From Batts residency to local pulpits

Dear FPC Family, Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As Paul wrote to the Philippians, I thank God every time I think of you. I am thankful for my time here as a Sid and Cathy Batts Pastoral Resident, but now that time has come to a...

Because we Presbyterians love our books!

Staff members recommend these titles for your summer reading list.        Spiritual growth Freeing Jesus: Rediscovering Jesus as Friend, Teacher, Savior, Lord, Way and Presence by Diana Butler Bass. A historical and theological look at how Christians...

Are we there yet?

As the summer approaches and the temperatures rise, memories of family vacations come to mind. When I was a child, my family loaded up the blue Impala, no AC, and drove from Nova Scotia to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I remember being impressed with kudzu,...

A group on earth as in heaven

Over the course of the pandemic, the regular highlight of my week has been a Thursday night Bible study. These studies are filled with grace, joy, laughter, prayer, and lots of music. They are proof that even in a pandemic when we could not be with each other, God is...

Recognizing the ‘great trees’ in our lives

The poem below, written by Maya Angelou, was shared with me by an FPC friend, and I, in turn, want to share it with you. There is “a great tree” in my personal life who is slowly falling: my 91-year-old Pop. As you know, he holds the most special place in my heart for...

Let Us Now Praise Wasps and Indigo Buntings

One of the best ways to stay enraptured with the majesty and mystery of God is to learn more about the wonders of the natural world. Wasps are universally feared and disliked because of their stings, but they are amazing little creatures who have their important place...

Roadside words from the Lord

I have an odd habit of picking up random pieces of paper when I go on walks. I happen to believe that God speaks through all things and sometimes the Word of the Lord might be made known through a random scrap of newspaper or discarded receipt. Mostly, I just...

“The ache for home lives in all of us … “

Maya Angelou once wrote, “The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.” For most of us, home indeed is the safe place we turn to in different stages of our life as a shelter from life’s storms. 2020 and...

Let nature find you

“At least once, stop and sit and let nature find you.” This was the admonition Grant and I received from the volunteer who welcomed us to the Miami Beach Botanical Garden. The garden is a small enclave of green and quiet in the middle of fast, expensive cars, beach...

Young women, including ours, at the UN gathering

Our member Victoria Alexander says, “Getting to meet all of these incredible women makes me completely resolved to work just as hard as they do to make my voice heard, to take action to make this world better for the girls and young women who will come after me.” See...