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

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