It was the summer before COVID (little did we know), and I gathered with some housemates and neighbors at the nearby Durham Bulls stadium. It was an early evening in July, and it was hot. Another housemate, Sam, joined us after he got off work – six or so hours of...
Over 10 years ago David Brooks wrote an amazing essay in the New York Times. While it was written for the good of our nation, his words of wisdom apply well to our life as a congregation. I am quoting him here not to suggest we lack these qualities. Rather, I am...
The Declaration of Independence is fascinating in its origins and formation, use outside the United States, and its perception by Americans. When we learn about the Declaration of Independence or hear about it in modern contexts, we only remember the first 300-some...
If we want a garden We’re gonna have to sow the seed Plant a little happiness Let the roots run deep If it’s love that we give Then it’s love that we reap If we want a garden We’re gonna have to sow the seed ~ Crowded Table by The Highwomen...
Friends, It is with great joy that I share with you that we will soon have full-time transitional leadership for congregational care. On Thursday of last week at a called Session meeting Newton Cowan was unanimously approved to fill this role. As many of you know,...
Both the Old and New Testament writers had a lot to say about labor. There are two basic attitudes about two distinct uses of the word labor in scripture. The first has to do with childbirth, or analogies about birthing. “As soon as Zion was in labor, she delivered...
I came across a piece written by Henri Nouwen recently in his Bread for the Journey devotional. He reflects on life, writing: “Mostly we have just enough light for the next step: what we have to do in the coming hour or the following day. The art of living is to...
The Book of Genesis is the crown jewel, the masterpiece of the Old Testament. Perhaps it has been a while since you have read it through like you would a novel at the beach. It’s only about 66 pages long, much shorter than any novel. If you prefer to...
Feature by FPC member Susan DeVaney When James Keith arrived at FPC ten years ago, it was as the part-time music director for the non-traditional Rejoice service. With the beloved Dolly Jacobs as the primary face of Rejoice! and Sid Batts as the live streamed...
Many of our children and youth are right now starting a new, strange, school year. Young adults are headed to college. Teachers, parents, administrators, staff and students are navigating transitions that in other seasons felt much less fraught with anxiety than this...
