FROM THE PASTOR'S PEN
Seasons
Finding Strength and Healing Amid Change
Pentacost
We are an “Easter People!”
We are in a season of transformation.
Dear Saints of God,
Dear Saints of God, There are times in our lives when we find ourselves in situations, made not of our own choosing, but nevertheless calling for our engagement. As members of the Body of Christ, we set Jesus Christ as the Head of the Church and we align ourselves with Christ's mission to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. (Luke 4:18) As the topic of Mercy is now politically charged, it is important that we engage the discourse adding our voices to the chorus of Christians who understand Jesus' message of mercy. As such, the sign in front of our church now reads: “Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy.” Matthew 5:7 Some in our church may have concerns, some in our community may take offense, many may feel that the message names what is in their heart and are glad to take a clear and public stand. I appreciate the concerns, and I appreciate the desire to be an active participant in the public discourse, adding a voice of compassion. For those who have concerns, I offer this reflection: Mercy, in and of itself, is intrinsically good and is a core Christian virtue The message on the sign is a direct quote from the Gospel of Matthew Our Biblical narratives are filled with prophets speaking truth to power - think of Moses and Pharoah, Samuel and King David, Jeremiah and Judah, not to mention Jesus Jesus was counter-cultural and political Jesus challenges us when he is quoted saying “Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:26) We have nothing to be ashamed of when we stand behind and strive to spread Jesus’ words. My hope is that we offer our compassion and mercy even if we do not receive it in kind as we stand courageously together, united in Christ, and living into our own mission statement, “...to strive for righteousness, justice, and peace.” May God's blessings flow abundantly this February. May God guard and guide us as we journey through this moment in time together. by Rev. Russ Goliger
Dear Saints of God: The Season of Epiphany extends from January 6th to March 2nd. It is a time when we explore Jesus’ early ministry. We read the familiar stories about Jesus’ baptism, his first miracle at the Wedding in Canna, the start of his ministry when he went back home to Nazareth to proclaim the Good News and was nearly thrown off a cliff, the calling of the first disciples, the Beatitudes, Jesus’ command to love even our enemies, and Jesus’ admonition to avoid judging others lest we be judged. Throughout the Season of Epiphany, we will relate these themes to our revitalization efforts. Along those lines, this will be an exciting season of new beginnings. We will be re-introducing Bible Study on Wednesdays from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Our readings in Bible study will be the readings for the following Sunday. Each meeting will be made available via Zoom, recorded for future viewing, and a written summary will be available. Part of our Bible Study will also include YouTube videos from the “Bible Project”, a wonderful resource that provides context to the historical and literary themes to the readings. We are also introducing a program called “The Theology of Marvels Cinematic Universe” starting in February. It will be a multi-dimensional program that combines movie nights, discussion boards, and group discussions. The program is still under development, so stay tuned. We are introducing a new section called “Deepen Your Faith” into our weekly bulletins. We invite you to take the section home with you to ponder the “Questions for Reflection” throughout the week. There you will also find prayers for the start and end of your day that we invite you to include in your spiritual practice. We are very excited about the simplicity and power of “Realm”, our new church ministry app. A small group has been testing it out and see it has great potential to help us communicate, manage our various committee activities and offerings, and expand our outreach. Over the next few months, we will expand its use. We will do this incrementally in phases. We start with a pilot program where selected members of each committee will receive basic training, test the features, provide feedback, and work together to develop the ways to use it to meet our needs. We will then take baby steps, releasing it to a limited number of new users until we have worked out the bugs and have developed enough expertise to help those who may need help in our final general release. Our goal is to have everyone feeling comfortable, confident, and enjoying its many benefits at some point in time. We understand that with change comes challenges, but with God (and a well-planned phased approach) all things are possible. Again, stay tuned. And so, I encourage you, come to worship and join us as we enter our new ministry led by Jesus as he enters his, join in our new spiritual offerings to deepen your understanding and faith, and get ready to enter the 21st century as we adopt new technology to bring the Good News to God’s beloved. Yours in Christ, by Rev. Russ Goliger
The Meaning of Advent: A Season of Hope and Expectation
Dear Saints of God, Paul writes, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) I want to share just how grateful I am to God and to you for the opportunity to serve this beloved church. It has been just a few weeks since I’ve arrived and the welcome extended to both Karen and me is heartwarming. Getting to know you individually, getting to know the church as a family, and getting to know the community in which we live, has been a joy and a blessing. There is a palpable and irresistible spirit alive in the church. I want to highlight just a few examples of where I see that spirit flourish. One need only look at the collaboration between our Church Historian and Christian Education in their preparation for the upcoming 200th anniversary celebration. I marvel at the creative ways they have immersed our Sunday School children in our church history. It has kindled a curiosity about where we come from and what we are a part of so that we can choose what we want to carry forward. I have faith that we all will rejoice as the children lead their part of our worship on November 10th. I rejoice in the work of Generous Giving and Outreach and pray that we all acknowledge the importance of their work. Both give cheerfully of their time, talent, and treasures. Both capture the essence of hope, trust, and faith in God that the Holy Spirit will kindle a cheerful spirit in you as we wrap up our pledge drive and offer our food gifts to those who are hungry. I give thanks to God for those who organized our kitchen, purchased the mums, decorated the church steps, and deep cleaned the church in preparation for the Westminster Cracker Festival, the Circle of Artists Art Exhibit and Sale, and the wedding that was held on October 26th. So many details, so many people working together, so much love shared; the church sparkled both inside and out. The bridal party and guests couldn’t say enough about how beautiful the church was and how cared for they felt. God was visible amid all this activity. These are but a portion of the many things I’ve seen in the short time I’ve been here. I look forward to building deep and meaningful relationships as we strive together to live into “God’s will for us in Jesus Christ.” God’s blessings are certainly upon us. Let us rejoice and give thanks. Your Brother in Christ, by Rev. Russ Goliger