Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, July 6, 2025
Dear Beloved,
Thank you for the prayers you offer to God. Thank you for the ways you lift each other, people near and far, and the world up to God. Thank you for the ways you praise God. Thank you for the ways you listen to God. Thank you for the ways you thank God. Thank you for the ways you confess to God. Thank you for the prayers you have said for years and for the ones that aren’t spoken aloud at all. Thank you for praying with me
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, June 29, 2025
What might Jesus think about diversity?
Jesus was not limited by boundaries and borders. He called two people to be his disciples who were diametrically opposed politically, a tax collector and a revolutionary. Jesus touched lepers. Jesus allowed sinful people to touch him. He crossed borders to heal a woman’s daughter in Syro-Phoenicia and to bring wholeness
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, June 22, 2025
Dear Beloved,
What are your favorite parts of the summer? Summer is my favorite season, so there are many things that I appreciate and enjoy. As far back as I can remember, VBS has been a favorite part of my summer – I was a VBS participant as a child, and then a teen helper and then an adult helper. The summer of shelter-in-place was so strange - I missed Vacation Bible School. After going without, I have an even deeper appreciation for Vacation Bible School, and it has become my favorite week.
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, June 15, 2025
What might Jesus think about telling the truth?
Jesus put it clearly: “Let your ‘yes’ be ‘yes’, and your ‘no’ be ‘no’ anything else comes from the evil one”. (Matthew 5:37)
Jesus was a person of integrity, his words and actions were in sync, even if it was unpopular. For example, Jesus called his followers “to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44).
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, June 8, 2025
Dear Beloved,
What is your favorite summer holiday? How would you describe it to others? Why is it your favorite?
My favorite summer holiday is coming! For years, I have been captivated and inspired by the holiday of Pentecost. For me, Pentecost is a celebration of God’s Spirit and all the amazing work the Holy Spirit does in and through the world! I love the ways God’s Spirit connects us all.
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, June 1, 2025
What might Jesus think about the exercise of power?
Jesus lived under an authoritarian empire. Rome invaded and occupied their neighbors and used the resources in those places to advance an imperial agenda. The peace of Rome was enforced by the intimidating presence of the Roman legions. As in all authoritarian regimes, dissent was not tolerated. As a result, Jesus and his people lacked the freedoms, resources, and basic needs to flourish.
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, May 25, 2025
Dear Beloved,
What is growing in you in this spring season? How are you feeling or experiencing the resurrection hope and energy of Eastertide? Or maybe you aren’t or don’t know, and that is okay, too. I ask questions because I care about you and appreciate you and truly wonder.
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, May 18, 2025
“The Lord God put Adam in the garden to till it and keep it.” (Genesis 2:18)
From the beginning God intended that humans would be caretakers of God’s creation. God is the Creator, Sustainer, and Provider and we are blessed to be God’s grateful stewards. This faith perspective that focuses us on using God’s gifts to care for our earthly home, ourselves, and others is beautifully revealed in the life of our Leader, Jesus.
This concluding article on stewardship focuses on the important gift of respect and unity in the rich diversity that expresses God’s creativity
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, May 11, 2025
Dear Beloved,
How are you in this season that is often full of celebrations and transitions - graduations, moves, gardens beginning to grow? It is also a season that can be full of loss and memories - the month of Memorial Day, a month where classmates and colleagues may be saying goodbye, an end to certain routines and rhythms. Wherever you find yourself, you are never alone. God is with you.
Pastor’s Corner – May 1, 2025
“The Lord God put Adam in the garden to till it and keep it.” (Genesis 2:18)
From the beginning God intended that humans would be caretakers of God’s creation. God is the Creator, Sustainer, and Provider and we are blessed to be God’s grateful stewards. This faith perspective that focuses us on using God’s gifts to care for our earthly home, ourselves, and others is beautifully revealed in the life of our Leader, Jesus.
One of the God-given gifts we are to cherish and care for is the earth.
Pastor’s Corner – April 24, 2025
Dear Beloved,
Easter has come! Now we are in the season of Eastertide (the church season that goes until Pentecost - more about Pentecost soon), and I am feeling overwhelmed and grateful, open and wondering. How are you feeling? I keep thinking of the poem by Howard Thurman about the work of Christmas. It has me praying and pondering - what is the work of Easter that we are being called to individually and collectively as followers of our Risen Leader
Pastor’s Corner – April 10, 2025
Dear Beloved,
How are you as we journey towards Holy Week? Are there specific ways we can be of support to you during this time?
For me, this time of the church year is so full of scriptures packed with a depth and breadth of emotions that leave me with a lack of adequate words - excitement, energy, praise, chaos,
Pastor’s Corner – April 3, 2025
“The Lord God put Adam in the garden to till it and keep it.” (Genesis 2:18)
From the beginning God intended that humans would be caretakers of God’s creation. God is the Creator, Sustainer, and Provider and we are blessed to be God’s grateful stewards. This faith perspective that focuses us on using God’s gifts to care for our earthly home, ourselves, and others is beautifully revealed in the life of our Leader, Jesus.
One of the gifts we receive from God to cherish and use are talents. Each one has a talent that makes life better and more enjoyable
Pastor’s Corner – March 27, 2025
Dear Beloved,
How has your season of Lent (the season from Ash Wednesday through Holy Week that offers us an opportunity for repentance and deeper reflection in preparation for remembering and celebrating the resurrection) started out? I am grateful for Dr. Rev. Hannah Ingram’s message on Ash Wednesday and Pastor Marc’s Sunday messages throughout this season that are guiding me. I am thankful for the choir, minister of music, and organist who help me be still in our community worship time.
Pastor’s Corner – March 20, 2025
“The Lord God put Adam in the garden to till it and keep it.” (Genesis 2:18)
From the beginning God intended that humans would be caretakers of God’s creation. God is the Creator, Sustainer, and Provider and we are blessed to be God’s grateful stewards. This faith perspective that focuses us on using God’s gifts to care for our earthly home, ourselves, and others is beautifully revealed in the life of our Leader, Jesus.
One of the gifts we care for are financial resources. Jesus was clear about the role of stewards with money:
Pastor’s Corner – March 13, 2025
Dear Beloved,
This winter I've been enjoying a gratitude journey with you. A few Sundays ago when chatting with the children, I shared that I am grateful that God designed us to learn. How wonderful it is that we can learn about each other - about neighbors near and far, God's creation, ourselves, and about the nature of God - God's love, God's work in the world, God's grace, God's call on our lives our whole lives long!!!
Pastor’s Corner – March 6, 2025
“The Lord God put Adam in the garden to till it and keep it.” (Genesis 2:18)
From the beginning God intended that humans would be caretakers of God’s creation. God is the Creator, Sustainer, and Provider and we are blessed to be God’s grateful stewards. This faith perspective that focuses us on using God’s gifts to care for our earthly home, ourselves, and others is beautifully revealed in the life of our Leader, Jesus.
Pastor’s Corner – February 27, 2025
Dear Beloved,
Even though Lent begins rather late this year, I can’t believe it is almost here! The season of Lent (the forty days, not counting Sundays, from Ash Wednesday through Holy Week that gives us space and time to prepare to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus) is almost here. It begins on Wednesday March 5th. The Lifelong Spiritual Formation Ministry Team invites everyone to stay after the 10:30 a.m. worship (or to come back if you worship at the 8:30 a.m. worship service) the Sunday before Lent for a light lunch and an informal chat about the season of Lent.
Pastor’s Corner – February 20, 2025
Did you know that I am not planning to retire when I turn 65 in March? I still feel called to serve as your Senior Pastor. I am still enthusiastic to serve as your Senior Pastor. I remain thankful to have the health and energy to fulfill this role. I feel a sense of responsibility and excitement to continue to do my part to position Friedens UCC for a vital future in an era of declining religious affiliation.
Pastor’s Corner – February 13, 2025
Dear Beloved,
How is your wintering going, my friends? Are you a fan of winter – someone who loves bundling up and playing in the snow. To be honest, winter isn’t my favorite. Yet with each passing year as I grow older, each moment becomes more precious, so each year I have tried to embrace winter a little more. I must admit, I struggled a bit when a huge snowstorm came before we even finished the first week of January, but the idea of rejoicing has always helped me through it –