Ever get the feeling that you can’t ask those kinds of questions at church, let alone in private? You know, those inquiries – the tough, keep-you-at-wake-at-night, soul-stirring, self-examining questions! The ones not answered in a 15-second sound bite. Lent is a marvelous time for us to look at ourselves and see what we need to… Continue reading Keeping it real
Category: Pastor Paul’s Ponderings and Letters
Why is it important to remember Lent?
The season of Lent is, to my mind, the most unusual season of all. Advent, Christmas, & Epiphany are filled with expectation, warmth, and wonder. Easter is full of joy. The Day of Pentecost is filled with excitement. Ordinary time (the time between Pentecost Sunday and Advent) describes much of my life—ordinary. But Lent is… Continue reading Why is it important to remember Lent?
Coming face-to-face with ourselves
The ashes are still lingering from last week. We gathered with our sibling Sun City Churches and religious leaders of our respective denominations to confess our corporate and private shortcomings in our community Ash Wednesday service. It marked the beginning of Lent for us. Lent is a time of self-examination – when we look at… Continue reading Coming face-to-face with ourselves
The three things required for our mission
“Wherever you are on your journey,” the UCC slogan goes, “you are welcome here!” Although we might all be in different places on our individual journeys, we come together to live our mission: Sharing God’s Unconditional Love, Justice, and Extravagant Welcome! What does it take to come together to live our mission? And how do… Continue reading The three things required for our mission
Well, last week was certainly different!
I didn’t plan on getting sick and missing time at work. I am grateful for Pastor Jim, caring congregational leaders, and for resources that allowed me time away from work to get well. I’m glad that I at least got to video my way into the worship service. Self-care is not something at which I… Continue reading Well, last week was certainly different!
What makes you come alive?
What makes you come alive? Howard Thurman was a friend and colleague of Martin Luther King, Sr. He was a mentor to MLK Jr., too. Author, philosopher, theologian, mystic, educator, and civil rights leader, he recognized that many people live as though they were already dead. Thus, he challenged one and all: “Ask what makes… Continue reading What makes you come alive?
What the church needs
Howard Thurman was an American author, theologian, and educator. Thurman’s theology of radical nonviolence influenced and shaped a generation of civil rights activists – he was a key mentor to leaders within the civil rights movement, including MLK, Jr. One of Thurman’s poems, The Work of Christmas, was turned into a hymn we sing a lot… Continue reading What the church needs
What phrase doesn’t spark energy, passion, or excitement?
The phrase, “Annual Meeting,” isn’t one that sparks a lot of energy, passion, or excitement in most folks. But it is necessary. Like worship, refreshments will be served afterwards. Votes will be tabulated on our ministry budget and the slate of our future leaders. Will we use an abacus for the tally? Come and find… Continue reading What phrase doesn’t spark energy, passion, or excitement?
“Tell them about the dream!”
It was one of the biggest speeches of his career, and he knew it. MLK Jr. was already widely recognized as the spiritual leader of the American civil rights movement. The podium set up in front of the Lincoln Memorial would be his biggest pulpit ever. The eyes of the nation were on the keynote… Continue reading “Tell them about the dream!”
It’s time to Bee the Church.
Connecting names and faces challenges all of us. Have you ever finished having a lovely conversation with someone at church but 10 seconds after you walk away you can’t remember their name? Or ever see an old friend at church, but you get home, and their name escapes you? Ever look at a prayer list… Continue reading It’s time to Bee the Church.