Dear Church Family, Wendy and I are deeply moved and overwhelmed by the outpouring of love, prayers, and support you have shown us since her seizure last Friday. Your care has been a profound reminder of what it means to be a truly supportive spiritual community, holding us up when we needed it most. We… Continue reading Thank you for being the hands and feet of love in our lives.
Category: Pastor Paul’s Ponderings and Letters
Together, we have accomplished and experienced so much
As the desert summer begins to settle into early autumn, it offers a natural moment to look back and give thanks for the remarkable ways God has moved through our congregation over these past months. Though the summer months often bring a change of pace, our life together at The Church of the Palms has… Continue reading Together, we have accomplished and experienced so much
The Ministry You Don’t Always See
Did you know our congregation supports our unhoused neighbors in several impactful ways? Most of us are familiar with Feet-n-More, our mobile shower trailer. Multiple times each month, it meets people where they are—providing hot showers, fresh hygiene items, and an essential atmosphere of dignity and respect. Beyond hygiene, we work to address food insecurity… Continue reading The Ministry You Don’t Always See
Good Grief! You’ve Changed!
You likely remember the exact moment the world shifted—the devastating phone call, the quiet hospital room, the empty chair at dinner, or the text you dreaded ever receiving. It is the overwhelming silence that hits when a person who defined your daily life suddenly exists only in your memory. It’s a common story at The… Continue reading Good Grief! You’ve Changed!
Building a Peace Rooted in Justice
In Matthew 25, Jesus famously calls his followers to care for “the least of these”—to feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, tend to the sick, and visit the imprisoned. Crucially, the passage opens with the judgment of whole nations. This isn’t just a mandate for individual charity; it is communal, systemic, and… Continue reading Building a Peace Rooted in Justice
What is your favorite quote or passage?
I recently had the joy of seeing my favorite musical, Les Misérables, live at the Phoenix Theatre. It was beyond marvelous! While I’ve loved this show for many years, what resonates with me most is its overarching theme: Love. It also contains my favorite quote of all time: “And remember the truth that once was spoken: To… Continue reading What is your favorite quote or passage?
It’s about becoming an oasis.
To live in the Sonoran Desert in late summer is to understand urgency. The sun pushes us indoors, the heat shimmering off the pavement, while news feeds bring a relentless stream of noise—political tension, immigration enforcement targeting our neighbors, and wildfire smoke lingering on the horizon. It is easy, under the weight of 110 degrees… Continue reading It’s about becoming an oasis.
Where is God calling me to put love into action?
Faith is never meant to stay contained within four walls; it is a living, breathing movement of love and justice out in the world. As a community, our heart beats for social justice, equity, and the inherent dignity of every person. But progressive faith demands more than just shared values—it calls for active practice. To… Continue reading Where is God calling me to put love into action?
August Reflections: Lessons from a Journeyman’s Journey
In July 1985, I began my first pastoral job at Saddleback Christian Church in Mission Viejo, CA. I was a college junior, and we were a small group of about 50 people meeting in an elementary school multipurpose room – one family had fourteen kids – talk about instant youth group! Four decades later, I… Continue reading August Reflections: Lessons from a Journeyman’s Journey
You are still capable. You are still vital. Your story is far from over.
Back in the late 1970s, Harvard psychologist Ellen Langer conducted one of the most fascinating experiments in modern psychology—one that continues to challenge how we think about aging, vitality, and the stories we tell ourselves. She invited eight men, all in their late 70s and early 80s, to spend a week together at a retreat… Continue reading You are still capable. You are still vital. Your story is far from over.