In a year that has felt like a perpetual Lenten season, filled with uncertainty, loneliness, grief, weariness, and darkness, Advent finds our hearts yearning for the Christ child and the hope he brings. FPC’s Advent theme, “From Darkness to Light,” recognizes...
Of all the privileges that come with being a minister, I think that my favorite is presiding over baptisms. Among the many things that we have missed over the past several months, I have probably missed baptisms the most. It is a beautiful and wonderful gift to get to...
Dear FPC friends, As I transition to a new season of life and ministry this week, I give thanks for the time I have spent as part of your community as a Sid and Cathy Batts Pastoral Resident for the past 15 months! It has been a strange time to enter ordained...
This past Monday we recognized the anniversary of Kristallnacht, The Night of Broken Glass. On November 9, 1938, the destruction of more than 1,400 synagogues began in Nazi Germany. Over the years Kate and I have watched so many films about Nazi Germany and all the...
My grandmother Judy had a saying, “Well, here you grow again!” This was typically announced at the conclusion of some hour-plus conversation about how someone in our family (you can guess who) was experiencing a profound change in his/her life that was complex and...
A great big warm thanks to both Danny Massie and Alexandra Mauney for their outstanding leadership over these many months. Danny concluded his ministry as Interim Pastor yesterday. Alexandra’s last day with us will be November 15. They have both contributed...
As we are approaching the end of the year, it is that time when we begin to think about our stewardship plans for the upcoming year. Thinking about what that means, I did a Google search of stewardship and came up this definition: “the job of taking care of something,...
Before you stop reading this blog merely because you think during a time of pandemic and flu, earthquakes, hurricanes and wildfires, political division and racial strife there is nothing to be grateful for — take heart! Modern life often forces us to focus on...
There are a lot of ways to say goodbye, to bid farewell to family, friends and even mere acquaintances. Every language has at least one and many have multiple ways to express this sentiment given the situation and circumstances. Adios, adieu, ciao, au revoir,...
This summer, every Monday morning, I woke up early to complete my weekly long run. Physiologists and running coaches have long touted the value of a weekly long run for every serious training program. For reasons, I don’t understand, the magic number is 70 minutes....
