Thank you to all who participated in our sabbatical Zoom call with Connectional Presbyter Cindy Kohlmann and participated in our sabbatical coffee hour. I found the conversation encouraging and energizing. I appreciated the authenticity of the discussion, and I loved all the creative ideas that came out of those events. At our April meeting, session [...]

This month, we observe Holy Week - the highlight of the Church year. This week commemorates the suffering, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah. Holy week can be challenging to observe, particularly the days that focus on Christ’s betrayal and suffering on the cross. But, if we commit to observing this important week, [...]

Sabbatical Plans Our denomination values the long-term health and well-being of congregations and the pastors who serve them. To this end, the denomination recommends that pastors take a sabbatical after a certain number of years of full-time service. A sabbatical is simply an extended time of rest and renewal for a pastor. An extended time [...]

As we enter the month of November, it will soon be time to celebrate Thanksgiving. As Christians, we are called to be a people of gratitude and thanksgiving, remembering all of God’s good gifts to us. Though it has been a tough 18 months or so with the ongoing pandemic, we have much for which [...]

It’s hard to believe we’re in October already! We’ve come a long way since last October. Last year at this time, we were worshipping virtually due to COVID-19. There were no vaccines available, and we had no idea how much longer we were going to be in lockdown. Since that time, vaccines have become available, [...]

It’s hard to believe we’re already on the cusp of the fall season once again! We’ve had quite a year, filled with both challenges and hope for the future. I’ve always felt like fall is a season of new beginnings. As churches tend to follow a school schedule, fall is a time to begin a [...]

As we slowly come out of the COVID-19 pandemic and return to “normal,” it is a good opportunity to reflect upon the ways we’ve changed and grown during this period. We’ve acknowledged many losses, but it’s also good to reflect on the things we gained that we may not have expected. Here are some questions [...]

Summer is here! − warm days, bright sunshine, and everything is really, really green. Summertime is a season of growth – from delicious homegrown vegetables from a local garden, to trees growing fresh leaves and branches, to our lawns growing tall and lush, and constantly needing cut! In our hemisphere, the summer months correspond with [...]

As you all know, one of my favorite spiritual teachers is the late Dallas Willard. Of all the Christian thinkers and practitioners I have known throughout ministry, Dallas Willard comes the closest to truly understanding and articulating the process of Christian discipleship (that is, learning to become like Jesus in our thoughts and actions). He [...]

We’re in the season of Easter – celebrating Jesus’ resurrection and new life we have in him! We’re also back to worship in our sanctuary, and it is wonderful to be back together again in-person! I’m so grateful for all of you and how you’ve been able to endure this COVID-19 pandemic with all its [...]