August 13, 2025

Dear Friends in Christ, 

I’ve shared with you concerns I have about Christian Nationalism, the idea that we should be a Christian nation filled with laws based on some fundamental Christian interpretations of Scripture and beliefs.  So it was, I became concerned when our NH Conference Minister, Gordon Rankin, posted a note to churches warning us to be careful of “new strings” being attached to  Federal Nonprofit grants that churches may use to strengthen building security.  (You can read his note  in this newsletter.)

Then,  I read of a Texas legislator, James Talarico, a young rising politician who wears his Christianity on his sleeve.  But, not in expected ways.  For instance, as a Christian, he opposes a new Texas law requiring prominent display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms.   And, yes he opposes it on religious, not political grounds! 

Interested in learning more, I looked up Talarico on Wikipedia  and read this description: 

“Talarico is ‘deeply religious’ Christian… (who) has cited his faith and the teachings of Jesus as the reason for launching his political career (and) describes politics as ‘another word for how we treat our neighbors’…  He is (also) an outspoken critic of  Christian Nationalism and has called it a “cancer on our religion.”

Intrigued, when I learned he’d recently been interviewed by the popular, controversial podcast host, Joe Rogan, I “tuned in.”  I encourage you to do so, too (Episode #2382).  For, theirs is an interesting, timely conversation about Christianity, church, and politics in our day.  And, they cover a lot more ground than what you might imagine.

Blessings of Living in Our Time and times, Pastor Ed

Dear Friends in Christ,
The experience of temptation has been a force at work in the lives of humans for a long, long time. The earliest written forms of the story of a famous temptation in the Garden of Eden date to the 10th century BCE. And, oral storytelling about this temptation precedes these written forms by hundreds and hundreds of years.

According to the gospel authors, Jesus experienced temptation from the beginning of his rabbinic ministry to its end. The earliest gospel writer, Mark, reports that right after being baptized by John, Jesus was “driven into the wilderness” to be tempted by Satan. And, in another garden, the Garden of Gethsemane, we find Jesus, near the end of his life, praying about temptation.

In between, during his lifetime, Jesus taught followers to pray that they not be “led into temptation.” And, he reminded them of this again, after he prayed by himself in the Garden of Gethsemane. So it is, we sing in John Scriven’s “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”, and ask, “Have we trials and temptations? … We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer!”

Giving into some temptations brings lots of trouble to our lives and world. So, tonight, in our worship, we’ll not just sing about temptation, we’ll reflect on it as we continue our sermon series on our Lord’s prayer. I hope you might join us.

Blessings of Peace,
Pastor Ed

Dear Friends in Christ,

As our hot summer rolls along, I find myself experiencing lots of air-conditioned air being pushed around by fans. My thoughts wander, and I think of old lyrics written by Seals and Croft who, in 1972, sang “Summer breeze makes me feel fine… Blowin’ through the jasmine in my mind.”

I remember this song because I heard it many times that summer while painting my boyhood Victorian house. I also recall hearing Mungo Jerry’s “in the summertime when the weather is high, you can chase right up and touch the sky.” I perhaps remember these words because I spent a lot of time at the top of a 40 foot ladder!

Like most New Englanders, I appreciate each season’s unique qualities. And, I cherish summer for its beach weather, a pleasant change of pace, and good outdoor times with loved ones and friends.

Speaking of a change of pace, this is what our Wednesday summer evenings feature. We share fellowship and eat dessert first. Then, we have shorter, simpler worship – in air-conditioned air! So, hopefully, we experience both physical and spiritual refreshment. If you haven’t yet joined us, I hope you might. For, before we know it, it will be Fall!

Blessings of Summer Refreshment of All Kinds,
Pastor Ed

Dear Friends in Christ,

I often joke that one subject we don’t talk about in church is politics. I also add that I believe there’s a relationship between religion and politics, and the question is: Which follows which?

I believe we can and should talk about religion and politics because our views on politics are a reflection of our faith. Or at least, I think they should be. How about you?

This does not mean I endorse a candidate for office in a sermon or newsletter. I simply comment on political issues and actions of elected officials when it’s relevant to a Biblical text or concern – or our Christian faith.

But, not all church pastors have kept or keep to this boundary between faith expression and endorsement of candidates. Many fundamentalist and evangelist church pastors actually distribute “who to vote for” cards to members of their church. I know because I’ve received them from worshippers who’ve attended such churches, and I’ve received endorsement materials in the mail.

Whether this is legal or not is another story. But the reality is that enforcement of any law has been minimal and just became weaker. If you’re interested in this subject, please see the statement released by United Church of Christ legal counselor, Heather Kimmel. click here.

Blessings of Freedom of Expression and Exercise of Responsibility,
Pastor Ed

Dear Friends in Christ,

I hope you had a nice 4th of July holiday and weekend. I spent the 4th with family and dear friends on Lake Winnipesaukee, and it was quite special and relaxing – especially since I didn’t have to prepare a sermon for this past Sunday!

However, I also spent some somber moments on the 4th of July in prayer because I found myself concerned and grieving the direction in which our nation seems to be headed under the leadership of our current Executive Branch and Congress. Giving their decisions and actions of the last few months, millions of children will needlessly die in poorer nations around the world. And, millions of poorer families will suffer needlessly from lack of food security and health care in our own nation.

Amidst these realities and prospects, we’ll be starting our Wednesday summer evening worship tonight. Over the summer, we’ll be reflecting on prayer in general and the Lord’s prayer in particular. And, we’ll be praying it as well as our own prayers.

Given all our thoughts and feelings about what’s happening in our nation and society, I wonder how our praying – and our responses to praying as Christians – will be affected. How about you?

Blessings of Well-being in Christ,
Pastor Ed

Dear Friends in Christ,
Earlier in June we celebrated Pentecost Sunday. On it we commemorated the birth of the Christian church, and we asked, during our sermon time, “What needed birthday gifts might we give to the church?”

Next week, on the 4th of July, we’ll celebrate the birth of our nation. Likewise, we may ask what needed gifts might we give to our nation for its birthday. This, we’ll do from a Christian perspective on this upcoming Sunday when one of our sermon questions will be, “What needed gifts might we Christians give to the United States for a birthday present?”

I’ll give you a hint: I don’t think it’s something called Christian Nationalism! But, come contribute your reflections and thoughts, and we’ll see what our Christian birthday gift list looks like.

Blessings of Citizenship in God’s Realm of Creation and the United States,
Pastor Ed

Dear Friends in Christ, 

Last Sunday, on Pentecost, I asked, “What would be a good birthday gift to give to the church?”  Several responded, “More people!”   And, a few more added, “Younger people and children!”   Indeed, people, especially younger people and children, would be good gifts for the church!

But one person mentioned what I think would be an even better gift.  She said, “People who share their faith outside the church!”

In an age when more and more people have never gone to church, it’s important, if not essential, we be more visible with, and more vocal about, our faith.  This doesn’t mean we have to speak like fundamentalist Christians whose goal it is to convert people to their beliefs.  But, it does mean we ought to be prepared to share with non-church goers why we do what we do and why we attend church.

We’ll be talking more about “being more visible” as our new Church Vitality Team begins its work with our coach and consultant, the Rev. Paul Nickerson.  Bridget, Heather, Kaddy, and I will start our planning this summer with Paul, and we’ll be sharing our learnings and ideas with you – all with the aim that we might become better “gifts” for the 21^st century church.

Blessings of God’s Spirit,
Pastor Ed

Dear Friends in Christ,

This upcoming Sunday, the 50th day after Easter, is Pentecost Sunday. It’s the church’s birthday. Therefore, it’s ours, too!

So I wonder… given that we sometimes harbor birthday wishes, if you could ask for a birthday gift on behalf of the church, what would it be?

This question, we’ll consider in our worship next Sunday when we celebrate the church’s birthday. I hope to see you there, but if you can’t make it, feel free to call, text or e-mail me your birthday wish for the church.

Happy Birthday!
Pastor Ed

May 28, 2025

Dear Friends in Christ,

Last Sunday during our sermon time,  we asked what we could do to honor those who lost their lives in war on Monday’s Memorial Day.  I suggested we could find an answer in Paul’s letter to the church at Galatia which was very divided.  To members he wrote, “you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters, only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become enslaved to one another.  For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”   I’m glad we made this connection.  

For, on Monday I received a FaceBook post from a restaurant. It featured this beautiful image: 

Above this image was this two-sentence note: 

Today, we remember and honor those who served.
We’re open Memorial Day from 11:30am to 8pm.

Now, contrast this with the United Church of Christ Memorial Day post that I read next:

Below this image, there was this short note with a link:

 This Memorial Day, we hold in prayer those who have been affected by war. We honor the lives lost and grieve with the families of the fallen. May we continue to work toward peace and a #JustWorldForAll.

Freedom allows for diversity in choice-making regarding the honoring of those who have died in war.  But, on May 30^th , the original Memorial Day date, I’m going to re-commit myself to choosing the option I think keeps faith with those who’ve died and permit them their resting in peace.  How about you? 

Blessings of Love’s Peace and Service to All,
Pastor Ed

Dear Friends in Christ, 

Memorial Day – and, therefore, Summer – are upon us!

Once upon a time, these two phenomena – a civic holiday and a season of nature – were distinct. But, now, they’re intertwined.

Once Memorial Day was moved in 1968 from its specific historic date, May 30^th, to the last Monday in May, a deal of sorts was sealed.  Memorial Day became part of a long, three day-weekend and a gateway to the summer vacationing season.  But, when this happened, something was lost.

What was lost?  Citizen focus on the cost to some for fulfilling that to which we all have pledged our allegiance before our nation’s flag, namely “liberty and justice for all.”  Sometimes upholding this pledge has cost citizens – and non-citizens alike – their lives in warfare.

As if this weren’t tragic enough, there’s even more that’s been lost to history regarding Memorial Day: a second piece regarding the original purpose of  this day beyond remembrance of veterans killed: reconciliation between the families of those killed – in both the North and the South.

Now, couldn’t we use a good dose of this  Memorial Day spirit today, one which causes us to remember that this day was conceived as a way of bringing together former enemies still speaking angrily and distastefully about one another?   Only this time  around, it wouldn’t be the old “Blue and Gray.”   Instead, it would be  today’s “red and blue.”  

Blessings of Peace – with Liberty and Justice for All,
Pastor Ed