Our annual campaign theme is 200 Years of Blessings: Imagine What Comes Next. Over the next few weeks, members of the Stewardship Committee will share some blessings they have experienced. We have all been blessed in so many ways by being a member of First...
Since I was a child I have always loved the season of Fall. There were so many things to look forward to — a new school year, a new year of activities at church, and of course the cooler weather, apple cider, and beautiful foliage. As an adult, this is still my...
Seeing someone make the most of the gifts God has given them is exhilarating. Watching the Olympic athletes, after a lifetime of training giving it their all makes me cheer (while I watch on my sofa eating chips). Clearly, they have stewarded their talents through...
God loves us and created us. God loves us and listens to us. God loves us and protects us. God loves us unconditionally. Last week, we welcomed almost 100 children to Dino Island for Vacation Bible School, and these were the daily “taglines” they learned, coupled with...
When a nine-mile hike around a lake turns into a 15-mile trudge through knee-high burrs in the dark, one quickly learns the importance of pivoting the plan. My twin sister and her boyfriend recently moved to Sacramento to pursue their respective career goals. They had...
At the end of May, I had the amazing opportunity to travel to Eastern Europe with eight dear friends from my hometown. To say that we had a great time would be an understatement as it was truly the trip of a lifetime for me. I have never seen such breathtaking and...
“Piece by piece, I re-enter the world. A new phase. A new body, a new voice. Birds console me by flying, trees by growing, dogs by the warm patch they live on the sofa. Unknown people merely by performing their motions. It’s like a slow recovery from a sickness, this...
For those of you who have not been to Montreat, it is a little mountain town in a valley just outside of Asheville. Montreat is known for its trails, creeks, and most of all Lake Susan, which is really just a man-made pond in the middle of the Montreat Conference...
We’re fostering a dog this summer. This will come as no surprise to anyone who knows my middle daughter, Megan. The dog’s name is Fido (yes, really). He is 12 years old and has spent most of his life outside in a kennel. We joke that Fido is not the sharpest tool in...
The Path God Bless the path on which you go, God bless the earth beneath your feet, God Bless your destination. God be a smooth way before you. A guiding star above you, A keen eye behind you This day, this night and forever. God be with you whatever you pass....
