Dear Friends, This weekend we have an opportunity to experience Presbyterianism at its best. On Saturday morning, the Presbyterian Women will hold their annual Prayer Gathering. This will be held virtually, eliminating weather, Covid, distance, or inconvenience as impediments to participation. There is nothing more vital...
Dear Friends, You’ve likely heard the old adage, “live by the sword, die by the sword.” Our modern day “sword” is technology, and it has served us faithfully and well over the past twenty-two months, enabling us to worship and be together virtually. But on Sunday,...
Dear friends, Driving to work this morning, I was enjoying the winter landscape outside my car window when I remembered something I learned in school: that each snowflake is unique. I pondered that thought as I drove, wondering if that can actually be true. After all,...
Dear Friends, Apparently, some people love cold weather. I am not one of them, so I cannot offer this report based on personal experience; only on what has been told to me by the polar-embracing folks I know. I do think snow is beautiful—when I’m watching...
Dear Friends, What an interesting start to the new year! On the one hand, Covid still rages via the Omicron variant, forcing disruptive airline flight cancellations over Christmas, changes to eagerly anticipated New Year’s plans, and more adaptations in our lives and our church. Yet on...
Dear Friends, Absolutely the last thing I want to talk about the week of Christmas is the coronavirus. I mean, seriously. I am sick to death of Covid (though not literally, I hope!) Still, the news on the latest variant is so disturbing and discouraging that...
Dear Friends, We are just a few days away from the winter solstice. Next Tuesday, December 21st, at 10:59 a.m. EST, the sun will reach its southernmost point in the sky for the year. For those of us in the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice marks...
Dear Friends, We are now half-way through the season of Advent. Over the years, I have developed a deeper and deeper appreciation for this liturgical season, which invites us to slow down, anticipate, and prepare for the coming of Jesus, rather than rush straightaway to the...
Dear Friends, I have a confession to make. Of all the Church’s liturgical seasons, I find Advent the most difficult to preach. Don’t get me wrong—I’m not saying I don’t love the Advent story and the carols and hymns, or the unique flavor of worship during...
Dear Friends, Thank you for a wonderful celebration of God’s faithfulness to us on Stewardship Sunday. It was a joyful, worshipful experience, as we gave thanks for God’s gifts and blessings, and as we made our commitments for the year ahead. If you attended Sunday’s service,...