Pastor’s Study

“For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 (NRSV) “Don’t go there!” That’s pretty much Paul’s line of thought in his correspondence with the people of Galatia (Central Asia Minor/Modern-day Turkey). Why would theyeven think of doing so? I mean, someContinue reading “From the Pastor July 2024”

“Blessed Trinity” “Holy, holy, holy!Merciful and mightyGod in three personsBlessed Trinity!” As the month of June arrives, we are coming off of a very busy stretch within the Christian calendar which began on Ash Wednesday and last Sunday culminated with Trinity Sunday. In between, we celebrated Lent, Holy Week, Resurrection Sunday, Ascension Sunday, and PentecostContinue reading “From the Pastor June 2024”

The Gift of Pentecost “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.” Acts 2:4 (New Revised Standard Version) Happy Birthday! Come on, let’s celebrate! Okay, so maybe it’s not your birthday month, but there’s a pretty good chance that someone who’sContinue reading “From the Pastor May 2024”

Calm in the Storm “They went to him and woke him up, shouting, ‘Master, Master, we are perishing!’ And he woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they ceased, and there was a calm. Luke 8:24 NRSV I have a love/hate relationship with storms. I don’t care for the wind, hail, flooding,Continue reading “From the Pastor April 2024”

Lent for a Lifetime “Lent comes providentially to awaken us, to shake us from our lethargy.” –Pope Francis I love spring! In fact, it will officially arrive in just a few weeks. Soon the time will change, daylight will lengthen, and the earth will begin teeming with new life. As I sit to write, myContinue reading “From the Pastor March 2024”

“Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.” I Thessalonians 5:11 NRSV It all started with a throat lozenge. The year was 1847 and Oliver Chase, aBoston pharmacist, developed a machine to make the production of throatlozenges more efficient. At the time, such production was tedious and timeconsuming withContinue reading “From the Pastor February 2024”

“ Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; persevere in prayer.” Romans 12:12 NRSV It certainly seems like we just turned the calendar to 2023 and here we are at the beginning of 2024. In recent weeks, the news outlets have reported on significant events from the year that was while remembering those who are noContinue reading “From the Pastor January 2024”

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.’” Luke 2:10-11 NRSV My eyes grew wide with excitement as I walked theContinue reading “From the Pastor December 2023”

“O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good: for his steadfast love endures forever.”Psalm 107:1 NRSV It was the Saturday evening prior to Thanksgiving Day in 1999 and my home church served as the host congregation for the Central District Youth Fellowship. That’s a fancy way to say we were having a “youthContinue reading “From the Pastor – November 2023”

            I can hardly believe we are entering the final quarter of 2023.  Where has the time gone?  I know I say it year after year, but time is passing by quickly and, unfortunately, we are incapable of reclaiming any of it.  Birthdays, holidays, and the seasons run together in a blur of activity, emotion,Continue reading “From the Pastor – October 2023”