Remember the 55 mph speed limit? Back in the 1970s in reaction to the oil embargo crisis (remember the lines at gas stations?) a federal law was instituted of 55 mph over the whole country. I’m sure anyone under 40 is incredulous. This happened when I first got my driver’s license, so I didn’t think […]
The winter’s solstice is coming soon. I have heard people complain lately about the dark season. I am aware that there are those who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder – it’s harder to get out of bed (especially before the sun rises), we feel tired and less enthused about our days. I know of people […]
On the The Second Sunday of Advent, we hear readings from Malachi 3:1-4 describing the coming of Jesus as a “refiners fire” and from and Luke 3:1-14, which describes the teachings of John the Baptist. In both scriptures, we are encouraged to prepare actively, not to wait, but to prepare for the Lord’s coming by […]
According to CNN, 31 states have said they do not want to welcome Syrian refugees. Never mind the fact that they don’t have the power to make that decision; it appears that the statements are politically motivated. The rhetoric surrounding the possibility of Syrian refugees entering our country has been vitriolic, Listening to it one […]
I assume we all know the story of the assistant coach, Joe Kennedy who, after every Bremerton High School football game, walked out to the 50 yard line and knelt to pray. Much has been made of the fact that Kennedy didn’t ask anyone to join him; he didn’t recruit anyone, he was just fallowing […]
I want to reiterate something I have said in worship most recently in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris, and that is there is no single cause. I think it is a part of our nature to want there to be a single reason, not just in the case of tragedies like terrorism, […]
John Wesley lived smack dab in the middle of the Age of Reason. Isaac Newton (1642-1726) had just explained the nature of reality, or so it was assumed. We have to imagine what it was like to be exposed to Newtonian physics in which reality was run by succinct laws and rules, such that we […]
I am so excited about what is happening at our Church. I feel the presence of the Spirit every time we gather for worship. There is a growing sense of purpose; an increased understanding of who we are and what our mission is. Our Adult Sunday school class is well attended, where we are discussing […]
During my Renewal Leave I spent a number of days on retreat at the Mount Angel Abbey in Oregon. The Abbey sits on the top of a hill that overlooks the Willamette Valley. It is a Benedictine monastery; they follow the Rule of St, Benedict which includes following and living the Hours. That is, worshiping […]
This fall in Adult Sunday School, we will be reading and discussing a book entitled, Living the Questions: The Wisdom of Progressive Christianity by David Felten and Jeff Proctor-Murphy. Originally Living the Questions was a DVD series (which I own) which was very popular amongst clergy. The authors realized (correctly, I think) that the “wisdom” […]
