The Wind Still Blows Earlier this week I received this pastoral letter from The Rev. Leslie Jackson, the Middlesex Association’s Area Conference Minister. I share it with you because it offers a glimpse into Leslie’s manner of thinking about ministry, and because I will be borrowing some of his ideas for Sunday’s Pentecost sermon. “And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind… Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them…” — Acts 2:2–3 This is not a quiet text. Wind. Fire. Breath. Movement. And nothing — not one thing — stayed the same….
The Villager Voice My regular column in the Uniter newsletter takes its title – Overlooking Jennings Pond – from my office vista, which offers a delightful view of the pond behind our church building. These days however, it might be better titled, Looking for Jennings Pond, as my view is wonderfully obscured by a riot of dogwood blossoms on the trees outside my window. They are among the many colors of early spring which are appearing all around the lower valley these days. Light greens of the early leafing, light and dark pinks and purples of tree blossoms and ground…
May 10th Worship Service Information Below are the links to the online bulletin and service for our May 10th Worship Service. Happy Mother’s Day!! Link to Bulletin Link to Service
The Villager Voice I confess, I paid much more attention to the work of the Reformed Church when I was at Princeton Theological Seminary, since it is a Presbyterian institution and part of the former World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC). Even though the United Church of Christ is not part of the Reformed confession, we remain closely aligned with the theology and ideology of the Reformed church, and I’m certain you have noticed my own crypto-Calvinist leanings over the years. In 2010 the WARC merged with the Reformed Ecumenical Council (both are global organizations) to form the World Communion…
April 26 Worship Service Information Below are the links to the online bulletin and service: Link to Bulletin Link to Service
Notes from Away “The Pope? How many divisions has he?” The question was reportedly posed by Joseph Stalin to Winston Churchill in the heat of World War II, dismissing the importance of the Vatican’s strength, influence and voice in wartime. I thought of this quote over the past couple weeks as once again, the Pope has inserted his voice and authority in the present war against Iran. In his Palm Sunday sermon Pope Leo XIV boldly stated that God does not listen to the prayers of those who make war, citing Isaiah 1.15, “Even though you make many prayers, I…
Simon’s Says Dear friends, this morning I’m sharing with you this note from our United Church Music Director, Karli Gilbertson: Beloved UCC Congregation, To everything a season, to everything a time; A moment to move forward and leave the past behind. As summer turns to autumn and bids farewell to spring, There comes a time for turning to every living thing. Now is the time for turning and this the place to start….. These lyrics from an upcoming choir anthem sum up where I am in my life, like many of you who have decided to step…
Holy Week Notes Sunday after church a few of you commented on the poem I read, The Donkey, by English poet G.K. Chesterton. Since so much of the meaning was only revealed at the end, you wished I had read it twice. And I confess, it was so brief, it could easily have stood a second reading. So here it is for those who asked (and those who didn’t!): When fishes flew and forests walked, And figs grew upon thorn, Some moment when the moon was blood, Then surely I was born. With monstrous head and sickening cry, And ears…
Maundy Thursday Worship Service Please join us at 7 PM this evening for our Maundy Thursday Service which will be a Tenebrae service. The link to the bulletin and service are below: Link to Bulletin Link to Service
Simon’s Says This Sunday marks the start of Holy Week. Palm Sunday, also called Passion Sunday, recalls Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. We will observe the day with the distribution of palms and a consideration of the desire of the welcoming crowd to make Jesus a King. After church will feature our quarterly Sermon Talk-Back, when we go deeper with the morning’s topic. Everyone is welcome who wants to join us, just grab a coffee and a treat during coffee hour and come join us at the table. If you’d like to do a bit of preparation for the discussion,…