Pastor’s Corner – March 17, 2022
Dear Beloved,
What brings you joy these days? That is a question one of my prayer partners asks me when we text to check in with each other. My response is often – the kids whom I serve in my family, with Friedens, developmental preschool, and First Steps. Then my next thought is usually – I need to tell them thank you more often. Joy is not what I usually focus on during the season of Lent.
Pastor’s Corner – March 10, 2022
follow the way of Jesus because I want to live well and I want to die well. I pray my life and death will be marked by faith, hope, love, and peace. Maybe you share this same desire?
Between now and Easter I want to remind you of the words Jesus spoke while dying. These words can serve as a guide for living and dying well. So far, we have explored Jesus’ lamentation on the cross from Mark and Matthew, and the way he ensured his mother’s well-being with his final breaths as recorded in John.
Pastor’s Corner – March 3, 2022
Dear Beloved,
How are you in this new month and this special season of Lent?
Thank you for your continued prayers for the Engaging Young Adult program with the Center for Congregations which the young adults name the Conscious Caring Community. While the Conscious Caring Community is designed specifically for adults between the ages of 20 to 35 and focused on wellness, creativity, and social justice, some of the workshops are open to everyone. One of those workshops is coming up! We hope you’ll join us in person on Sunday, March 13th at 3 p.m. in the kitchen or on IG Live.
Pastor’s Corner – February 24, 2022
I follow the way of Jesus because I want to live well and I want to die well. I pray my life and death will be marked by faith, hope, love, and peace. Maybe you share this same desire?
Between now and Easter I want to remind you of the words Jesus spoke while dying. These words can serve as a guide for living and dying well.
Pastor’s Corner – February 17, 2022
Wonder, awe, being together, sharing based on everyone’s need, glad and generous hearts, praising God….These are some of the words that were lifted up in the message from Pastor Marc on January 29th. (If you missed it, you can catch it online at www.friedensucc.org.)
Pastor’s Corner – February 10, 2022
I follow the way of Jesus because I want to live well and I want to die well. I pray my life and death will be marked by faith, hope, love, and peace. Maybe you share this same desire?
Between now and Easter I want to remind you of the words Jesus spoke while dying. These words can serve as a guide for living and dying well.
Pastor’s Corner – February 2, 2022
Dear Beloved,
Are there sayings that you grew up with that no longer seem to make sense (or maybe never did)? What about the saying? – What doesn’t kill you only makes you tougher.
In a virtual gathering with the Conscious Caring Community a young adult shared that she was learning this was not her experience. Her wisdom resonated deeply with me. She said that she had been through some things that left her broken and her brokenness didn’t make her tougher but instead more resilient. How beautiful!!! How reflective!!!!
Pastor’s Corner – January 27, 2022
I hope you are enjoying the invitation in my recent articles to dream about our future as a church. I pray this is building some excitement for new possibilities in service to our community in Christ’s Spirit.
Today please allow me to encourage your ideas about how we should realign our resources for community ministry. Since the days of “build it and they will come” are long behind us, how do we adjust to Jesus’ commission: “go therefore and make disciples”?
Pastor’s Corner – January 20, 2022
Dear Beloved,
Do you ever feel like you don’t know how to answer the question, how are you? I am always grateful – so very much to praise God for! Beyond that I don’t always know how to answer the how are you question. Sometimes there is much going through my being. Now is a time when there is much in my heart, mind, body, and spirit. Do you ever have that sense?
Pastor’s Corner – January 14, 2022
Recently I have been inviting you to join me in thinking about continued vitality at Friedens Church. I have shared ideas about connecting with younger people, developing community partners, new metrics to measure vitality, and the ongoing need to build relationships.
Today I want to encourage your thinking about how we put into action the Open and Affirming and Just Peace Covenants.
Pastor’s Corner – January 6, 2022
Dear Beloved,
New Year’s blessings to you! I deeply appreciate Advent and Epiphany. In between comes the calendar new year. I appreciate the calendar new year as well. It reminds me of fresh starts and causes me to pause in gratitude for the blessings and lessons of a year coming to a close and to set reflective intentions for the year ahead. As I think about my hopes and dreams, I have so many which causes me to feel the humbleness that returns me to my knees. God, teach me to pray. Jesus, show me your way. Spirit, guide and direct me.
Pastor’s Corner – December 30, 2021
In our lives of constant transition, we are grateful for a sturdy foundation upon which to build our lives. From the perspective of faith that foundation is the abiding and graceful presence of our Creator, Provider, Sustainer and Savior. Despite the unexpected twists and turns and ups and downs, we are loved and loving children of God. Let’s not lose sight of that in our transitions.
Pastor’s Corner – December 23, 2021
Dear Beloved,
How has your Advent journey been so far? A few days remain in this season of preparation, repentance, watchfulness, attentiveness, listening, openness….. In this season of expectancy, how is the God of hope, love, joy, and peace working in your life? I have been asking myself: am I open to what God offers? Am I ready for an unexpected call to reach out?
Pastor’s Corner – December 16, 2021
I have been using recent articles to share thoughts and ideas about a vital future at Friedens. So far, I’ve invited you to think about what it means to interact more with younger people in our community and what community partnerships might mean in terms of increasing rental revenue and advancing our mission.
Today, I want to talk about metrics of vitality.
Pastor’s Corner – December 9, 2021
How are you in the Advent season? And your answer does not have to be "fine." Of course, it is perfectly well if it is, but Advent is a season of waiting and preparation – a time of reflection and repentance, and our answer might not be fine. We might have deep concerns about loved ones. We may be experiencing much loneliness whether we are surrounded by others or physically all alone…
Pastor’s Corner – December 2, 2021
One of the questions to ponder as we posture toward the future at Friedens by turning to the community with a focus of serving younger people, is: What community partnerships need to be developed that align with and strengthen our mission? Collaboration and partnership create synergy and magnify influence. There is no need for us to “reinvent the wheel.” Who is already doing a good job of serving younger people in our community and how could we be part of their good work?
Pastor’s Corner – November 25, 2021
Dear Beloved Siblings,
A few months ago a participant in the young adult Conscious Caring Community shared a mission moment about the Community Food Box Project which she began five years ago. The Outreach Ministry Team decided that offering a community food box on the campus of Friedens United Church of Christ would fit well with the mission that God has given Friedens to share the love of Jesus with children and youth in the community…
Pastor’s Corner – November 18, 2021
One of the questions to ponder as we posture toward the future at Friedens by turning to the community with a focus of serving younger people, is: How do we connect meaningfully with younger members and friends while honoring the long-term commitment of our older and most active members and friends?
Serving younger and older people is not an either/or but a both/and. We do both at Friedens. Of course, the long-term older members and friends have gotten us where we are today. Thank you! There is no future without younger members and friends getting more involved. Welcome! We need each other. We serve each other. We bless each other.
Pastor’s Corner – November 11, 2021
Dear Beloved Siblings,
In this season where we often take time to focus on gratitude, my heart is full. While my heart often feels heavy with the loss and grief near and far, it remains overflowing with thanksgiving for you and the opportunity to serve and follow Jesus with you. Each Sunday, it is a blessing to worship with you in-person and virtually and to connect with the Treasure Seekers children in-person and virtually.
Pastor’s Corner – November 4, 2021
A recent survey of in-person church attendance in the United States confirmed what we have noticed at Friedens UCC—numbers have not returned to pre-pandemic figures. In fact, currently average church attendance in America is approximately 40% of pre-pandemic attendance. The good news is the way online worship is helping to fill the gap in a new age.
The survey also asked church attenders whether they preferred in-person or online worship. As you might have guessed…