Pastor’s Corner – April 25, 2024

Dear Beloved,

This year in this season of Eastertide (the season that stretches from Easter to Pentecost when we celebrate the gifts of God’s Spirit), I have been feeling overwhelmed (in a positive way) by so many blessings.  I give thanks to God for the beauty of Creation, for all the people lifting up prayers for equity and shalom for all, for you and opportunity to serve with you, and for God’s mercy and grace.  With each passing year, I find myself more in humble awe of God’s forgiveness - maybe because each passing year, my own sin and need for transformation becomes more clear to me - maybe that is why this year the story of Jesus and Peter at the end of John’s gospel is the one that keeps playing in my head and heart.  Many years the stories that most resonate with me after Easter are the stories of Jesus responding to the disciples questions with care and his ever-faithful presence - maybe because I always feel like I have so many questions, but this year the story that is resonating most with me involves Jesus asking more questions.  In this story at the end of the book of John, Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?”  I have always been told that it matches up with the three times Peter denies knowing Jesus after Jesus is crucified.  I know I have denied and betrayed Jesus so many more times with my unthoughtful actions towards others and the many loving acts that I’ve left undone, so I appreciate the ways Jesus continues to reach out to Peter.  Jesus is still calling Peter.  God still has plans for Peter.  God is always still reaching out to each of us and continues to create and recreate us and renew us with grace and purpose. How do we respond, when God asks us, “Do you love me?”  What does it look like for each of us unique individuals specially designed by God to feed Jesus’ sheep/to care for his lambs?  What does it look like for us as a community of Jesus’ followers called Friedens United Church of Christ to feed Jesus’ sheep?  These questions are in my prayers for us.  I hope each of us can take time to pray and explore these questions and the stories found at the end of  Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John about the resurrection and Jesus’ appearances to his disciples in this season of Eastertide.  If exploring them in community would be more fun for you, please feel free to reach out.  I appreciate you!  Thank you for being you!

With gratitude and hope,

Sarah

After they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?”

“Yes, Lord,” he answered, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my lambs.”  (John 21:15)

Pastor’s Corner – April 18, 2024

The Fruit of the Spirit Part 8

How do we know that Jesus, Immanuel (God-with-us), is really with us? Paul answers that question beautifully in his letter to the disciples in Galatia who must have been wondering the same thing. Paul writes: the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). When we experience any of these gifts in our daily lives, we know that Christ’s Spirit is at work.

The eighth fruit of the Spirit is gentleness. To be gentle is to be humble, to be thoughtful and respectful, to resist judgment (God’s job) and embrace love of God, neighbor, and self (our job), to be a careful listener, and to put the needs of the other above our own.

Paul described discipleship as an act of gentleness: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice!. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near (Philippians 4:4-5). Trusting Christ’s near presence and allowing Christ to lead the way, liberates and empowers us to let gentleness prevail in our thoughts, words, and actions. Furthermore, it produces rejoicing to be gentle.

Gentleness is a winsome expression of Christ’s living Spirit in our lives. People are drawn to a gentle spirit. Let this gift flourish and pay attention to the influence for Christ you can make.

Yours in Christ,

Marc

Pastor’s Corner – April 11, 2024

Dear Beloved,

How is it with your being this season of Eastertide which stretches from Easter to Pentecost when we celebrate the gift of God’s Spirit? Are you feeling the energy of new life from our Risen Leader? Are you finding hope in the good news of God’s unstoppable, undefeatable love? Are you feeling fearful about what it means to follow a Resurrected Redeemer? Are you feeling worn out by the weight of the world, by suffering that happens near and far? No matter who we are or where we are on this journey of life, God is for us - calling us - loving us!!!

I know I’ve asked you before, but I want to ask you again, what are your go to stories?  What songs or poems or Bible passages carry you along in this journey of life - when the path is uncertain, when stress and strain abound, when joy overwhelms? I would be excited to know if you are comfortable sharing with me - pastorsarah.friedensucc@outlook.com.  

In this season, I have been giving thanks for all the ways Jesus shows up in the lives of the early disciples and followers of Jesus after he is raised from death. He met them along the road, at the table, on the beach. He responded to their doubts and questions with care. Where is Jesus meeting us in this season of Eastertide? What are we asking? How are we responding to the Risen One who loves us more than we can ever even fully begin to understand? May you feel the peace of Jesus that passes all human understanding and may it strengthen you as we seek to follow in Jesus’ ways of compassion for all.  

With gratitude,

Sarah

…..Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”  After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.  Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  (John 20:19-22)

Pastor’s Corner – April 4, 2024

The Fruit of the Spirit Part 7

How do we know that Jesus, Immanuel (God-with-us), is really with us? Paul answers that question beautifully in his letter to the disciples in Galatia who must have been wondering the same thing. Paul writes: the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).  When we experience any of these gifts in our daily lives, we know that Christ’s Spirit is at work.

The seventh fruit of the Spirit is faithfulness. In the Bible faith is defined by trust in and loyalty to God. Here is an example from Psalm 26, verse 3: For your steadfast love is before my eyes, O God, and I walk in faithfulness to you. God’s love comes first, followed by our trust in the source of that love. In that same vein, we read in Paul’s letter to Rome Therefore, since we are justified (put right in our relationship with God) by faith (trust in God’s steadfast love), we have peace (reconciliation and wholeness) with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (who on the cross powerfully demonstrated God’s unconditional love), through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God (Romans 5:1-2).

Is there a clearer demonstration of God’s steadfast love than the cross and the empty tomb? These are the ultimate symbols of the triumph of goodness over evil and life over death. Of course, we trust God and gladly put God in the center of our lives. God in Christ is trustworthy!

Who do you trust?

Eastertide blessings,

Marc

Pastor’s Corner – March 28, 2024

Holy Week Greetings,

You are in my prayers as I write this. Perhaps you will read this when it appears in your inbox on Maundy Thursday. If you are like me with all the emails that I deeply desire to read, you may be reading this on Holy Friday, or after Easter into the season of Eastertide that stretches fifty days until Pentecost. Whenever and wherever this finds you, I pray you will know you are loved by the Maker of the heavens and the earth. The stories of Holy Week, which begin with Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem when people waved palm branches and shouted Hosanna blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, and continue through the stories of Jesus sharing a meal with his closest disciples and his washing of their feet, through stories of Jesus being betrayed and denied by these same disciples, to the cross and then to the empty tomb and all the teachings and passages in between, may you know God sees you and loves you through all the emotions.

I pray that sometime this week or in the weeks ahead whether it be at one of the worship services where we join together in person or virtually or somewhere in silence and stillness or somewhere in the movement and sounds of your daily experiences, you will give yourself the space to imagine being there with Jesus in one of these stories found towards the final chapters of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (all a little different in what and how they remember what happened just as we are diverse in our experiences, perspectives, and memories). May we be renewed by the forgiveness,  the nourishment, the gifts of community, the blessings of serving, the mercy, and the unconditional and unstoppable love made known by Jesus our Leader and Life-restorer. 

I give thanks for the opportunity to worship with you and to be in relationship with you through this special season and in all the ordinary extraordinary seasons of life as we seek to follow Jesus. May we share the good news of Jesus’ compassion and grace.

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him.  Mark 16:1-6

Pastor’s Corner – March 21, 2024

The Fruit of the Spirit Part 6

How do we know that Jesus, Immanuel (God-with-us), is really with us? Paul answers that question beautifully in his letter to the disciples in Galatia who must have been wondering the same thing. Paul writes: the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). When we experience any of these gifts in our daily lives, we know that Christ’s Spirit is at work.

The sixth fruit of the Spirit is generosity. All of these gifts of Christ’s living Spirit are a blessing but generosity holds great potential for warming our hearts and deepening our faith. In his correspondence to the disciples in Corinth, Paul advises: Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. We can all attest to how good it feels to be generous. Being generous can feel like the reason we are here. That’s because being generous, and even giving sacrificially, is a way to show our trust in God’s providence and to embrace our role as stewards of God’s gifts.

As Holy Week approaches, consider the depth of Jesus’ generosity. On Palm Sunday, Jesus entered the Holy City as a servant not a conqueror. At his last supper, Jesus broke bread with one who would betray, one who would deny, and the others who would abandon Jesus in his hour of need. In prayerful anguish in the Garden of Gethsemane over the inevitable next steps of arrest, suffering and execution, Jesus nonetheless followed God’s will for meeting evil with good, and death with the hope of new life. When nailed to a Roman cross, Jesus spoke words of forgiveness not wrath.

Jesus set the example. Jesus did not hold back. Jesus gave his all to God and his mission of self-giving love and reconciliation. In grateful response let us be cheerful givers.

Yours in Christ,

Marc

Pastor’s Corner – March 14, 2024

Dear Beloved,

How are you a little more than midway through this season of Lent which goes from Ash Wednesday through Holy Week until the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection on Easter? I have been so grateful for the opportunities to worship with you, to learn with you, and to pray with you. I am grateful for some of the special programs we have been able to experience in this season - the conversation with our partners from Beechtree Consulting and Psychological Services the day before Eating Disorder Awareness and Prevention Week and the Disability Justice Panel Conversation at the beginning of Disability Awareness. I am grateful for opportunities to understand one another better and know how we can be faithful followers of Jesus who are welcoming and inclusive of everyone and creating an atmosphere where we can be attentive to supporting shalom (a deep and wide comprehensive well-being and wholeness) for all.  

This year during Lent, I have been thinking a lot about loss, grief, and death for many reasons. I would like to write about those things in relationship to seeking to follow Jesus in ways that are inclusive and caring for all, and at the same time, those can be very sensitive topics for people, and I want to have those conversations when I can be with you in person or virtually and know more about your context. These topics have been coming up frequently in the different Lenten devotionals that are guiding my Lenten journey this season along with topics such as fear and communion. If you want to chat about these topics sometime, please know you can reach out. In the meantime, I am grateful we can pray with each other through all the seasons, and I hope you can plan to come to the special Holy Week services and invite people to join you. I am grateful for you. May you know you are a loved child of God in all seasons. 

With expansive hope and appreciation,

Sarah

 Give thanks to God, for God is good; God’s love endures forever.  (Psalm 107:1, from one of our recent Sunday morning sermon texts)

Pastor’s Corner – March 7, 2024

The Fruit of the Spirit Part 5

How do we know that Jesus, Immanuel (God-with-us), is really with us? Paul answers that question beautifully in his letter to the disciples in Galatia who must have been wondering the same thing. Paul writes: the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). When we experience any of these gifts in our daily lives, we know that Christ’s Spirit is at work.

The fifth fruit of the Spirit is kindness. Kindness is the practical application of grace, God’s unconditional love. Jesus demonstrated kindness at every turn: he made room at his table for those who normally were kept out, he was moved with compassion (which means “to suffer with”) to feed the hungry and heal the sick, Jesus brought peace to the troubled and fearful, Jesus was patient with his disciples, and he willingly followed a path of self-giving love.

Jesus invites us to be kind at every turn. In fact, kindness is an excellent spiritual practice for the season of Lent. Let us open our eyes to the many ways God through Christ has been kind to us and then pay it forward. It can be as simple and profound as a smile, a note of encouragement, a word of appreciation, a helping hand, or even allowing another to help you. All of these and so many more are ways to join Jesus in the ministry of kindness. And don’t we know what a lasting impression kindness makes?!

Yours in Christ,

Marc

Pastor’s Corner – February 29, 2024

Dear Beloved,

What symbols are most meaningful to you these days? Which ones do you use the most when texting? Are there signs or symbols that serve as special reminders? If you’d like to share responses to any of these questions with me, I’d enjoy getting to know you better by learning about symbols that are helpful to you.

Symbols have been on my mind, heart, and soul a lot lately. Words are so powerful - they have the power to harm and to heal, to break and to mend. Our Psalm from the beginning of Lent included verses about how we use our tongue (and for me it is often what I type). Lately I’ve found myself struggling to find the words to express my true feelings...which has led me to sit in silence with God...wondering and asking for help. And even then, I haven’t been clear on many things. Maybe this is why symbols have been on my mind a lot - or maybe because much of our communication now often includes symbols, and I wonder what some of them mean to the variety of people with whom I communicate - or maybe because Friedens began the season of Lent with an Ash Worship service that included many symbols. One of those symbols was ashes. Whether you were able to participate in the service or not, what do ashes mean to you?  

In my last few notes to you, I’ve been reflecting on the fruit of the Spirit. As I continue to reflect on them in this season of Lent, I am asking myself - are the words and symbols that I say and send reflecting love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness (generosity in some translations), gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control? That is my intent, but sometimes I know the impact is not the same as the intent. May God’s wisdom and grace help us as we seek to reflect God’s unstoppable everlasting love and hope in all we are and do. As my dad always prayed before each sermon that I heard him preach, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”  (Psalm 19:15) If my words or symbols have ever been unhelpful to you, I am sorry. Thank you for the opportunity to be in community with you - to grow, learn, worship, serve, cry, laugh, pray, be still, wonder, remember, celebrate, praise, and play together as we seek to live and love as followers of Jesus our Leader. I look forward to hearing about your signs and symbols, and I pray that you will know throughout this season of Lent and always that you are a beloved child of God.

In community and gratitude,

Sarah

Pastor’s Corner – February 22, 2024

The Fruit of the Spirit Part 4

How do we know that Jesus, Immanuel (God-with-us), is really with us? Paul answers that question beautifully in his letter to the disciples in Galatia who must have been wondering the same thing. Paul writes: the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). When we experience any of these gifts in our daily lives, we know that Christ’s Spirit is at work.

The fourth fruit of the Spirit is patience. We have all had those moments when we demand: give me patience and I want it now! A spirit of demanding what we want is not the Spirit of Christ. The gift of patience comes to those who welcome the spirit of trust that is the Spirit of Christ.

A student of Paul’s wrote this to the disciples in Colassae: May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light (Colossians 1:11-12). The experience of God’s intention for light, for peace, harmony, and well-being for all is here in-part but not yet in fulfillment. We count on the Spirit’s gift of patience to endure hardship, to wait for peace to come in its fullness, and to do what we can where we are to reflect Divine light.

As you trust Christ to bring to fulfillment our hope for peace, open your heart to the gift of patience.

Yours in Christ,

Marc

Pastor’s Corner – February 15, 2024

Dear Beloved,

As I reflect on Pastor Marc's pastor’s paragraphs, the scriptures read by worship leaders, and on formal and informal conversations with people from Friedens and in the community, three things keep filling my spirit, body, and mind - prayer, fruit of the Spirit, and community.

Whether we find ourselves in the midst of uncertainty, challenge, anxiety, tears, or calm, I think Jesus offers these gifts in his explicit teachings and in the ways he modeled them. While at work or with family or friends or out and about, or in zoom meetings, these three offerings keep coming to my heart. I want to rely on them. I want to offer them to the people around me. Perhaps there are days when you feel like life is a lot and/or you wonder how we can make a difference in the midst of suffering near and far, may you also find hope in the blessings of community, the fruit of the Spirit, and prayer. 

Maybe you’d like to pick one of the fruit of the Spirit to focus on during this upcoming season of Lent which goes from Ash Wednesday through Holy Week, or maybe you’d like to pick a different fruit of the Spirit to reflect on each week of the Lenten Season.  I appreciate all the ways you are already sharing the fruit of the Spirit in your lives.

 May you find rest and strength in God's faithfulness and covenantal promise to always be with us. You are a loved and loving child of God.

With gratitude,

Sarah 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  Galatians 5:22

Pastor’s Corner – February 8, 2024

The Fruit of the Spirit Part 2

How do we know that Jesus, Immanuel (God-with-us), is really with us? Paul answers that question beautifully in his letter to the disciples in Galatia who must have been wondering the same thing. Paul writes: the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). When we experience any of these gifts in our daily lives, we know that Christ’s Spirit is at work.

The second fruit of the Spirit is joy. Joy has to do with the sense of calm that comes from knowing we are never alone. Jesus put it this way: I have come so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete (John 15:11). Especially in the moments of adversity we should open our hearts to the gift of joy, since those are the moments we especially need Jesus’ calming Spirit. Jesus was honest and hopeful about trouble: In the world you shall face troubles. But take courage; I have conquered the world (John 16:33).

Adversity is not a sign of Divine absence. Adversity is an opportunity to embrace Divine presence, and as a result to know the gift of joy.

Yours in Christ,

Marc

Pastor’s Corner – February 1, 2024

Dear Beloved,

It is a little hard for me to believe that the liturgical season of Lent begins in less than two weeks. The space between Epiphany and Lent varies each year because Epiphany is a set date which begins on January 6th while Easter moves in relationship to the moon. This year Ash Wednesday (the beginning of Lent) is February 14th. I hope you will join us for this special worship service when we can experience the blessing of ashes, music, a message, and communion. We would also like to invite you to a Lenten Lunch on Sunday, February 4th. This lunch will be in the narthex right after the 10:30 a.m. worship service. It will be a brief time to connect with each other and chat about the coming Lenten season whether you have been familiar with this season for years or if it is brand new to you. We will talk about some spiritual practices you might enjoy trying during the season of Lent this year, and if we have time, we may also chat a bit about Holy week and the special offerings of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Holy Friday.  It is an informal gathering for all ages. We hope you will come and invite people to join you.  

I was taught that Lent is a time to be more attentive and open to my own humanity - both my limits (which I’m learning to lean into/listen to rather than resist) and my own sin. This morning as I think about what I might focus on in preparation for this coming season, I am giving thanks for Pastor Marc’s paragraphs in this new year which are reflecting on the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). I hope to focus on cultivating the fruit of the Spirit in my life so that I may share them with others as we prepare for the season of Lent. I pray that the Holy Spirit can keep opening me to understand and confess where I need to repent and be transformed by the indwelling of Jesus. I appreciate that I can be on this journey in community - in the community of disciples of Jesus - in the community of all who want to grow as loving creatures. Thank you for being in community. Thank you for being you! You bring very special and unique strengths, experiences, and personality and character traits to this world. Thank you for the ways you share the love of Jesus with others. I thank God for you! We are not alone. We are with each other in God’s grace and ever-faithful compassion. May you know you are a loved child of God.

With gratitude,

Sarah

22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.

Pastor’s Corner – January 25, 2024

The Fruit of the Spirit Part 2

How do we know that Jesus, Immanuel (God-with-us), is really with us? Paul answers that question beautifully in his letter to the disciples in Galatia who must have been wondering the same thing. Paul writes: the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). When we experience any of these gifts in our daily lives, we know that Christ’s Spirit is at work.

The second fruit of the Spirit is joy. Joy has to do with the sense of calm that comes from knowing we are never alone. Jesus put it this way: I have come so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete (John 15:11). Especially in the moments of adversity we should open our hearts to the gift of joy, since those are the moments we especially need Jesus’ calming Spirit. Jesus was honest and hopeful about trouble: In the world you shall face troubles. But take courage; I have conquered the world (John 16:33).

Adversity is not a sign of Divine absence. Adversity is an opportunity to embrace Divine presence, and as a result to know the gift of joy.

Yours in Christ,

Marc

Pastor’s Corner – January 18, 2024

Happy New Year!  How are you midway through the first month of 2024?  Have you ever picked a word of the year or had someone pick a word of the year for you or invited the Spirit to guide you to a word or theme for the year?   If you have a word or would like to pick a word and want to share it, I’d enjoy encouraging you as you journey with your word.  

I have done this for many years.  Most of the time, the words that have come to mind, heart, body, and soul have been words that I think many people would find encouraging, inspiring, and uplifting.  This year, the word that I have been led to feels different.  My word this year is fear.  A year or two ago, a Friedens member told me about a book called What Would You Do If You Weren’t Afraid? by Michal Oshman.  I didn’t have a chance to read much of it, but the question has stuck with me, and I ponder it often.  I feel like this year the word being given to me is fear.  I think of so many times in the Bible when we are told not to fear.  I’m not sure it makes sense to tell people not to be afraid when they are, but I appreciate the good news that God’s eternal love is with us no matter what we are feeling -  we are not alone.  The Faithful Creator is with us, has been with us, and will be with us.  

Maybe this is a question you’d like to explore this year.  As a dreamer, I love to encourage people in their hopes and dreams.  If you find yourself being overcome by fear, I pray that you will know you are not alone.  I pray that God’s presence can offer you comfort, hope, and the peace of Jesus that surpasses all human understanding.  I pray that we experience and live into the shalom God offers for all in order to follow Jesus’ call to be part of God’s work in the world.  May you know you are always loved by the Creator of grace and mercy.

With gratitude for you,

     Sarah 

I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.

I declare that your steadfast love is established forever; your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens. Psalm 89:1-2

Pastor’s Corner – January 11, 2024

The Fruit of the Spirit Part 1

How do we know that Jesus, Immanuel (God-with-us), is really with us? Paul answers that question beautifully in his letter to the disciples in Galatia who must have been wondering the same thing. Paul writes: the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). When we experience any of these gifts in our daily lives, we know that Christ’s Spirit is at work.

The first fruit of the Spirit is love. It is first in place and priority. Love of God, neighbor, and self are the most important Divine commands (Matthew 22:36-40). Loving others as Jesus loves, is the one command of our Leader (John 13:34-35). Choosing the most loving thought, word, or action in any particular situation never fails to bring us closest to what Jesus would have us do and be. Disciples live by the standard of love. This is a very demanding standard, and it is a standard that brings purpose and meaning to life.

Here is the good news of this first fruit of the Spirit, as well as the other eight, love is a gift not an achievement. Paul wants us to avoid self-righteousness. Paul wants us to know that love is a sign that the living Spirit of Christ is present. We can only be loving as we first receive God’s unconditional love. This love fills us to overflowing so that we can spill love into all the lives we touch.

If you experience and share love, this is evidence of Christ’s living Spirit in your life. Let love grow!

Yours in Christ,

Marc

Pastor’s Corner – January 4, 2024

Christmastide Greetings, Beloved! 

How are you in this Christmas season?  What emerges for you as we begin a new year?  In my reflections on 2023, gratitude for you and the opportunities to serve with you bubbled up in my being.  Thanks be to God for all the ways you continue to share Jesus’ unstoppable love.  Thanks be to the Creator for the grace and restoration we are offered.  Thanks be to God that we can worship and serve together and grow and learn together.  

 During the children’s messages throughout Advent, I invited the children to be watching for and giving thanks for God’s gifts of hope, love, joy, and peace.  May we carry these gifts of Jesus into the new year.  May you feel God’s faithfulness in the transitions of moving into 2024 and may you always know you are treasured by the Maker of the heavens and the earth!  I give thanks for you and look forward to celebrating Epiphany as we join together physically or virtually this Sunday morning!

 With hope and thanksgiving,

    Sarah

 “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises.”  Psalm 98:4

Pastor’s Corner – December 28, 2023

Matthew and Luke tell the birth stories of Jesus. In Mark’s gospel Jesus is introduced as an adult who comes to John for baptism in the Jordan. The gospel writer John begins his narrative by going back to the very beginning, the moment of creation.

John mimics Genesis chapter one with his opening line: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things came into being through the Word.

John identifies Christ, as the Word, the logos in Biblical Greek. Christ is the Divine wisdom and agent of creation, who was pre-existent with God from the beginning. This identity takes on a purposeful affirmation in the 14th verse of John’s opening chapter: And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. Furthermore, the result of this purpose is summarized as the prologue to John’s gospel comes to a close: From Christ’s fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

The music, festivities, feasts, decorations, presents, and parties of Christmas are fun. They come with anticipation and then they are gone for another year. John reminds us of something more enduring—the wise and creative presence of Christ who fills our lives with grace, the unconditional love of God.

Soon enough we will pack into storage the signs and symbols of Christmas, but the grace of Christ never goes out of season. Christ shines a light into the new year; a light of Divine love that warms us with forgiving love and leads us with a joyful Spirit of compassion.

Christmas blessings,

Marc

Pastor’s Corner – December 21, 2023

Dear Beloved,

As we began the season of Advent, I reflected on the gift of hope and offered a breath prayer related to God’s gift of hope. Now we have lit the candles reminding us of God’s gift of love and joy and will soon light the candle honoring God’s gift of peace. 

 If you or people you know enjoy breath prayers, below are some offerings related to love, joy, and peace. You might enjoy choosing or writing your own. If you do, I’d be excited to hear them if you would like to share them with me. You can create breath prayers out of any phrases that might help you connect to the Creator of breath, to the Spirit in our neighbors, or to the Spirit within you - the possibilities are endless. Silent breath prayers are an option, too. On the first day of Advent, I was excited to find out that two of my guides for this Advent season - Shannon W. Dycus and Cole Arthur Riley- would be offering breath prayers throughout their Advent devotionals. These women have opened me up to exploring breath prayer even further. 

 If there are spiritual practices that you’d like to explore further, please feel free to let us know. I thank God for you and the opportunity to journey together this Advent and Christmastide and as we look forward to serving God together in 2024.  

 Sarah

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”  When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. John 20:21-22

 Love -

          Inhale - I love you God.

          Exhale -I want to serve you. or 

          Inhale - Thank you for loving us.

          Exhale - We rest in your love

 Joy - 

          Inhale - The joy of the Lord is my Rock.

          Exhale - God is our Rock and Redeemer. or

          Inhale - Your mercies are new every morning.

          Exhale - You turn ashes to beauty, sorrow to joy.

 Peace - 

          Inhale - The peace of Jesus 

          Exhale - Surpasses all understanding, or

          Inhale - My peace is in you, Lord (my Leader/our Shepherd).

          Exhale - My hope is in you, Lord (my Life-giver/our Savior).

Pastor’s Corner – December 14, 2023

Matthew tells of the birth of Jesus with an eye toward ancient Hebrew history—with the Exodus story in mind particularly.  For example:

The nativity is told from the perspective of Joseph, Mary’s betrothed. Joseph receives Divine direction from dreams and visions (note Matthew 1:20-21, 2:13-15, and 2:19-21). This is reminiscent of another Joseph, the son of Jacob, who more than 1500 years before Jesus was also directed by Divine dreams and visions to rescue God’s people.

Matthew also makes a connection with another central character in the Exodus—Moses. As in Moses’ birth story, a self-centered king attempts unsuccessfully to murder the infant Jesus. As a result, and again like Moses, a flight into and out of Egypt is required for Jesus, Joseph, and Mary.

These connections with Hebrew history let us know from the very beginning of Matthew’s gospel that Jesus is representative of the most important figures and stories of his heritage. These connections shine a light on Jesus’ identity and purpose. Like Joseph before him, Jesus will be filled with God’s Spirit to understand the mystery of the Divine will. Like Moses before him, Jesus will be a teacher of God’s wisdom and a liberator of the oppressed.

Choosing to follow Jesus as we move through Advent and Christmas is a choice for a Divine Spirit and wisdom with the power to bring liberation from that which separates us from God and one another. In the way of Jesus, we have the hope for love, joy, and peace.

Advent blessings,

Marc