Dear Members and Friends,

What kind of world do you want to see?

I ask because election day with its voting has come and gone.  And, two weeks ago, I quoted the Rev. Ralph Warnock, Pastor of Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church and Georgia Senator, who says, of voting:  “a vote is a kind of prayer for the world you want to see.”

Speaking of such sight, Jesus wanted to see a world of shalom – a world of peace, justice and well-being for all God’s people.  He called it the Kingdom of God, and he prayed for its coming so life on earth would be “as it is in heaven.”

Now that we’ve awakened to the results of our nation’s mid-term elections, we have a better idea of what voting citizens want to see.  But, bringing this vision to fruition will require more than voting. It will take action – civic action. The question is: Will we be up to it – especially if some of our powerful political leaders resist the will of the majority?  

It’s the same with our Christian faith.  We may pray “God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  But, bringing it to fruition will call for action – Christian action. And, the question is: Will church-going Christians be up for it?  Not everyone, especially in some church heritages which believes the Kingdom’s coming on earth is a Christian priority and aim. 

Let’s pray that every Christian who prays the Lord’s prayer is up to it.  For this could add up to a lot of action that could make a difference in the well-being of our world and all God’s people. 

Blessings of Christ-like Seeing, Praying, and Acting,
Pastor Ed

Dear Friends in Christ, 

Whether they believe in heaven or not, many people have said to me they are not afraid of death, but are afraid of dying. This, of course, is because there are many ways we may die, and some of these ways involve an extended period of time featuring challenging limitations, dependence on others, discomfort, and pain.  How about you: how do you think and feel about dying and death?  

Some people don’t like to talk about – or even think about – death.  I’ve been told I shouldn’t preach on the subject!  Even though we have this religion which speaks of life beyond death!  And even though we have Jesus who teaches us about “inheriting eternal life!”  

However you think or feel about dying and death, these will be our subject during our sermon time on this upcoming Sunday.  It’s All Saints and All Souls Sunday on our calendar, and we’ll remember loved ones, some of whom are our own personal saints, who’ve died.  We’ll also  consider what we imagine they’ve “inherited,” and what we will inherit, too.  

St. Francis of Assisi spoke of dying and death this way: “It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.  What he said is true, but it remains a mystery with which we’re called to wrestle  and embrace by a faith’s trust.  

Blessings of Peace Along the Journey into Dying and Eternal Life,
Pastor Ed

Dear Friends in Christ,

Election Day is less than two weeks away.  And, many of us will be exercising our right to vote.    

But, it’s more than a right. It’s a responsibility, maybe even an obligation.   

Whichever it is, many commentators are saying this year’s voting is more important than ever, partly because of the high degree of divisiveness in our society – divisiveness being cultivated by some of our political leaders – and partly because of the threat that such divisiveness poses to a democracy that depends upon the free exchange of ideas in a civil, non-coercive manner. 

Political commentators aren’t the only ones saying it’s important to vote this year.  Religious leaders are raising concerns too. Georgia Senator and Baptist Pastor, Raphael Warnock, says that “a vote is a kind of prayer for the world you want to see.”

Warnock’s view suggests that secular voting is an aspect of our stewardship of taking care of God’s creation.  You may beg to differ.  But, if you do, perhaps it’s because you say you believe in “the separation of religion and politics?”

If so, I wonder: Do you really mean “the separation of church and state?”

Our U.S. Constitution alludes to the latter, but not the former.  It essentially reads that “Congress shall establish no one national religion or prohibit the free exercise of any particular religion.”  This implies nothing about how we individually blend religion and politics in our personal lives.  And, voting, even with its public consequences, is still a private matter.

Personally, I think we’re called to consider our religious faith when we vote.  (Afterall, I believe our God and our faith are with us in the polling both!) And, when we do vote, the ultimate question is: “Which do we put first – our religious beliefs and values or our ideology and politics?  

We’ll reflect on all of this next Sunday when our sermon focus will be “The Stewardship of Voting.”  I hope you can join us, especially if you’re heading to the polls this year.  

Blessings of Faith and the Fullness of its Expression,
Pastor Ed

Dear Friends in Christ,

Does your faith address your fears? If so, how?

These are the leading questions we’re addressing in our Pentecost Fall sermon series entitled “Fear and Faith.”

Last Sunday, we considered our faith as calling us to rise above our fears. This Sunday we focus more specifically on the times when we are, as we sometimes say, “at the end of our rope.”

Fear is a factor in all of life. Fear plays a key role in our faith. It is one of two primary emotions that many psychologists and philosophers say drive human behavior. (The other is love so this makes fear and love opposites.) An important question, then, is: does fear diminish our faith or simply challenge it?

In the end, I hope our faith addresses our fears, so we be and stay strong in our hoping, trusting and loving. For only then will we be able to be those who are living fully in our following of Jesus’ Way, life, and truth.

Blessings of Faith,
Pastor Ed

Dear Friends in Christ,

Social scientists have dubbed our era “the Age of Anxiety.”  Now some, myself included, suggest that what is upon us, now, is the “Age of Fear.”  

This is because there is so much restlessness in our nation and society regarding our future.  Some have said they’re afraid we’re losing our democracy.  How about you? I admit, I wonder if we are because we are a deeply divided society of great inequalities, a condition that spawns more authoritarian governance.  How about you?

And, now, more leaders and scientists are warning about the dangers of Artificial Intelligence, especially since its development is unregulated by the government.  Even officials of companies have weighed in recently regarding their concerns about some unexpected results of their own profit-motivated research.  They speak of harm to, and even extinction of, the human species.

In the background of both of these fears is concern about advancing global warming and the dangerous consequences it portends for our planetary environment. 

Amidst all of these fears, I wonder:  How are you faring?

I also wonder how our Christian faith may help us with coping, adapting, and addressing these – and all – our fears.  This subject, we’ll be exploring in future sermons during our worship. 

As we do, if you have a particular, unaddressed fear that you’re experiencing, let me know.  For it could be a focal point for one of our sermons.

Meanwhile, Blessings of the Holy Love that, as John writes, Casts Out Fear! (I John 4:18)
Pastor Ed

Dear Friends in Christ,

Earlier this month, I asked: What are your thoughts and feelings about the church?  Do you treasure it?  Do you detest it?  Likely, you land in all sorts of places along this spectrum, but why? – Why do you think and feel about the church as you do?

I’ve asked this question because your response – along with those of others who constitute Christ’s Church here, will “add up” to WHY we’re here.  

A well-published business consultant, Simon Sinek, has urged organizations “to find their why”- their reason for being.  For, in so doing, he says they set themselves up for being able to tap into the maximum passion and energy of their participants for achieving their hopes and goals.  

This makes sense to me.  So it is, as our interim time together continues to unfold, I encourage you to engage in exploration to discover your purpose for being here and tap your resources and energy “to the max.”  To the extent that you do, you may just discover new missions and new life!  And, then, we’ll see where you stand in relationship to your future as Christ’s church here.  

In part, I suggest we pursue this work because I wonder two things about your current statements of faith and mission, namely: “How much do they reflect your understanding of your reason for being here now?” and “How well do they speak to and resonate amongst others outside the church today?”   

Perhaps newer expressions of faith and mission could energize you as well as others who might be motivated to join you in future undertakings that you call “mission in the Spirit of Christ!”  Who knows? 

Blessings of New Awareness unto Discovery of the Holy Spirit’s Movement in your Midst,
Pastor Ed

Dear Friends in Christ,

What are your thoughts and feelings about the church?  Do you treasure it or despise it?  (I’ve met people who fall on both poles of this spectrum). 

Most people fall in between these two ends of this spectrum of thoughts and feelings.  But, where do you fall, and: to which pole are you closer – and why?     

As I depart on a vacation to Greece and a business trip to California where I’ll officiate at a close friend’s wedding, I ask these questions because they’ll be on my mind when I return.  

Reflecting on these questions will help you and – us together – become more aware of “our Christianity” as well as our passion for our being Christ’s church here.  

I look forward to hearing what you may have to say about this as we continue our interim journey for a little longer than we have imagined! 

Blessings Along the Way,
Pastor Ed

Dear Friends in Christ,
Yesterday you received an important survey from the Worship Team, our music director, John, and members of the choir. It’s an important survey asking for your participation because it presents all of us with an opportunity for expanding participation in our music ministry by involving more people with diverse gifts.

In addition it requires our “reaching out” to new people to invite worship participation from musicians outside of our community of faith. “Reaching out” is a virtually untried, but vitally important new dynamic for us and our future as Christ’s church.

Long ago, Moses heard God say to himself and his people, I have set before you the ways of life and death; choose life and you will live (Deuteronomy 30:19). “Reaching out” to invite new people to join us in worship, education, and service represents a “way of life” for all churches today. And, the degree to which we choose it may be the degree to which we’ll live!

I hope you’ll help us expand our music ministry – and chose life – for the church’s future here!
Blessings of Life, Ed

Dear Friends in Christ,

Now in the middle of summer and our summer Wednesday worship, we find ourselves in the middle of a three-session sermon series on the Parable of the Prodigal Son. You likely know it and have some impressions of it.

Like most parables of Jesus, it’s multi-valent story, meaning it has multiple meanings and many interpretations. This is why it lends itself to being the subject of a multi-week sermon series!

Last week we focused on perspectives this parable raises about forgiveness in general. Like God’s nature and our own. And, like the question, “Must we forgive?”

This week, we’ll focus on being a prodigal, being wasteful as Google AI suggests by “using money, time, or energy in reckless and foolish ways.” In our sermon, we’ll discover that in whichever character we most identify with: the son, the father, or the brother, we may find – and therefore be- a prodigal person regarding forgiveness.

Finally, during next week’s Communion service, we’ll focus on a practical aspect of forgiving: navigating the relationship between forgiving and memory because forgiving, forgetting and remembering are three different movements within the human spirit.

If you can’t join us for all three of these week’s sermons, I hope you may join us for one or two because forgiving is an important calling around which we have a vital stewardship of love.

Blessings of Summer,
Pastor Ed

Dear Friends in Christ
In 1973, a man sent a letter expressing his bleak hope for humanity to American writer and author of Charlotte’s Web, E. B. White. While preparing for our sermon this week on Jesus’ parable, I found it in Letters of Note by Shaun Usher. Besides being relevant to Jesus’ point of old, it contains fitting thoughts that all of us need today in our society where compassion has become a “dirty word” amongst some of our nation’s highest political and most powerful Christian leaders.

Here is White’s letter:

North Brooklin, Maine,
30 March 1973
Dear Mr. Nadeau:
As long as there is one upright man, as long as there is one compassionate woman, the contagion may spread and the scene is not desolate. Hope is the thing that is left to us, in a bad time. I shall get up Sunday morning and wind the clock, as a contribution to order and steadfastness.

Sailors have an expression about the weather: they say the weather is a great bluffer. I guess the same is true of our human society – things can look dark, then a break shows in the clouds, and all is changed, sometimes rather suddenly. It is quite obvious that the human race has made a queer mess of life on this planet. But as a people we probably harbor seeds of goodness that have lain for a long time waiting to sprout when the conditions are right. Man’s curiosity, his relentlessness, his inventiveness, his ingenuity have led him into deep trouble. We can only hope that these same traits will enable him to claw his way out.

Hang on to your hat. Hang on to your hope. And wind the clock, for tomorrow is another day.
Sincerely,
E. B. White

As a citizen and follower of Jesus, what do you think?
Blessings of Compassion,
Pastor Ed