pastor’s column (Page 8)
Lent
What is Lent? Lent is the six weeks before Easter is called the “Lenten Season”. It is a time to focus on the suffering, death and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Lent is a season of soul-searching and repentance. It is a season for reflection and taking stock. The word “lent” means “lengthen” and stands for that time in spring when the days grow longer. The original period of Lent was 40 hours. It was spent fasting to commemorate…
Thank you thank you thank you
From the pastor… Thank you! For all the wonderful expressions of love and compassion. The cards, gifts, food, surprises, words of encouragement WE are so appreciative and blessed The Quellhorst/Lacefield family is so joy-filled to be a part of the Grace United Church of Christ family Thank you!! This Epiphany season, as we gather to worship and praise God, may we remember why we are here, what God is calling us to do and be, and share the compassion and…
Journeying into Lent
Love, Leadership, Fun/Joy, Faith, Welcoming community From the Pastor… Extravagant welcome, continuing testament, changing lives… these are words that I believe lead in our journey of faith here at Grace United Church of Christ. We are called to be on the journey of faith together, to grow and love and be. Our journeys are different, but they are our journeys and they shape us. Learning to listen and be kind and loving is part of our journey. Learning not to…
Advent Blessings
Advent blessings from Pastor Mindy, AJ and Andy…. A month of preparing ourselves, our hearts, our minds for Jesus Daily we pray and listen, for we do not know when Jesus will come again Very lucky are we, we can hear, listen, and be the story of love. Every day we open our hearts to listen to God Now is the time to be ready, because the Son of Man is coming Time is at hand, for a little child…
From the pastor….
From the pastor…. ” But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” ( Isaiah 43: 1) This is my favorite scripture verse, because it always reminds me that God named and claimed me. Even in the worse times, even when life seems like it is falling apart, we have been called by name,…
Fall time…
From the pastor…. Autumn… Fall…, is my most favorite time of year. Not sure why, maybe it is because by the time September rolls around I am tired of the hot weather, and the no schedule. Don’t get me wrong, I love summer and the time of vacations and new places, of late night talks and visits to the beach. But there is something about fall that calls me back to mystery of faith and life. The colors change, the…
Some thoughts
Note: This is a reprint of the article that appeared in the September newsletter. Going forward, I plan to write here several times a month. Dear Grace United Church of Christ, As I continue packing up here in North Lima, Ohio and get ready to move to Lancaster, I wanted to share some thoughts with you, as we ready ourselves to be together at Grace UCC. I am both excited and happy to have been called to be your pastor.…
Pastor’s Piece/Peace – Aug 2014
Thanks to so many of you that have commented to me that I will be missed as your pastor, of Grace Church. Departing on August 24 as my last Sunday with you, I will miss you. For many of you, I have had the privilege to be present with your family doing a time of joy or a special time of need such as a surgery or the loss of a loved one. I continue to pray that the love…
May 2014 – Pastor’s Piece/Peace
Thanks to everyone who helped make Holy Week and the Easter Sunday Celebration a special time. We had a good attendance in the events and worship around Easter. The morning demonstrated the potential for Grace Church and her future. Already we have several things happening fast: On May 7 the Christian Service Board is supplying food for a special event with the students of West Elementary in Lancaster. On Saturday, May 10 Grace Church is having our second annual Children’s…
April Pastor’s Piece/Peace
Jesus and his disciples were among a million people preparing to travel to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. It was a three day walking journey from Galilee to the city on Mt. Zion. Some disciples went ahead to prepare for camping out along the way. The journey ventured through the hills and forest as well as into the desert. Today we prepare for a spiritual journey that we call Lent, Palm Sunday and Easter. Yes, we need to buy our…