Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, Dec 28
Some thoughts on the Bible…
I find it helpful to think of the Bible not as a book but as a library of books. Just like our local library, we find in the Bible many different authors and genres of literature written over a long period of time.
Some of the books tell the origin story of the people of God, like Exodus.
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, Dec 21
Dear Beloved,
Grace and peace to you in this third week of the Advent season when we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus anew! What has caught your attention so far this season? How are you preparing to welcome Jesus into your life for the first time or again or in new or different ways?
The word hope continues to resonate with me.
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, Dec 14
Some thoughts on the Bible…
In our tradition we often say, “we take the Bible seriously but not literally.” Since we believe what the Bible says about itself in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, we understand the Bible to be inspired by God, not written by God. Since the Bible is the result of people who were inspired by God,
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, Dec 7
Dear Beloved,
Grace and peace to you in this first week of the Advent season when we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus anew! This past Sunday we lit the candle of hope. In another recent note to you, I was reflecting upon hope. I am continuing to ponder hope as Pastor Marc shared with us visions from the prophets.
How do you understand hope?
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, Nov 30
Some Thoughts on the Bible…
I claim for the Bible what the Bible claims for itself. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17 we find this wisdom: All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the person of God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.
The Bible does not claim to be written by God but is inspired by God.
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, Nov 23
Dear Beloved,
How is it with your being (mind-body, heart, and spirit) as we enter the last part of the 2025 calendar year and as we near the end of the church/liturgical calendar? I have always enjoyed having a church/liturgical year as well as a calendar year because in it I find an extra built-in offering for pause and reflection. If the idea of a church/liturgical year is new to you and you’d like to chat more about it, I’d be glad to. The church year ends right before the beginning of Advent
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, Nov 16
The sanctuary at Friedens Church is a special place, filled with symbols that open our hearts to the Divine Presence. God is present everywhere, but we tend to be more mindful of that presence in the sanctuary.
So, what is the right attitude and posture for worship in the sanctuary? The most important thing we bring into the sanctuary is our authentic selves.
The first and most important symbol is the cross.
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, Nov 9
Dear Beloved,
Last night I was in a meeting where a question came up - “Is hope a strategy?” That question caused me to pause, and I was pondering it during my prayer time this morning and still am. It made me wonder if other things that are essential to my being are strategies? Are compassion, gratitude, grace, and creativity strategies? I should probably stop to look up the definition of strategies, but at the moment I really only want to give thanks to God for these gifts that come from God the Maker of the heavens and the earth, that are embodied by Jesus our Leader, and that radiate from the Spirit.
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, Nov 2
The area in the Friedens’ sanctuary where the worship leaders serve is called the chancel. It is considered a holy place separated from the nave by a modesty rail, and it is also elevated to suggest the Presence of the Most High God. Our focus in worship is on the chancel because it contains three important symbols of our faith.
The first and most important symbol is the cross.
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, Oct 26
Dear Beloved,
How are you as autumn feels more fully underway? What are your favorite autumn celebrations or activities? World Communion Sunday and All Saints’ Day are my favorites. I enjoy how these
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, Oct. 19
Our worship at Friedens Church is sometimes described as “traditional”. I prefer to think of it as ancient and tried and true. Our order of worship finds its origin several hundred years before the time of Jesus. In the sixth chapter of Isaiah, the prophet recalls a vision while worshiping in the Temple in Jerusalem. Isaiah suggests the greatness and majesty of the Divine by imagining that just the hem of God’s robe fills the Temple. Angelic creatures called seraphs serve God
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, Oct 12
Dear Beloved,
I write to you with joy in my heart because tomorrow is World Communion Sunday, and I find hope and healing in knowing that people all around the globe share together in remembering Jesus’ love as we break bread together in worship and each and every day for sustenance.
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, October 5
In worship at Friedens Church we join disciples all around the world in reciting the Lord’s Prayer. One thing that is special about the way we practice this ritual is the bell that tolls while we pray.
Friedens was founded by German immigrants from the villages of Wehdem and Westrup. Most of the people in these villages made their living by farming
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, Sep 28, 2025
Dear Beloved,
The note I wrote to you for this week is going to be saved for another week because I am super excited to share some wonderful news with you!
We received a grant from the Indiana-Kentucky Conference of the United Church of Christ to make a sensory garden and outside mindfulness stations.
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, September 21, 2025
Maybe you have wondered why we have so many candles in the sanctuary at Friedens. We have a table of candles as you enter the sanctuary. These are lit to remember someone in your life who needs God’s grace. There are candles on the pillars that support the ceiling. There are candles under the cross and candles on the communion table. And, on Christmas Eve the congregants are all holding lit candles while singing “Silent Night, Holy Night”.
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, August 24, 2025
Have you looked up at the ceiling of the Friedens’ sanctuary lately? Does it look a little like the structure of a wooden ship turned upside down? That is what it is supposed to look like. One of the early symbols of the church was a ship sailing off on the mission of love and good news
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, Aug 17, 2025
Dear Beloved,
When you hear the word breath, or you take a breath in a conscious way, what comes to your mind, heart, soul, body? The last few weeks I shared a breath prayer with you.
Another way that I pray is through simple songs. At the mini retreat on the theme of hope, I was blessed by Heather and David who led us in singing “Give Thanks”
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, August 10, 2025
What might Jesus think about homelessness and poverty?
The truth is Jesus did not have his own home, he relied on the hospitality of others. In Matthew 8:20, Jesus confirms this reality: “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head”. Jesus knew what it was like to be poor. The Roman occupiers of his land were draining the resources, leaving the people of Israel to do without.
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, Aug 3, 2025
Dear Beloved,
You are in my thoughts and prayers as we begin a new month - one with big changes for those of us who have returned to school. Thank you for your prayers for us. I know many are going through other changes related to health, home life, work, relationships…I am grateful we are not alone. I’m grateful God is ever-present. Do you have any spiritual practices, verses, or prayers that help you find your grounding in times of change?
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, July 13, 2025
What might Jesus think about Christian nationalism?
Let’s begin by acknowledging that Jesus was Jewish. He was devoted to his tradition. Jesus was committed to a life of prayer. He taught in synagogues. Jesus worshiped in the Temple. Jesus was knowledgeable about and debated with other religious teachers the various interpretations of the Hebrew Bible (what we call the Old Testament). Even Rome understood his religious identity, placing a sign on the cross that read: “The King of the Jews”.