'Pastor’s Piece/Peace' Tagged Posts (Page 2)
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 – 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…
Pastor’s Column – Dec 2020
O come, Desire of Nations, bind All Peoples in one heart and mind; Make envy, strife, and quarrels cease; Fill the whold world with heaven’s peace. – New Century hymnal #116, verse 7, o come, o come, emmanuel It was the day after Halloween. I was driving to the store and went through my preset radio stations to find anything that was not a commercial or talk-radio. I needed music that day. No Politics. No one trying to sell…
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…
Why Do Leaves Change Color?
As I write this article, Gum trees at the parsonage are only now just beginning to reveal Fall’s arrival with red tipped leaves. It is subtle and easy to miss, but preparations are underway. Trees don’t need to be told when winter is coming. Trees can feel it in their roots and know it is time to care for itself. Through Spring and Summer we sat under the shade of green leaves as chlorophyll overwhelmed the tree as a…
Pastor’s Column – Sep 2020
Then the Lord said, “I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed I know their sufferings.” Exodus 3:7 Since the birth of our son, Jessica and I have been hearing a lot of crying. It is Jamie’s way of alerting us to something he needs. Either he is hungry, he is cold, he is hot, he has the hiccups, he needs his diaper changed, or…