Living In God’s Amazing Grace
Pastor Writings
The best thing about being a pastor is the conversations! Sometimes they happen in the grocery store when I am wearing my clerical collar. Sometimes they happen in the hospital next to the bed of person who struggles. Sometimes they happen online.
And as today is Ash Wednesday, conversations about dust have come to occur. In Christian circles, this is the day we remember our mortality. 
Continue reading “The stars died so that you could be here today.”
I’ve been recuperating from my total knee replacement which took place on February 13th. There have been surprises – 1) how slowly my energy level is returning 2) the pervasiveness of pain (!) and 3) how restorative greetings can be. Continue reading “Greetings of Care”
We had an amazing time at Lutherwood this weekend! We drove out Friday evening and stopped for dinner at Arby’s in JunctionCity! Then, off to Cheshire for Camp Lutherwood adventures! We played games, (Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, Uno and Scrabble) and enjoyed the fireplace and smores. Then we hit the sack. Continue reading “Lutherwood with the FLY group”
The Gospel for February 3rd features Jesus reading in a synagogue – a place of worship for Jews like him. I think it is important to picture him in this space. A man of faith, in his place of worship. Like us. Every Sunday.
So, I went to the Holy Land this past week, and the stories will be pouring out of me in the weeks to come.
But I saw a synagogue. The synagogue in Capernaum that is referenced in Luke’s gospel. (Not this sunday’s passage, though).
And I stood looking out, at the archeological remnants of the 4th century synagogue, and underneath that, the archeological remnants of the 1st century synagogue – the one Jesus stood in. It’s not huge. Its about as big as the church I serve now, Holy Cross. And I could imagine Jesus feeling good about worshipping there, even though he was not roundly accepted, even though he needed to talk to them about a faith that would change everything for them. 
Look at the pictures, if you have a chance. And picture yourself there. In the synagogue. Just one of the townspeople, at their place of worship. And Jesus just starts to talk.
Wouldn’t that have been something?
I know Jesus lived a long time ago, in a world and a time where things were very different. But sometimes, it is good to imagine ourselves in the same spot and the same time as Jesus. Would we have listened to him? Would we have been insulted at what he said? Maybe. Who knows?
Just imagine for awhile my friends. Look at the pictures and imagine. God bless you.
Pastor Patricia+
We are blessed people. Today our lives hit a wrinkle (Pastor Joe and Pastor Patricia). We made a choice to go on a continuing Education adventure to see the Holy Land! And, we are presently stuck in Istanbul on a 7 hour delay. Well, darn. But we have food, and water, and wifi (!) so maybe we should suck it up and make the best of it.
But today I write to my friends out there enduring change, and worry, and also, imagining new things, and dreaming of possibilities for ministry. Because the Annual Meeting is at hand, and I will miss it!