Most years I sing, and I cringe a little…

I confess that I love singing church music this time of the year – the old familiar carols and the new ones. I’ve been singing in church for over 50 years! I’ve sung in the sanctuary choir cantatas for almost as long. This year marked the 44th year that I have sung in a cantata.… Continue reading Most years I sing, and I cringe a little…

The Race Is On

By now, the race is on. Thanksgiving leftovers are history, shoppers have come home with bags and bargains in tow, Amazon / UPS / Fed-ex are dropping off the online purchases, and the festivities have officially begun. For the next week or so, advertisements will dominate the airwaves, catalogs will clutter our mailboxes, and coupons… Continue reading The Race Is On

Advent is a season full of strikingly different juxtapositions

This is a challenging season for us. We know the stories of Jesus’ birth so well that they can easily become clichés, obscuring the awesome message that God has taken human form as a vulnerable child. So, what can we learn? Advent is a season which is full of strikingly different juxtapositions. The focus of… Continue reading Advent is a season full of strikingly different juxtapositions

Blue Christmas / Longest Night Service – December 21

“I’ll have a blue Christmas without you. I’ll be so blue just thinking about you. Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree won’t be the same if you’re not here with me.” Those lyrics by Elvis Presley can certainly ring true when we have experienced the loss of a loved one or have had… Continue reading Blue Christmas / Longest Night Service – December 21

Advent & Christmas Top Ten List

10.Q: Christmas is on a Sunday, what are we going to do?A: Celebrate! That’s right, celebrate! “Celebrate” is the simplest and yet the most profound answer to that query. Come & Join us! 9.Q: Are there any other details about Christmas Day we need to know?A: There will be no fellowship time after worship. PJ’s… Continue reading Advent & Christmas Top Ten List

Not an Advent tradition most folks ever consider

The world just topped 8 billion in human population. Is there room in the inn for you, me, and all of God’s children? Advent is a season when we intentionally prepare our hearts and make room. That means removing the clutter and junk from our lives to allow space for Christ’s coming. This season is… Continue reading Not an Advent tradition most folks ever consider

How did a 1621 harvest gathering evolve into a popular holiday?

The Evolution of a Holiday is fascinating. Little did the native population and the people of the Mayflower realize how the culture of Thanksgiving would evolve. The traditions around my family’s celebration of Thanksgiving have taken years to take shape – each generation changing the flavor of the day – literally! Back in the day,… Continue reading How did a 1621 harvest gathering evolve into a popular holiday?

Pastor Paul’s Thanksgiving Facts

A Bountiful Harvest Read, listen, and think about this, our shared history. BY THE ENGLISH CALENDAR, it is autumn 1621. For the Wampanoag, it is Keepunumuk, the time of the harvest. In a small settlement on the edge of the sea,  more than 90 Native men,  members of the Wampanoag Nation, share food with 52… Continue reading Pastor Paul’s Thanksgiving Facts