Dear Friends in Christ,
Jesuit Priest, Father James Martin, wrote this prayer for Sojourner’s Magazine on the occasion of our nation’s 250th birthday. I think it’s a beautiful and fitting gift for us. See what you what think as you read – and pray – it.

A Prayer for Our Nation
Loving God,
on our 250th anniversary as a nation,
help us to be just, loving, merciful, grateful, compassionate, and, above all, kind.
Help our nation mirror the kind of people we want to be.
And help us to avoid envy, cruelty, violence, boasting, prejudice, nationalism, scapegoating, and malice towards anyone.
Help us to be loving, as you are,
Loving God.
Amen

Blessings of a Meaningful and Enjoyable Fourth,
Pastor Ed

Dear Friends in Christ,

Summer season worship is upon us!  Starting Wednesday, July 1^st, we’ll gather on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm. Our air-conditioned worship will be preceded by a 6:30pm fellowship time, and our service will end by 7:45pm so that those of you worshipping can be home before dark.  

Our summer focus will feature a smorgasbord of subjects.  We’ll mix parables with hymn lyrics as well as “count our blessings.”   If you have a memorable hymn or a blessing you count as such, I invite you to send it to me or let me know, and I’ll add it to our list of potential topics. 

On July 1^st, we’ll reflect on our nation’s 250^th birthday and share communion.  I look forward to seeing you this upcoming last Sunday of June and next Wednesday evening when our summer worship begins.

Blessings of Summer and Well-being in Christ,
Pastor Ed

Dear Friends in Christ,

Summer season worship is upon us. Starting Wednesday, July 1st , we’ll gather on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 pm. Our air-conditioned worship will be preceded by a 6:30pm fellowship time, and our service will end by 7:45pm so that those of you worshipping can be home before dark.

Our summer focus will feature a smorgasbord of subjects. We’ll mix parables with hymn lyrics as well as “count our blessings.” If you have a memorable hymn or a blessing you count as such, I invite you to send it to me or let me know, and I’ll add it to our list of potential topics.

I look forward to seeing you on a Wednesday evening for worship during July and August.

Blessings of Well-being in Christ,
Pastor Ed

Dear Friends in Christ,

Some of you have expressed appreciation for my introductions of Scripture in which I provide context for Sunday’s reading.  My expressions are usually based on my reading of commentaries written by New Testament scholars who study the Scriptures with a critical eye from many angles.

If you have appreciated some of my introductions or appreciate a learned perspective on the Bible  I wonder what you’re doing tonight.  I wonder because our Wednesday evening reading group meets at 6:30pm tonight, and we’ll be listening to – and discussing – a podcast entitled Misquoting Jesus.  It features a presentation by one of the finest New Testament Scholars in the world, Bart Ehrman.  

Professor Ehrman has just retired from teaching at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  And, he’s now devoting himself to developing a lay academy of Biblical Scholarship.  He hopes to introduce many Christians to scholarly perspectives on Scripture and Christianity. 

Ehrman has written more than 30 interesting, very readable books on various topics from Genesis to Revelation.  And, he’s recorded more than 200 podcasts.  If this sounds interesting and enjoyable to you, come and join us. (Our group discussion is always interesting and enjoyable!) 

Tonight promises to be a “cool” experience – in more ways than one – in our always cool meeting room.  And, I hope, if you’re able you might join us.

Blessings of Lifelong Learning,
Pastor Ed

Dear Friends in Christ,
Last Sunday, on Pentecost I suggested we live between Babel and Pentecost – between Babel’s confusion and misunderstanding that lead to suspicion, distrust, and divisiveness and Pentecost’s clarity of purpose, understanding, and empathy that lead to unity amidst diversity. The question is: “Where are we along the spectrum between these two poles, and: In which direction are we headed with our lives?”

Today, in our nation and society, it is clear we’re not as far along the road to Pentecost as we might have thought. Today, the ties that bind us in a free democracy are being tested.

And sadly, under our nation’s present political leadership as well as in the sentiments oft oo many citizens, it appears we’re headed in the direction of Babel rather than Pentecost. But, what do you think? And, how are we called to be Christ’s church in this kind of moment?

Blessings of Being – and Becoming – Pentecost People,
Pastor Ed

Dear Friends in Christ,
This upcoming Sunday marks the Day of Pentecost. If Easter is the pre-eminent holiday of Christianity (even greater, if not more culturally popular, than Christmas!), Pentecost is the pre-eminent holiday of the church.

Pentecost represents the birth of the community of faith. It represents the energy of our faith and its expression: the unifying power of the grace of God! It represents the life and purpose of Christ’s church.

Now, I can’t recall a time when our world – inclusive of our nation – has more needed the unifying Spirit and power of divine love. Can you? Amidst all chaos and destruction sowed through the misuse of power by political and very wealthy business leaders of our day, our nation and society need us to be the church – bringing Godly, Christ-like care and concern to our surroundings.

This awesome responsibility and stewardship we’ll ponder in our Sunday worship on Pentecost. If you can’t join us, I’ll hope you’ll be with us – online or “in Spirit.”

Blessings of Pentecost’s “Passionate Flame and Refreshing Breeze,”
Pastor Ed

Dear Friends in Christ, 

This upcoming Sunday marks the end of Easter Season.  On the Christian calendar, it’s called Ascension Sunday, named after Luke’s story of Jesus’ Ascension – or departure – to Heaven. (This story is found in both Luke’s Gospel (24:50-53) and his Book of Acts (1:9-11) – told in two versions.)

In the more often cited Book of Acts, we read that after the risen Christ had spoken his final words to his followers, “Jesus was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.”  Luke, then, refers to them “gazing up toward heaven while he was going.”  

As a kid who watched the TV show, Star Trek, I imagined this happening as a kind of “Beam me up, Scotty” kind of moment.  But, as an adult child of God who’s grown beyond literal understanding into being a critical reader of Scripture, I no longer interpret this story as being an historical account.  Rather, I see it – along with New Testament scholar, Marcus Borg, as a parable that conveys a meaning, namely – the “Lordship” of Christ Jesus (in contrast to the “lords” of this world) and his freedom from space and time limitations.

It’s one thing to believe a story to be historically true, quite another to understand it as parable. As history, a story is about something that happened a long time ago to someone else.  As parable, it’s something that may happen to us.

Now, whatever you believe this story to be, imagine if Christ were truly Lord of our lives!  What might be different about us, Christ’s church, and the world?  

Blessings of Fellowship with Christ Jesus,
Pastor Ed

Dear Friends in Christ, 

Sunday is a “high holy day” you won’t find on the Christian calendar.  It’s Mothers’ Day.  And, it’s an important “holy day” in our society.

Why?  Many, with sentimental appreciation, say, “It’s because mothers are so full of love and have worked tirelessly raising their children.”  But, cynics say, “It’s a profitable holiday for card companies, flower shops, restaurants, and makers and retailers of Mom-friendly products – such as jewelry and digital photo-frames being pushed in recent years.”  

Both perspectives contain kernels of truth. Many mothers have worked tirelessly, raising their children in extravagant ways.  And, many have worried endlessly along the way.  But, sadly, some have not. (After all, mothers are human.)   

Many daughters and sons have gone to extravagant ends and expenditures to thank their mothers for their love. One Reddit responder calls Mother’s Day an “annual guilt-fueled ritual where society briefly acknowledges all the unpaid labor, emotional support, and mental load moms carry – with a $9 card and a mimosa.”  And, news organizations report that consumers will spend $38 billion on Mother’s Day gifts this year. (No wonder, Anna Jarvis, who founded Mother’s Day to honor mothers, later came to dislike the commercialization of the day!) 

Ultimately, the proof of what constitutes the holiness – or unholiness – of Mother’s Day is contained in the “pudding of love – and money.”   Love is and isn’t free.  The one loved benefits from love without payment.  And, love given always costs the giver something – and, sometimes, a lot.  

If you’re not attending church on Sunday because you’re a daughter or son honoring your mother’s love, or you’re a mothering being honored for your love, I hope it’s a joyous, meaning-filled day.  And, know that those of us worshipping in church will be remembering and honoring your love by thanking God! 

Blessings of Love’s Holiness – whether God-given or Human-given,
Pastor Ed

Dear Friends in Christ,

Next Sunday, May 3^rd, we’ll share, or as we sometimes say, “celebrate” Communion. But, why do we say “celebrate?”  What’s there to “celebrate” when we remember Jesus’ death by crucifixion?   

Some may say we celebrate Jesus’ sacrificial death because they believe it brings us forgiveness by satisfying God’s need of a perfect sacrifice.  But, I have a different understanding of God and God’s “needs.”  How about you?

Others will say communion reminds us of a new covenant with God that replaces an old Hebrew system of law and sacrifice.  But, I think this represents but one of several understandings of the Hebrew law shared by New Testament writers. 

Some will say communion represents obedience to Jesus’ command, “Do this in remembrance of me.”  But, this represents Luke’s unique expression of what Jesus said.   

Others will say communion proclaims the Lord’s death until he returns and serves as a reminder of the promise of future restoration.  But this represents literal apocalyptic interpretation that I don’t share.  How about you?    

Ultimately, the way I “celebrate” remembrance of Jesus’ execution by Roman capital punishment is by seeing Good Friday through the lens of Easter.  For through this lens, I see the possibility of redemption, renewal, and potential in God-given life – whose origins I cannot fathom, but in which I can humbly place my faith’s trust.

So, it is,  we’ll “celebrate” Communion next Sunday. And, how fitting – since it’s Eastertide!

Blessings of Communion with Jesus and God,
Pastor Ed

Dear Friends in Christ,

We’re coming to the 4^th Sunday of Easter.  It represents our having passed through the midpoint of Eastertide with its 50 days and seven Sundays. 

Up to this point, a common theme of our previous 3 Sunday Scriptures has been recognition of the Risen Christ.  Last Sunday, Luke reported to us that, when 2 followers were walking on the Emmaus Road, “Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.”

Their experience echoed that of Mary on Easter when she mistook the Risen Christ for a gardener in the graveyard.  And, it echoed that of Thomas who – when he heard others’ reports of having seen the Risen Christ – said he wouldn’t believe them unless he saw and touched Jesus’ wounds himself. 

Now, as living characters in the continuing story of Jesus’ Resurrection, the questions we’re left with are:  “What are our experiences of the risen Christ?”, and “Do we recognize Jesus in them?” 

Lest, we say we’ve never had any experiences of the risen Christ or sightings of Jesus, I remind you of Jesus’ implicitly teaching his followers in a parable of “sheep and goats” (not really about animals or individual people, but of societies and nations) that we see him in the needy people of our world.  But then, especially then, the question is: do we recognize Jesus – and respond graciously and generously – or not?   Do you?  And what about us – as Christ’s church?  

Blessings of Being “in the Middle” of Eastertide,
Pastor Ed