The Whitlock household has found a new rhythm lately. Our eldest son recently moved back to Arizona, and with him came two energetic feline companions, Lando and Neville. It’s a transition that reminds us how often life requires a “mulligan.” Whether triggered by retirement, relocation, or family moving back home, starting over is a universal… Continue reading Life often requires a “mulligan”
Tag: UCC
Reflections from Community Conversation Café
April 25, 2026 A Growing Vision for Our Community At our last gathering, we discussed how the Conversation Café has evolved from a LGBTQ+ focus group to a space for meaningful dialogue and action, with a growing focus on turning shared ideas into tangible impact across our community, with a continued commitment to being inclusive… Continue reading Reflections from Community Conversation Café
A Decade of Love, Justice, and Dumb Puns turns into Loud Music!
It is hard to believe that on June 1, we will officially mark ten years of our journey together. When I first stepped into the pulpit as your Senior Pastor, I knew I was joining a community that didn’t just talk about “extravagant welcome”—you lived it. Over the last decade, we have marched for justice,… Continue reading A Decade of Love, Justice, and Dumb Puns turns into Loud Music!
How can we know the way?
I have often said that our faith and the scriptures are not a rigid roadmap, but a compass. While maps quickly become obsolete as the landscape shifts, a compass consistently points us toward justice and love. In John’s gospel, Thomas asks the question we all feel in our bones during seasons of upheaval: “How can we… Continue reading How can we know the way?
Honoring Our Common Home
Honoring Our Common Home: Creation Justice Sunday, April 19, 2026 This Sunday, we gather to celebrate Creation Justice Sunday / Earth Day, a vital moment to reflect on our sacred responsibility as stewards of the world. At the heart of our mission is the call to share God’s Unconditional Love, a love that extends beyond humanity… Continue reading Honoring Our Common Home
It’s the Season of Journeying through the Shadows to the Light.
We have entered Holy Week, the most sacred stretch of our liturgical year. It is a journey that mirrors our own lives: a movement from the intimacy of the table to the shadows of the cross, and finally, to the breathtaking joy of the empty tomb. Our mission of sharing God’s Unconditional Love and Justice… Continue reading It’s the Season of Journeying through the Shadows to the Light.
A Pastoral Response to the War with Iran
In a world reeling from the escalation of conflict with Iran, our mission as a community of faith has never been more vital. We ground ourselves in the radical pursuit of God’s unconditional love, justice, and extravagant welcome—values that stand in stark opposition to the drums of war beating across the globe. While political rhetoric… Continue reading A Pastoral Response to the War with Iran
A Season for Resurrection: Social Justice in Bloom
As spring starts to give way to the heat of April, we find ourselves entering the most vibrant season of our faith. At The Church of the Palms, we believe that Easter is more than a single day on the calendar; it is a movement. In the words of Ecclesiastes, “For every matter there is… Continue reading A Season for Resurrection: Social Justice in Bloom
It is a Season for Reclaiming Our Priorities
At The Palms, we ground ourselves in a mission of unconditional love, justice, and extravagant welcome. But as we look at the landscape of our nation today, we must ask: are our collective priorities reflecting those values? If Jesus walked through the United States today, I suspect his message would be startlingly direct. Guided by the… Continue reading It is a Season for Reclaiming Our Priorities
The time for silent prayer has passed.
In the quiet of our sanctuary, we often seek peace—but the world outside calls us to a different kind of holy work. As we look toward the Middle East, many of us feel a deep, unsettling grief. For decades, but especially recently, U.S. involvement in the region has mirrored a pattern of devastation rather than… Continue reading The time for silent prayer has passed.