15 Mar

Moving to the Cross

Dear Friends, I can hardly believe it, but when we gather for worship on Sunday, Holy Week will be just two weeks away. I want to encourage you to use these final days of Lent to immerse yourselves in what this season offers: an opportunity to slow...

09 Feb

Ash Wednesday and Holy Week at Calvary

Ash WednesdayOn February 22nd we will have our Soup Supper at 6:00 p.m. in the fellowship hall, followed by Taize worship in the sanctuary at 7:00p.m. This is a combined service with us, Bush Hill, Heritage, and Mt. Vernon churches.   The rest of the combined Lenten schedule...

26 Jan

Walking in Faith, Together

Dear Friends, Thank you for an uplifting worship service on Sunday. Announcing three staff changesis not a task any pastor relishes, but you received the news with equanimity and grace.For that, I am deeply grateful. After church, several of our long-time members madecomments along the lines...

12 Jan

His Peace Will Make Us One

Dear Friends, As glorious as all the special worship events of the past month have been (a wedding,ordination of elders, Lessons & Carols, poetry & pajamas, and send-offs to four staff), Iam ready for a “normal” Sunday, if there is such a thing! Which is why...

28 Dec

Another Goodbye…Another Staff Change

Dear Friends, It is with both gratitude and sadness that we will be saying goodbye to David Maley on Sunday.  David has served Calvary as pianist, accompanist, and Musician Extraordinaire for a decade.  He arrived right after I did, and he has been nothing but a...

08 Dec

Holy Bewilderment

And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one!  The Lord is with you.” But [Mary] was much perplexed by his words…(Luke 1:28-29a) Mary’s faith is often lauded during Advent, as well it should be.  Her response to the angel’s pronouncement that she would...

30 Nov

The Inward Work of Winter

Dear Friends, Recently, a friend shared with me an online post she had discovered, one that speaks to the “work” of winter.  I found it particularly apt as December commences so am sharing a portion of it here: “The winter solstice time is no longer celebrated as...

10 Nov

All at First and Last is Grace

Dear Friends, I started reading a new book this week—not a newly released book but a newly-introduced-to-me book.  Published six years ago, The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and His Holiness the Dalai Lama spent time atop the...

02 Nov

Change is in the Air!

Dear Friends, It is November and all around us there are signs that change is happening.  The leaves which were so gloriously vibrant just a week or two ago are now fading and quickly falling.  Baseball is approaching its final weekend, and in its place, football,...

07 Sep

God’s Goodness in the Changes

Dear Friends, The calendar says it is September and although the weather hasn’t felt significantly less humid yet, I am grateful that my favorite season is nearly here.  Already signs of autumn are appearing:  backpack toting students and yellow school buses are everywhere.  I watched the...