The Evolution of a Holiday is fascinating. Little did the native population and the people of the Mayflower realize how the culture of Thanksgiving would evolve. The traditions around my family’s celebration of Thanksgiving have taken years to take shape – each generation changing the flavor of the day – literally! Back in the day,… Continue reading How did a 1621 harvest gathering evolve into a popular holiday?
Category: Pastor Paul’s Ponderings and Letters
Pastor Paul’s Thanksgiving Facts
A Bountiful Harvest Read, listen, and think about this, our shared history. BY THE ENGLISH CALENDAR, it is autumn 1621. For the Wampanoag, it is Keepunumuk, the time of the harvest. In a small settlement on the edge of the sea, more than 90 Native men, members of the Wampanoag Nation, share food with 52… Continue reading Pastor Paul’s Thanksgiving Facts
The ONE thing we know for sure about the real history of Thanksgiving
A letter written in 1621 containing only 115 words inspired the growth of an American tradition that became a national holiday: Thanksgiving. There are several assumptions that are far from factual about that event; things like the Pilgrims taking over empty land, the Wampanoag people being uncivilized, the Pilgrims being peaceful while the natives were… Continue reading The ONE thing we know for sure about the real history of Thanksgiving
Sun City isn’t the hometown for any of us
You would think that the largest trees in the world would need the deepest of roots; I have been taught that most tree roots go as deep as the tree grows tall (look how tall it is, that’s how deep the root goes). But, that’s not the case at all with the largest tree, the… Continue reading Sun City isn’t the hometown for any of us
What Would Our Dreams Look Like?
In some Native American cultures, there’s a talisman called a “dream catcher.” They’re popular folk-art items. A dream catcher resembles a spider’s web made of yarn. It’s adorned with decorative feathers and beads. According to ancient lore, parents were to hang the dream catcher over the cradle of a newborn infant. The device would catch… Continue reading What Would Our Dreams Look Like?
Who has loved you into being?
Who are the special people in your life? Fred Rogers, aka Mr. Rogers, said, “All of us have special ones who have loved us into being.” Who has loved you into being? Who are the people who have been or are saints in your life? Can you recall people who helped shape you into the person… Continue reading Who has loved you into being?
So, what is your mission?
The Church of the Palms has a mission statement: Sharing God’s Unconditional Love, Justice, and Extravagant Welcome. That statement is more than a policy statement; it speaks of our core values and desires. Plus, it gives us direction when the Spirit blows forcing us to adjust our sails. So, what is your mission? I suspect… Continue reading So, what is your mission?
Time Capsule Moments
This past week I officiated at a wedding – what a joy it was! Family and friends gathered and told stories, laughed, and cried tears of happiness. It was one of those time capsules within life – a moment where time seems to stand still, and we can escape the ordinary and see the spectacular… Continue reading Time Capsule Moments
If you can no longer march, what can you do?
It’s that time of the year when things start to get busy at The Palms. Our winter friends are returning, meetings and classes are happening with greater frequency, and our social justice ministry, which never takes a day off, is expanding! We are busy being the church, the palms of Jesus. Thanks be to God! To… Continue reading If you can no longer march, what can you do?
What is abundant life?
“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”John 10:10 What is abundant life? Society and people of faith differ on the answers to that question. While I cannot always comprehend exactly what abundant life is, I do see glimpses of it when I: Sing favorite hymns as loud as I can; Taste… Continue reading What is abundant life?