Pastor’s Corner – September 5, 2024

Jesus Told a Parable IX (The last in the series. I hope you have enjoyed reading and participating in this study of some of the parables of Jesus.)

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.

One of the most well-known and loved parables is found only in Luke, the parable of the prodigal and his brother. This parable is recorded in Luke 15:11-32. Here is the parable in a nutshell: the younger of two sons asked for his inheritance before his father’s death, receives it and uses it to travel to a distant land where he wasted his inheritance in foolish and selfish pursuits. The older of the sons remained home fulfilling his responsibilities to his father. When the younger son returns home repentantly, the father welcomes him with open arms and throws a welcome home party. Not surprisingly, the older son is put off by his father’s spirit of welcome and forgiveness. The father responds with these familiar words: Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found (verses 31-32).

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 time with this parable drew me to a detail in the words of the older son spoken to his father and found in verse 30. Rather than referring to the younger son as his brother, he refers to him as this son of yours. It made me think of the ways I sometimes use words to create distance rather than connection. Words do matter. It is important for me to listen and learn the most respectful ways to address others. Everyone deserves to be heard and to be treated with the inherent respect each one has as a loved child of God.

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 – August 29, 2024

Dear Beloved,

Thank you for journeying with me in our exploration of colors as a spiritual practice.  This week I invite you to reflect on God’s gifts of the color green.  What does green smell like to you or taste like to you?  Does green connect you to God’s creation?  Does green lead you to concerns and petitions to God for wisdom in the midst of consumerism?  No specific Bible passages came to my mind when I meditated on the word green, but during a word search the word green popped up 36 times - most often in reference to the energy and fruitfulness of the spirit experienced when we stay connected to God and God’s steadfast love. 

This week may you feel the beauty and nourishment of all God’s green creations and may you find peace and rest in God’s green pastures.  May you find hope in your name and identity - Beloved child of God.  May we proclaim Beloved to our neighbor, and may we rejoice in the ways God unites us and connects us through the life-giving greens of God.  

With gratitude and joy,

   Sarah 

But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God.

I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.

I will thank you forever because of what you have done.

In the presence of the faithful I will proclaim your name, for it is good. 

Psalm 52:8-9

Pastor’s Corner – August 22, 2024

Jesus Told a Parable VIII

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.

Luke records the parable of the great dinner in 14:16-24 (note a different version recorded in Matthew 22:1-10). Jesus tells that a host invited many to a great banquet but each had an excuse not to attend and sent their regrets. The host felt disrespected by these excuses and ordered his servants to go out to any and all in town to fill the house for the banquet. The parable ends with the house full of guests and the host sadly admitting, none of those who were invited will taste my dinner.

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 felt the Spirit nudging me to extend the invitation to life with God to anyone and everyone. It is not for me to decide who is in or who is out. My job is to extend the invitation to any who will listen.

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 – August 15, 2024

Dear Beloved,

I want to take a quick pause from our spiritual practices of reflecting on God’s goodness through colors to simply remind you of your Belovedness. 

 Perhaps you have wondered why I begin my notes to you with Dear Beloved. My deepest desire for each human and each creature is for them to know their Belovedness - to believe they are loved by the Creator of the heavens and the earth in their innermost being and to proclaim to each of God’s children that they are beloved. God made you, my friend and sibling. God loves you, my friend and sibling. God sees you and hears you, my friend and sibling. You are called by name. You are cherished for who you are regardless of what you accomplish. 

 I am grateful to my parents and the UCC who have taught me this since my childhood. I am grateful to Pastor Marc and Friedens UCC who taught me to ask about our belovedness each Sunday morning and to be assured and reassured of this sole (and soul) identity. I am grateful for the words of author Osheta Moore who is reminding me of this once again. I am grateful for our Just Peace, Open and Affirming, and Global Ministries covenants and our mission to share the love of Jesus which help us live out the good news of God’s belovedness. 

 This week, I pray that you take some time to breathe in and rest in this good news.  

 With deep appreciation and hope,

   Sarah

 Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.

1 John 4:11

Pastor’s Corner – August 8, 2024

Jesus Told a Parable VII

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 Samaritan is found in Luke 10:30-37. This familiar parable is offered in response to a Lawyer’s question about living life with God. The parable tells of a traveler who is robbed, beaten, and left to die. Two religious figures pass by without helping but a person from Samaria (Samaritans were estranged cousins of Jesus’ people) stopped to help. The parable concludes with a question from Jesus: Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers? The lawyer said, the one who showed him mercy.  Jesus said to him, go and do likewise.

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.

The word that keeps coming to the surface for me is the word mercy. I need to be more merciful with myself and others. I need to be more understanding of the situation and backstory that shape our thoughts, words, and actions. I need to be more compassionate and less demanding. I need to be more kind and helpful and trust the rest to God.

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 – August 1, 2024

Dear Beloved,

How is your summer going?  If you or people in your family are transitioning back to school please know you are in our prayers.  With yellow school buses passing through the streets again, I’d invite you to ponder yellow as a way of connecting with God or simply being still with God.  When you hear the word yellow or taste something yellow or see something yellow, do any experiences or stories or songs come to your heart.  The hymn, “In the Bulb there is a Flower” comes to me.  In the yard, the first flowers to pop up in the spring are often yellow.  For me yellow is a color of fresh starts and energy, a color of encouragement and hope - soft or bright, pastel or neon - all shades offering a little different message or feeling for me.  How about for you?  Whether you are in a season of transitioning back to school or not, perhaps this a time for a fresh start or a time of renewal for you - a time to rest and consider how God is calling to you, a time to commit once again to trust God with a challenge that you have been facing for years, a time to reach out and connect with someone for support or with an organization for growing in partnership or community collaboration.  May you feel God’s refreshment in this season.

With gratitude,

   Sarah 

And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.  Revelation 21:5-6

Pastor’s Corner – July 25, 2024

Jesus Told a Parable VI

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 lamp is found in Matthew 5:15, Mark 4:21, and Luke 8:16 and 11:33. Mark has Jesus tell this brief parable in the form of a question: Jesus said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand?

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.

The answer to Jesus’ question seems straight forward to me: Of course, a lamp is to be placed on a lampstand!  And yet, the problems in my life and in the world can seem overwhelming. In fear and worry I hide or dim my light. Jesus is with me to encourage me to let my light shine not only bringing encouragement to me but to others who can benefit from the illumination of God through me.

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 – July 18, 2024

Dear Beloved,

As we journey together experiencing color as an opportunity for a spiritual practice of reflection and meditation, I’d invite you to consider the color orange.  When you hear the word orange or see something orange or smell the scent of orange fruit (an orange, peach, nectarine, mango, or cantaloupe) does anything emerge in your mind, heart, body, or spirit (in your being)?  When I think of orange Biblically, the story of Moses and the burning bush (Exodus 3) comes to mind as well as sunrises and sunsets and passages about praising God in the morning and in the evening (Psalm 113:3).  Bright bushes, sunrises, and sunsets all get my attention.  They feel like ways that God reaches out through the splendor of creation as if to say, “I’m here for you, my child.  You have a purpose, my child.  Good morning, my child!  Good evening, my child.”  I wonder how often I respond?  How often do I miss the compassionate whisper of the loving Maker of the heavens and the earth, the leaves, soil, clouds, sun, and nourishing rains?  

 In more recent years, I’ve learned about Orange Shirt Day, so now the importance of remembering and honoring every child - past, present, and future - comes to my being when I hear the word orange or see the word orange.  If you’d like to learn more about Orange Shirt Day and participate in a time of remembrance, reflection, and response, you are invited to Eagle Creek the afternoon of Sunday, September 1st.  Sierra Nuckols and the Peace Learning Center will be guiding us through the sharing of stories and activities that afternoon.  We hope you and those you know can make plans to attend.  Please feel free to be in touch with any question, and if you’d like to share your experiences or reflections on the color orange, I’d enjoy hearing about them.

               With gratitude,

                  Sarah 

Pastor’s Corner – July 11, 2024

Jesus Told a Parable V

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.

In Mark 4:26-29 we find the parable of the growing seed. Jesus also said, The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.

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.

The phrase, he does not know, resonated with me. The longer I live the more I realize how little I know. It is easy to feel obsolete and of little value in this ever-changing world. This parable reminds me that life is not so much about knowing. Life is more about trusting God who is always at work bringing growth to Divine purposes. We can be part of those purposes at every age and stage, as we trust God and offer the gift God has given each of us.

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 – 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)