Pastor’s Corner – July 4, 2024

Dear Beloved,

     This week I’d invite you to meditate on God’s gifts in the color red as we continue on our journey of praying with/through colors as a possible spiritual practice.

      When you see the color red or if you think or hear about the color red, what comes to your mind?  When preparing to write this, my first thoughts went to objects or symbols - red hearts for Jesus’ love, red rosebuds on the altar table in worship services to celebrate the birth of a child, and red flames to celebrate God’s gift of the Spirit on Pentecost.

       Then Bible passages and stories came to mind - one of the stories about Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25), many stories involving the Red Sea (beginning in Exodus 10), a story that I enjoyed as a child about Rahab although the text I found says “crimson cord” rather than a red rope from my memories (Joshua 2), a warning about paying attention to the times rather than looking for specific signs in Matthew 16.  Do any particular images, symbols, stories, songs, or poems come to your mind?

       I’m also thinking of all the things that have come up and that I’ve been learning about red through my work at school and in relationship with the young adults and programs of the Conscious Caring Community, but that could fill more than a page, so maybe that will be for another pastor’s note at another time.  For now as I close this note to you, I am envisioning the powerfully strong and gentle eternal  love of God - may you always know you are a loved child of God!

  With gratitude and joy,

       Sarah

Pastor’s Corner – June 27, 2024

Jesus Told a Parable IV

Teachers in Jesus’ time commonly used parables to express ideas. The parable is a story-like form of metaphorical communication. Parables invite reflection and conversation through multi-layered and open-ended interpretation. Parables are a perfect form for God’s Spirit to convey wisdom in both timeless and timely ways. Parables often come with a surprising twist, revealing the way Jesus’ lessons are counter-cultural and counter-intuitive. Jesus told parables to help his followers understand the quality and character of life aligned with God’s values.

The parable of the sheep and the goats is only found in Matthew 25:31-45. You are encouraged to read the parable in its entirety. Here is the punch line: Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.

I invite you to take a spiritual reading of the parable. Read it through a few times slowly and prayerfully. Listen for the connecting points between the parable and your own life experience. Identify an image, word, or phrase that resonates in your spirit. Sit quietly and ask God to open your heart to a truth that you need in this moment in your life.

I am taken by the emphasis on service to others as the means by which we prove our faithfulness to Christ. It is not the eloquence of our prayers, the wisdom of our interpretation, the correctness of our doctrine, or the record of our worship attendance (though, of course, these practices have their place) that marks us as disciples. Compassion is the key value. This parable focuses my efforts.

This is a lesson I glean from this parable of Jesus. How about you? How is the living Spirit of Christ connecting with you through this parable? Feel free to reach out if you would like to share your connecting point.

May the parables of Jesus help us grow in faith and discipleship.

Yours in Christ,

Marc

Marc

Pastor’s Corner – June 20, 2024

Dear Beloved,

In my last note to you, I shared that I am inviting you to journey through colors as a spiritual practice. When I pondered what color we might begin with for your journey, gray came to mind. 

Years ago, an art teacher changed my perspective on the color gray. When I asked her what her favorite color was. Her response was “gray” which puzzled me. Gray? Why gray? She said she liked gray because it was warm. I still think of her every time I put on a gray sweatshirt or sweater and thank God for hugging us with warm grays. Gray days also come to mind when I think of the color gray, and I thank God for the quiet and rest that gray days sometimes offer. 

I thought I might find the word gray in the story of God protecting the people of Israel with a pillar of clouds, but I did not. I did find many uplifting passages about gray hair - about praising God until our hair is gray - about trusting God in youth and with gray hair. There are also passages that help us honor age in a culture that often speaks of aging in a negative way. I am grateful for the energy, effort, commitment, time, strength, kindness, and wisdom of so many people with gray hair, and I’m grateful that people still allow me to connect and be part of things even as my hair continues to gray. 

What comes to your heart, mind, and spirit when you see the color gray or hear the word gray? May meditating with or on the gifts of God’s colors offer you encouragement this day and in days to come. May you know you are loved and treasured by the Creator of all the colors, shades, and hues.  

With gratitude and hope,

Sarah

Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life. (Proverbs 16:31)

The glory of youths is their strength, but the beauty of the aged is their gray hair. (Proverbs 20:29)

Pastor’s Corner – June 13, 2024

Jesus Told a Parable III

Teachers in Jesus’ time commonly used parables to express ideas. The parable is a story-like form of metaphorical communication. Parables invite reflection and conversation through multi-layered and open-ended interpretation. Parables are a perfect form for God’s Spirit to convey wisdom in both timeless and timely ways. Parables often come with a surprising twist, revealing the way Jesus’ lessons are counter-cultural and counter-intuitive. Jesus told parables to help his followers understand the quality and character of life aligned with God’s values.

The parable of the lost sheep is found in Matthew 18:10-14 and Luke 15:3-7. Matthew tells the parable like this: Take care that you do not despise one of these little ones; for, I tell you, in heaven their angels continually see the face of my Father in heaven. What do you think? If a shepherd has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.

I invite you to take a spiritual reading of the parable. Read it through a few times slowly and prayerfully. Listen for the connecting points between the parable and your own life experience. Identify an image, word, or phrase that resonates in your spirit. Sit quietly and ask God to open your heart to a truth that you need in this moment in your life.

My spiritual reading of this parable focused my attention on the words, little ones. At the beginning of Matthew 18 is a story suggesting that little ones are those who are vulnerable and exemplify the quality of humility. I feel the Spirit of Christ encouraging me to be especially mindful of the way of each of us are vulnerable; the way each of us need understanding and compassion.

This is a lesson I glean from this parable of Jesus. How about you? How is the living Spirit of Christ connecting with you through this parable? Feel free to reach out if you would like to share your connecting point.

May the parables of Jesus help us grow in faith and discipleship.

Yours in Christ,

Marc

Pastor’s Corner – June 9, 2024

Dear Beloved,

Do you have a favorite color or colors?  If so, why do you enjoy or connect with them?  I would be excited to hear or read if you are comfortable sharing with me.  Mindful that everyone experiences what is taken in from our varied senses differently, please feel free to think of or share a favorite smell or sound if that is more helpful, meaningful, or enjoyable for you.  

Back in 2009 a book called Praying in Colors by Sybil MacBeth came out.  I passed it along before having a chance to read it.  I don’t know exactly what the book recommends, but I had used colors as a way to guide prayers before - giving thanks for things of each different color that came to mind or that I saw around me.  It is a practice that has been meaningful to me at different times for many years.

 During shelter in place, colors became even more important to me during a zoom Treasure Seekers time when I asked the children what color they were feeling.  One of the children said, “I feel a rainbow because I feel lots of different emotions.”  That has remained with me and guided me since covid.  Inspired by these words, I thought it might be fun to explore colors as a spiritual practice with you during pastor paragraphs.  I hope you’ll enjoy this journey of colors together.  May God’s beautiful rainbow of colors remind us that we are never alone.  God is faithful.  God set a bow in the sky to remind us that nothing can separate us from the steadfast love of our Creator, Deliverer, and Guide.  As you experience the different colors or flavors or sounds of smells of summer, may you always know you are a loved child of God with God-given gifts to offer for the growing of God’s beloved community of comprehensive well-being for all.  

 With gratitude and hope,

 Sarah 

Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, “As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth. ”God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh, and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” (Genesis 9:8-16)

Pastor’s Corner – May 30, 2024

Jesus Told a Parable II

Teachers in Jesus’ time commonly used parables to express ideas. The parable is a story-like form of metaphorical communication. Parables invite reflection and conversation through multi-layered and open-ended interpretation. Parables are a perfect form for God’s Spirit to convey wisdom in both timeless and timely ways. Parables often come with a surprising twist, revealing the way Jesus’ lessons are counter-cultural and counter-intuitive. Jesus told parables to help his followers understand the quality and character of life aligned with God’s values.

The parable of the mustard seed is found in Matthew 13:31-32 and Luke 13:18-19. It goes like this according to Matthew: The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.

I invite you to take a spiritual reading of the parable. Read it through a few times slowly and prayerfully. Listen for the connecting points between the parable and your own life experience. Identify an image, word, or phrase that resonates in your spirit. Sit quietly and ask God to open your heart to a truth that you need in this moment in your life.

My spiritual reading of this parable connected me to the way small things can be mighty. A simple, kind act can make such a positive difference in my day. A smile, a word of appreciation, a compliment, or a polite gesture are examples of small moments of Divine grace that spark joy. It feels good to receive and to share these small but mighty actions.

This is a lesson I glean from this parable of Jesus. How about you? How is the living Spirit of Christ connecting with you through this parable? Feel free to reach out if you would like to share your connecting point.

May the parables of Jesus help us grow in faith and discipleship.

Yours in Christ,

Marc

Pastor’s Corner – May 26, 2024

Dear Beloved, 

How are you as summer approaches? Please let me know if there are any ways that we can be praying for/with you? I would appreciate your prayers in this time of transition for so many - for students and educators, for changes people sometimes experience due to different summer schedules, for people who are traveling more, for summer campers and camp staff, for children and teens who miss the support of the school community, and for those preparing for and participating in special summer programs here within our community of Friedens like Vacation Bible School and trainings funded by the antiracism grant for the Indiana-Kentucky Conference of the United Church of Christ. Would you please also join me for those going through a change in the season of their lives - a new joy, a loss, an illness or injury, an uncertainty?

With a grateful heart, mind, body, and spirit, I thank God for God’s gift of prayer and that we can encourage each other through the blessings of prayer. Let us give thanks and rejoice that through all seasons of the year and in all seasons of life, God’s love is steadfast. In all times and places, may you know you are a beloved child of God. You matter to God. You matter to us.  

With appreciation and hope~

Sarah

Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,  your faithfulness to the clouds.  (Psalm 36:5)

Pastor’s Corner – May 16, 2024

Jesus Told a Parable I

Teachers in Jesus’ time commonly used parables to express ideas. The parable is a story-like form of metaphorical communication. Parables invite reflection and conversation through multi-layered and open-ended interpretation. Parables are a perfect form for God’s Spirit to convey wisdom in both timeless and timely ways. Parables often come with a surprising twist, revealing the way Jesus’ lessons are counter-cultural and counter-intuitive. Jesus told parables to help his followers understand the quality and character of life aligned with God’s values.

The parable of the sower is recorded in Matthew 13:1-9, Mark 4:1-9, and Luke 8:4-8. This parable paints a familiar scene for Jesus’ audience—a farmer casting seed in a field. Not all of the seed lands in the field, some seed falls in the nearby path and some seed falls among the rocks and weeds. That is the nature of sowing seed.

I invite you to take a spiritual reading of the parable. Read it through a few times slowly and prayerfully. Listen for the connecting points between the parable and your own life experience. Identify an image, word, or phrase that resonates in your spirit. Sit quietly and ask God to open your heart to a truth that you need in this moment in your life.

My practice of the spiritual reading of the parable of the sower connected me to the image of the generosity of the farmer, who is casting seed far and wide. The farmer knows from experience that a wide and generous broadcasting of seed is necessary to ensure a harvest. A thorough sowing means that some seed falls on the path and among rocks and weeds.

This parable encourages me to emulate the generous farmer. I can imagine the seed as the grace of God. It is not for me to decide who is or is not the recipient of Divine grace, my task is to share grace far and wide. This is a lesson I glean from this parable of Jesus. How about you? How is the living Spirit of Christ connecting with you through this parable? Feel free to reach out if you would like to share your connecting point.

May the parables of Jesus help us grow in faith and discipleship.

Yours in Christ,

Marc

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