Pastor's Paragraph - April 9, 2020
Dear Friends,
When I have been praying and thinking about Holy Week, a song that I learned during my young adult years came to mind. I don't know the title, but this is how it goes.
I wake in the morning with my eyes fixed on Jesus, Hallelu, hallelu, hallelujah
Pastor's Paragraph - April 2, 2020
As we move into our remembrance of Holy Week, it occurred to me that my feelings this year may be closer to the feelings of the women and men who followed Jesus into Jerusalem two millennia ago. Like them I feel some uncertainty and anxiety about what is to come. Like them I am staying as close to Jesus as I can.
A Note from Pastor Marc
The glory of the young is their strength,
but the beauty of the aged is their gray hair. (Proverbs 20:29)
This verse has taken on more meaning for me as my age and gray hair advance. Though recently one of my grandsons mentioned that my hair color has moved past gray to white!
This verse has also been meaningful to me in this crisis. It reminds me that there are gifts in each age and stage. Everyone has the opportunity to add value to our life together. We need each other. No one is expendable.
Pastor's Paragraph - March 26, 2020
How to Find Meaning in a Time of Pandemic
I am often asked how we find meaning in such a chaotic and confusing world. One thought that often helps me is to recognize the ways in which I think in comparisons. Things seem good or bad, pretty or ugly, successful or non-successful. Author and priest Richard Rohr calls this dual thinking. Not only do we judge people and things with dual thinking but we also judge ourselves. We think we are coping or falling apart, managing well or feeling stressed.
A Note from Pastor Marc
When I face challenges it sometimes helps to think about a role model whose example I can follow. Lately I’ve been thinking about my mother’s mother. Her name was Bessie Burt; she was a strong person of faith. She was born in the 1880’s and died in the 1970’s, when I was a young teen. My mom, Louvine, was her 11th of 12 children. Sadly…
Pastor's Paragraph - March 19, 2020
Dear Friends,
How grateful I am for God's gift of prayer to us! How good it is to be able to reach out to God in anytime and anyplace! How wonderful that we can connect through God's Spirit even when we are apart!
I am an in-person kind of person. I only remember one snow storm…
Pastor's Paragraph - March 12, 2020
As we have been studying the Gospel According to Mark in worship we paid attention to an important moment in the story. Mark 3:14 reads:
Jesus appointed twelve, whom he also named apostles (which means those sent out), to be with him and to be sent out to proclaim the message.
Pastor’s Paragraph - March 5, 2020
All Things Become New
Have you ever had clothes that you threw away to update your wardrobe just to have them come back into style? Have you ever thought of clothes you wore back in "the day" that you wish would come back into style? All kinds of styles come to my mind - Nehru collars, saddle oxfords, and so on...
Traditions in the church are practiced in the same way. Traditions comes and go.
Pastor’s Paragraph - February 27, 2020
I have really enjoyed Pastor Marc's sermon series this winter and the emphasis on praying, listening, and caring. I also really enjoy the opportunity to learn and grow as a disciple of Jesus with each of you. I thank God for you and the blessing it is to work together to reach out to others with the Creator's love through the grace and strength of the Holy Spirit.
Pastor’s Paragraph - February 20, 2020
Friedens Moving Outward is Friedens' path toward vitalization. A careful process of learning, discernment, and congregation-wide input led to a plan that was approved by the Council of Ministries in November of 2019.
Pastor’s Paragraph - February 13, 2020
In "Daring Greatly," social researcher Brené Brown tells a story about an experience she had in graduate school that surprised her. Called to a meeting with a professor, she expected to be intimidated and rebuked. Instead, her teacher was an ally. She pulled up a chair, sat down beside her, and offered Brené ideas for adjustments. I have become aware that sometimes when I turn to prayer, I feel the same fear.
Pastor’s Paragraph - February 6, 2020
Although the beginning of Lent is still several weeks away, I wanted to invite you to begin thinking about what this upcoming season might mean for you. Since the end of 2019, I have noticed that my book list keeps growing with titles that involve healing, especially healing the divides and painful places/spaces/experiences we have within ourselves and within our communities.
Pastor's Paragraph - January 30, 2020
Friedens Moving Outward is Friedens' path toward vitalization. A careful process of learning, discernment, and congregation-wide input led to a plan that was approved by the Council of Ministries in November of 2019.