Sticky
By:
On:
In: Pastor's Blog

Sometime between the last slice of pumpkin pie and the long drive home, the world finally, fully shifts. Thanksgiving ends, December presses close, and suddenly we find ourselves standing on the doorstep of Advent again. As you read this, our church is preparing to go through the same transition many of us are making at home. Fall colors are being boxed up. Greens, ribbons, Chrismons, angels, candles, and the first hints of Christmas light are appearing. Volunteers (the unsung saints of the season!) are transforming our space so that when we walk in on Sunday, it feels like the promise of Advent has already begunRead More →

Sticky
By:
On:
In: Pastor's Blog

I want to share something that’s been taking shape in the background at church. A small team of leaders has formed a Church Safety Task Force to take a fresh, comprehensive look at how we keep our congregation safe. This group is focusing on four key areas: medical emergencies, severe weather, fire, and threats of violence. Over the years, we’ve written safety plans, filed them away neatly, and hoped we’d never need them. But plans aren’t helpful unless we know them, practice them, and keep them fresh. I know it can be uncomfortable to talk about these things. None of us like imagining worst-case scenariosRead More →

Sticky
By:
On:
In: Pastor's Blog

By the time you’re reading this, I’ll be in Austin, Texas, gathered with ministry colleagues for the Progressive Youth Ministry (PYM) Conference; a few days of worship, learning, and conversation with people who care deeply about young people and the future of the Church. This year’s theme, “Resistance Is Love,” is so aptly timed. The conference organizers describe it this way: “In a world reeling from political and cultural upheaval, where cruelty is celebrated as strength, love can feel fragile or even futile. But love remains (1 Corinthians 13:13) and we believe it is the most powerful form of resistance we have.” That phrase, loveRead More →

Sticky
By:
On:
In: Pastor's Blog

Every November 11, our nation pauses to honor those who have served in uniform. Veterans Day is one of those rare civic holidays that seems to belong to all of us. Whatever our background or beliefs, we know what it means to say thank you and we seek to mean it.  For some of us, Veterans Day brings faces to mind: a grandparent or parnet, sibling, neighbor, or friend. For others, it carries memories of deployment, sacrifice, or grief. The stories vary, but the gratitude is shared. I think that’s part of what makes this day set apart in its own way it invites usRead More →