On Sunday, Jan. 31st I preached on Psalm 111. This Psalm is written as an acrostic poem, with each line beginning with the next letter in the Hebrew alphabet. This indicates that the Psalm was initially intended to be a teaching tool. Being an acrostic poem would make it easier for people to memorize and […]

This week while preparing to preach from 1 Samuel, I was reminded again of Hannah's Song from 1 Samuel 2: 1-10. Hannah is Samuel's mother, and she rejoices when Samuel is born, by singing of the ways that God celebrates those that the world often ignores. She speaks to the ways that what God values […]

In our congregation we always observe Epiphany on the first Sunday of January, regardless of the date. But, the actual Festival of Epiphany falls on January 6th, after the 12 Days of Christmas. January 6th, 2021, brought a challenging Epiphany in our nation's history. We speak of Epiphany as a celebration of Christ's light, and […]

As a way of building our connections during these pandemic times, the Connections Committee asked for members to send in their "Pandemic Memories." Here is what people had to say about what they will remember from these times: Dave and Bev M. Been getting together frequently with both of Bev's sisters and their husbands.  Bev […]

Sunday is All Saints Day, November 1st. As a Prelude to our All Saints worship, our Liturgical Musician, Nancy Cox, offers a reflection on the song she chose for the Prelude this week. Our prelude is "Behold the Lamb" by Keith and Kristyn Getty and Stuart Townend. Nancy selected this this piece because the words […]

To help us navigate the challenges of the pandemic, Rev. Scott Marrese-Wheeler will be serving FPC as a Parish Associate. In this role he will be working with Deacons and Care Teams over the next few months to help us organize care to ensure that we are not missing anyone in our regular check-ins, and […]

This is a follow up to a post last week on responses received after the July 26th Sermon about five parables Jesus tells in Matthew 13: 31-33, 44-52 to describe the Kingdom of Heaven. I asked in that post for any further pictures, parables, songs, etc. that help you to understand what God's Kingdom is […]

This is actually a reflection I wrote for our June 2018 Newsletter. I decided to republish it here now, because the work of engaging and understanding White Privilege is an ongoing task that will not be accomplished in any of our lifetimes. Here is the comment I made when recommending this book two years ago: […]

This week I am spending perhaps a little too much time reflecting on the Greek word paraclete. In our Gospel lesson for Sunday, we hear Jesus telling his disciples that though he will no longer be present among them, they will not be alone, for Jesus will send the paraclete. This term proves difficult to translate into English. […]

11 If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me,   and the light around me become night’,12 even the darkness is not dark to you;   the night is as bright as the day,   for darkness is as light to you.13 For it was you who formed my inward parts;   you knit me together in my mother’s womb.14 I praise you, for I am fearfully […]

The Lord is my shepherd.    I lack nothing.He lets me rest in grassy meadows;    he leads me to restful waters;       he keeps me alive.He guides me in proper paths    for the sake of his good name.Even when I walk through the darkest valley,    I fear no danger because you are with me.Your rod and your staff—    they protect me. You set […]

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;    his steadfast love endures forever!Let Israel say,    “His steadfast love endures forever.”Let the house of Aaron say,    “His steadfast love endures forever.”Let those who fear the Lord say,    “His steadfast love endures forever.” I thank you that you have answered me    and have become my salvation.The stone that the builders rejected    has become the […]