Many of us as children were never taught to identify or talk about our feelings or emotions, especially those perceived to be “unbecoming” or “unmanly.” Perhaps, you were taught to suppress your feelings or just “suck it up.” Maybe, you never had the opportunity to...
Everyone has a story. Some years back, perhaps the late 1990’s or early 2000’s, we had a church member offer their story from the pulpit. It was May, Mental Health Awareness month. This member shared their journey with depression. You could have heard a pin...
Talking with one of you a few weeks ago, we stood in the pews and looked up – up at the glorious rose window and the chancel and all that it holds. You, in your wisdom, said, “do you ever stop and look in awe.” You explained. There is awe, both in the beauty of the...
One of the things that fascinates me about Genesis 1 is that after each day of creation, God declares what has been made good. This act of creation is the overflowing of God’s creativity and love into a universe full of majesty and wonder. Creation, God declares, is...
As children gathered in the courtyard yesterday between worship services, they had baskets in hand. They were eagerly searching, high and low, for a plethora of colorful Easter eggs. It was beautiful. And it was joyous. I don’t know about you, but I remember many...
This past Thursday I had the honor and privilege to be crowned King Kleenex complete with crown and cape. Phae was crowned Queen Kleenex. We read a story to two of the preschool classes about what it means to live in a caring kingdom. The preschool has been collecting...
In Joshua 24:13, God declares to the Israelites: “You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.” The Israelites had moved into the Promised Land and were embarking on a new phase of their journey as the people of God when God reminds them...
There were A LOT of children in worship that day. Some of them were singing with the children’s choir. Some of them were leading prayers. Some of them were processing in the light, the bible, the cup, and the bread. Some of them were munching doughnuts with...
As I sat at the dining room table, wondering what to write, I saw a sketch sitting there. It reminded me of a passage I read a few weeks ago that continues to come to mind, one that I continue to wonder over, particularly in this Lenten season. “The earth is the...
I recently discovered that my name tag says Associate Pastor for Pastor Care. Apparently “al” would not fit. As many of you are aware, we have had a fair number of funerals over the past few weeks. Each one matters, each family and everyone who walks...
