I confess to having many sleepless nights leading up to Easter morn. The “what if” detail questions kept bubbling to the surface. What if this…what if that? Then there were the “will the” questions. Will the set up go smoothly? Will people actually show up willing to sit outside in the sun? Will the visitors… Continue reading Observations of Easter
Category: Pastor Paul’s Ponderings and Letters
The stone is rolling away!
I have literally been waiting for this moment for a year! It broke my heart to have to go from in-person worship to video; I know you join me in missing our in-person gatherings. I truly believe that I will never, ever, take for granted the blessing of being able to gather in our sanctuary!… Continue reading The stone is rolling away!
It is an exciting time for us at The Palms
It is an exciting time for us at The Palms. Before we rush head on into the joyous celebrations of Easter, let’s pause and reflect why we have Easter in the first place. At the Last Supper, Jesus gave us a mandate to love one another. Then washed the feet of the disciples. Soon afterwards,… Continue reading It is an exciting time for us at The Palms
It is the right thing to do
It is the right thing to do. The sun is beginning to shine more and more these days. As our temperatures rise, so do our electric bills for cooling down the building. But this year will be different at The Palms. It is the right thing to do. We started with just a dream –… Continue reading It is the right thing to do
This list is astounding
It is not when it is smooth sailing that our merit is tested, but rather when things are falling apart. We are approaching the one-year mark of the quarantine and no in-person worship at The Palms. And this anniversary I give thanks for you and the ministry you have done, are doing, and will do!… Continue reading This list is astounding
Need help getting your vaccine?
I consider myself a competent human being…most of the time! I recently encountered a situation with which I struggled. I couldn’t handle the registration process of the Covid-19 shot forms. I had to ask for help. Maybe you can relate with my struggles. Three people within our congregation stepped forward to help individuals like me get… Continue reading Need help getting your vaccine?
How we express our love of creation
Love of creation is part of the “3 Great Loves” that our denomination is focusing upon. Can you name the other two? Right: neighbor and children. Much of our efforts these last couple of years has focused on love of neighbor. We are to love thy black, poor, differently-abled, immigrant, Islamic, and atheist neighbor. Much… Continue reading How we express our love of creation
It’s Been One Year
March 22 marks the one year anniversary. Some anniversaries are celebrated joyfully with cake, cards, and presents. Others are remembered quietly, somberly, with great reverence. This anniversary falls to the latter. March 22, 2020, we did not meet in our sanctuary (God’s house) for worship at The Palms; we started videoing our worship because it… Continue reading It’s Been One Year
We have a ‘fob-u-lous’ church!
John Durbin first used the term – “We have a ‘fob-u-lous’ church!” We are “fob-u-lous” in so many ways: people, talent, leadership, resources, and blessings. And now even in security. Yep. The key code entrance near King Hall has changed; no longer are there codes to enter. If you are leading a group or meeting and/or need… Continue reading We have a ‘fob-u-lous’ church!
Top 10 ways to fast for Lent
(Spoiler alert: none of them involve chocolate!) Lent is here. One of the words often associated with Lenten practices is fasting. Many of us know that term as it applies to the medical world – fasting is practiced prior to surgeries that require general anesthesia for health reasons. Similarly, the use of the word in… Continue reading Top 10 ways to fast for Lent