in oursoundest sleep.” -Walden It is not…
From the pastor…
In late August 2014, I drove to the parsonage, after the moving van left the last parsonage. It was quite dark when I arrived and getting late, knowing that there was a way off of Coonpath to the church. I turned onto Coonpath, the wrong way. When I finally got to the house, there was tea, a mug, some snacks for me to settle with. After I told that story the next day, when I was met with a muffin…
from the pastor
The sun is shining…..following rain, lots of it; rain that caused flooding and destruction to the Carolinas and Virginia, rain that caused people to have to evacuate, that caused vacations and lives to be put on hold, and lives that were lost, wind, strong wind, that came with that rain…… But today the Sun is shining! Last night I saw a full rainbow, God’s promise. Two nights ago, the sky was aflame with color. God never leaves us… in times,…
from the pastor
On June 19, 1988, I was ordained into the Christian Ministry of the United Church of Christ at St. Peter’s United Church of Christ in Carmel, Indiana. The Rev. Dr. Rueben Sheares shared the message and reminded me to rekindle the gifts of God that are within me, my dad, the Rev. Dr. Ralph Quellhorst, prayed the ordination prayer. Friends and family gathered and laid their hands upon me. I can still feel the weight of the Spirit. Since that…
from the pastor
From the pastor… Experiencing God’s grace, Seeking God’s mission, Sharing God’s love… As you might realize, and I hope you do, this is the mission/vision statement of Grace United Church of Christ. This is how we strive to live as a community of faith. This statement came after discussion of our core values, which are: Love, Leadership, Fun/Joy, Faith, Welcoming community After dialogue and beginning to live into these core values, we met to contemplate and pray about what our…
from the pastor
From the pastor…. On June 19, 1988 at St. Peter’s UCC in Carmel, Indiana, I had hands laid upon me with hope, love and the Spirit. My dad said the prayer of ordination as I was blessed with family, friends, colleagues, local church members, wider church members, and folks from my first call. They were gathered around me with love. The authorized clergy, with my family laid hands upon me and the rest of the congregation touched the shoulder in…
From the pastor
We are in the midst of Lent… a time when we are called to “clean out our closets”, to look at ourselves, and to know that God is always there. Lent is a time that helps us move to growth in faith. The stories of Lent, are ones of hope and promise. The Old Testament texts are calling us to remember the covenant that God has shared with us, promise of a rainbow, of naming, of the law, a new…
Light of Christ
My dear Grace United Church of Christ family, Advent has come and gone, we talked about getting ready, preparing ourselves but most especially our hearts for the coming of our Savior, who came as a tiny baby, born in a dirty, dark, cold, smelly stable. For 4 weeks, we lit the Advent candles to help us prepare. On Christmas Eve we lit the Christ candle to share the light of Christ with the world. Then came the Christmas season, the…
From the pastor…
Today, I sit in my study, I am praying for the islands in the Atlantic as another Hurricane is bearing down on them, I pray for violence to end in St. Louis, but stand for justice, I pray for Mexico City and the devastation of the 7.1 earthquake, I pray for people I know and people who’s names have been given to me who are struggling with illness, disease, drug use, etc… and the sky is kind of grey but…