The national holiday of Thanksgiving began as a celebration of the harvest and other blessings, according to history books. Thanksgiving, however, has since moved away from its Puritan roots and has become a day to symbolize intercultural peace, America’s opportunity for newcomers, and the sanctity of home and family. For generations, Thanksgiving Day, fondly referred to… Continue reading There’s still room at the table for YOU!
Category: Pastor Paul’s Ponderings and Letters
What would you take?
What do you take with you when you may never come back? When a hurricane approached one community, the evacuation order came. The locals had just a few hours to decide what to take with them as they fled for their lives. A couple of reporters from The Washington Post caught up with some of the evacuees… Continue reading What would you take?
Top 10 things to focus upon as we move onward, forward, into the future.
Fresh off our Transgender Day of Remembrance and post-election, here’s my top 10 things to focus upon as we move onward, forward, into the future. 10. Pray for wisdom for world, national, state, and local leadership. 9. Choose your words intentionally and use them to find places of unity and opportunities of peace. 8. Volunteer… Continue reading Top 10 things to focus upon as we move onward, forward, into the future.
Choosing love feels extra challenging…
My words today were written before the election. Election season is finally over. Hallelujah! The results will have lasting effects on issues deeply important to Americans. No matter who has won, we are called to be Christlike in word and deed. We are called to love others (even those across the political aisle), pray for… Continue reading Choosing love feels extra challenging…
Remembering our saints this Sunday
For all the saints, who from their labors rest… If you see a turtle on a fence post, you know it had help. None of us arrived where we are without the help of others. It might have been parents, siblings, grandparents, or other relatives who guided us on our journey. More than likely on… Continue reading Remembering our saints this Sunday
Thank you for choosing The Church of the Palms.
Grat-i-tude (grat’ – a – tud) n. thankfulness [L. gratus, pleasing, thankful]. Thank you for choosing The Church of the Palms. Your presence, participation, and sharing of your time, talent and treasure make this place so special. In a world where there are a lot of choices, thanks for choosing The Palms! There are so… Continue reading Thank you for choosing The Church of the Palms.
I’m still rejoicing from Sunday’s musical presentation
I usually put pen to paper on this communication piece on Monday mornings and that is the case this week. On this Monday, I must admit that I’m still rejoicing from our musical presentation. My gratitude goes out to Pastor Jim who organized and planned everything out. Sure, his solos are great, but what I… Continue reading I’m still rejoicing from Sunday’s musical presentation
5 simple guidelines for mental wellness
Back in 2021, The Church of the Palms became a W.I.S.E. congregation for mental health. W = Welcoming; I = Inclusive; S = Supportive; E = Engaging. Have you noticed that folks in this neck of the woods seem especially stressed lately? Uber-cranky, hyper-sensitive due to the heat, or maybe it’s the exhausting election cycle, or possibly it’s personal grief, or maybe it’s just life in… Continue reading 5 simple guidelines for mental wellness
First sign of civilization
Years ago, anthropologist Margaret Mead was asked by a student what she considered to be the first sign of civilization in a culture. The student expected Meade to talk about fishhooks, clay pots, or grinding stones. But no. Meade said that ancient culture’s first sign of civilization was a femur (thigh bone) that had been… Continue reading First sign of civilization
It’s growing season.
The autumn season is different in the Sonoran Desert than it is elsewhere. Most of the United States is preparing for the onslaught of cold where plants go into a dormant phase. Not so here in the valley of the sun! The opposite is quite true. Veteran gardeners of our summers know that we just… Continue reading It’s growing season.