Category: Pastor Paul’s Ponderings and Letters

If Jesus’ followers reviewed him on Rate My Professor

What would it look like if Jesus’ followers reviewed him like students review teachers? Strange thought, I know. But that was precisely Amanda Lehr’s thesis. Here’s my weird spin on that idea. Professor Jesus’ reviews from students like you and me: Where are we challenged by a Risen Jesus? How hard are God’s assignments for… Continue reading If Jesus’ followers reviewed him on Rate My Professor

This week has taken a different direction…

When Jesus entered Jerusalem, as when he comes into our lives as the presence of God, it was a time of rejoicing. If people hadn’t cheered, even the rocks in the street would have cried out! The week soon turned into a different direction. Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling… Continue reading This week has taken a different direction…

What broken thing is there too “broke” for God to mend?

In an old poem by John Masefield, entitled “The Widow in the Bye Street,” there is a scene of dramatic agony. A young man is about to be executed for crimes against the state, and in the crowd that is gathered to witness this horrific event stands his widowed mother who is about to be… Continue reading What broken thing is there too “broke” for God to mend?

Choose the Right Parade

Passover was a time of celebration, but it was also a time of high tension in Jerusalem. Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan, in their book The Last Week, say that on that particular day people in Jerusalem would have witnessed two processions or parades— the Pilate Procession and the Jesus Procession. The procession of Roman… Continue reading Choose the Right Parade

Connecting names and faces challenges all of us

Have you ever wondered what the name of the person sitting beside you on the pew? They just introduced themselves, but you haven’t a clue what they said. Plus, recalling their story (where they are from, what did they retire from, who is their family, etc) can be even more perplexing to our memory. Connecting names… Continue reading Connecting names and faces challenges all of us

A place of safety, healing, and peace for grieving people

More than any other time in my ministry, I am aware of people grieving. We grieve all sorts of things: death, loss of independence, loss of income, loss of physical attributes, loss of relationships. The list is long and powerfully personal. To address this monumental ministry, Rev. Shea Darian started working with our leadership. How… Continue reading A place of safety, healing, and peace for grieving people

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