You may have heard it said, “Sometimes the best thing comes from the worst thing.” I am not sure that applies in every case, but it certainly does with our Easter experience. I know that there are people in our congregation and community who are going through some pretty bad things right now. You may…
Category: Pastor’s Blog
Notre Dame and our Sacred Space
I have spent several hours reflecting on the tragic fire in Paris. There is a great amount of pain involved with the tremendous loss of a historic cathedral. Together we grieve. In a matter of days, fires have destroyed: 3 African American Churches in rural Louisiana 1 Cathedral in Paris 1 Mosque in Jerusalem They are…
What is an Installation?
What is an Installation? So, you may have heard that I am going to be “installed” as the 28th pastor of the First Congregational Church of Lebanon. An Installation is a worship service and a celebration. The service is an opportunity for the local: church, Association, Conference and pastor to acknowledge that it is engaging…
Souper Bowl Sunday–This Sunday, January 27
Tradition is important. It is one of the pillars of the church. Traditional is a style. One of the things that drew me to this church was its ability to embrace the tradition of the past and still find ways to be innovative. I think that the church saw that in me as well. It…
Stewardship 101
I will share my understanding of how a typical congregational church is funded. It is funded through the members and friends. Each year the church will hold its annual Stewardship Campaign. The committee responsible for planning the campaign will go to work choosing a theme and a method. It really doesn’t vary much- because at…
A Different Sermon Road
This Sunday I will be talking about the story of the wedding in Cana. I thought what I might do here is share some of the scraps that are hitting the cutting room floor. Here’s the thing: when writing a sermon you come to many forks in the road. You have to make a decision…
A New Year- a New Thing
I spend many New Year’s Days working on a puzzle- don’t worry, it’s not the same puzzle. I obsess over the puzzle. I am not one of those persons that can stand over a puzzle and put one or two pieces in a puzzle every day. I can get lost in a puzzle for hours…
Penny for your Thoughts
We have all heard the expression, “A penny for your thoughts.” Well, let me give you my two cents on that cliche. Do you see what I just did? A penny for your thoughts. Let me give you my two cents. Is it possible that my opinion is worth twice as much as your opinion? This…
Baby, It Really Is Cold Outside
Baby, It’s Cold Outside Have you been following the outrage of the old Christmas song? I never heard this song growing up. It never played on the radio and if it did- I completely dismissed or ignored it. The song was used in the movie, Elf. The movie Elf, particularly if you like Will Ferrell,…
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