Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, June 14
I could use some rest. How about you?
Do you remember that rest is one of the Ten commandments?
Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, June 7
Dear Beloved,
How are you as a new month begins? How is it with your body, mind, and spirit? I love that God invites us to love, worship, and serve with all we are - heart, mind, soul, and strength. I love that God chooses to come and live among us in the flesh - incarnate - God with us - God who needed nourishment and rest - God who understands who we are - all of who we are.
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, May 31
I could use some rest. How about you?
Do you remember that rest is built into creation?
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished and all their multitude. On the sixth day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, May 24
Dear Beloved,
As Eastertide draws to an end, I’m excited about Pentecost when we celebrate the gift of God’s Spirit! I love reflecting upon, giving thanks for, and talking about the way the Spirit is on the move! If you’d like to take a look at a Pentecost story, you can check Acts 2.
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, May 10
Dear Beloved,
How are you as spring blooms?
I am appreciating the current sermon series following the gospel of Luke's stories of our Crucified and Risen Leader. I'm also continuing to give thanks for the experiences of Lent and Holy Week focusing on following the courageous ways of God.
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, May 17
Lessons from Loss
Mourning my son’s death has taught me that this too shall pass and all will be well. In time and with work, the wound is being healed.
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, May 3
Lessons from Loss
Mourning my son’s death has taught me that it is possible to hold multiple emotions at the same time. It is true that this season of mourning is dominated by sadness but that is not all there is.
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, Apr 26
Eastertide Greetings, Beloved! And happy Autism Awareness Month and Earth Day Month!
If you think that I’m always finding a reason to celebrate, you’re right! There is much in this world that is sad, hard, and painful. I believe it is important to take time to grief, lament, and not to rush, hide, or avoid the suffering that is experienced near and far. I also believe it is important to rejoice and give thanks for all that is life-giving, hopeful, and loving.
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, Apr 19
Lessons from Loss
Mourning my son’s death has taught me that faith matters. Throughout the long illness Adam endured and the sudden decline that led to his passing, we were supported by the abiding and graceful presence of God. God did not take away the illness or the dying.
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, Apr 12
Eastertide Greetings, Beloved!
You are in my prayers in this special season of Eastertide (the time between Easter and Pentecost) when we celebrate the joy, hope, grace, love, and power of the Risen One. For those of you here in the Midwest this also coincides with the spring season when new life is blossoming around us. I hope and pray that you are able to find the time and/or space to breathe in the good news of the Living One, the mercy of new life,
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, Apr 5
Lessons from Loss
Mourning my son’s death has taught me that there is not one right way to grieve. Losses come in various shapes and sizes. We are different in how we process experiences and how we express emotions. Our backgrounds and relationships vary,
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, Mar 29
Dear Beloved,
How are your hearts, minds, bodies, and souls as we move towards Holy week - a week that can be filled with many emotions - remembering the way Jesus was welcomed by some into Jerusalem with branches waving and Hosannas singing, how he broke bread and washed feet, how he was betrayed and abandoned by dear friends and crowds of followers,
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, Mar 22
Lessons from Loss
Mourning my son’s death has taught me that vulnerability connects us to others. We live in a social media dominated world where we post pictures of the beautiful places we visit, the exciting events we attend, and the interesting people we know.
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, Mar 15
Dear Beloved,
How are you a bit more than two weeks into the season of Lent? Have any particular ideas or spiritual practices been emerging for you or nourishing you? I appreciate the theme of the Sunday messages focusing on courage. The stories we are hearing and exploring together inspire me and give me hope. One of the Lenten devotionals that I have been studying
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, Mar 8
Lessons from Loss
Mourning my son’s death has taught me to turn toward the pain. I want to turn away. I want to get busy and think about other things. I want to go back to the way things were before.
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, Mar 1
Dear Beloved,
It was a blessing to be with you for the Ash Wednesday worship service and the Lenten lunch and chat. Thank you to everyone who led, served, volunteered, and participated. I am always grateful for new seasons in the liturgical calendar.
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, Feb. 15
Dear Beloved,
The season of Lent begins in a little less than a week from now. Growing up, I was taught that Lent is the 40 days (not counting Sundays) of preparation for Jesus' death and resurrection which we celebrate on Easter and throughout the season of Eastertide. I was taught that it is a season of reflection and repentance beginning with Ash Wednesday when the symbol of ashes is offered as a connection with our mortality and God's everlasting mercy.
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, Feb 8
Some thoughts on the Bible…
In our tradition there is not one universally accepted interpretation of the Bible. God has given each of us a mind for thinking, opportunities for learning, and experiences for testing what we have learned. Just as we are responsible for our own actions, so we are responsible for our own thinking.
I do my best to share my studied interpretations of the weekly scripture lessons. My interpretation is meant to provide some reliable guidance
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, Feb. 1
Greetings Beloved,
How are you as we near the end of the first month of 2026? When I began writing this note to you, I was preparing for Epiphany and thinking about the Epiphany story that I grew up with about the magi from Matthew 2. This story leads me to feel a mix of emotions that resonate with how my heart and soul feel - deep sorrow and deep awe, much sadness and much gratitude, a multitude of concerns and the steadying peace of Jesus that surpasses all human understanding…Now as I continue this note to you just a few weeks away from the beginning of the season of Lent, I feel a similar mix of emotions, and I continue to give thanks to God that Jesus understands them all.
Pastor’s Corner – Sunday, Jan4
Dear Beloved,
As we begin a new year together, I want to thank you for the past year of worshipping and serving God together. It is truly a joy to worship with you on Sunday mornings. It is a blessing to serve with you. Thank you for all the ways you give generously to the general fund, to food ministries, and to special requests from the community. Thank you for all the ways you share your time, energy, hearts, souls, patience, kindness,