Pastors Pen

A ‘ruckus’ in the Temple… March 3, 2024 Scripture: John 2:13-22 – shared in narrative form As I have done a number of times in the past, I would like to share our gospel lesson in the form of a story, holding close to the biblical text, but allowing my baptized imagination free reign, in […]

God is watching us… February 25, 2024 Scripture: Mark 8:31-38 In today’s gospel reading we find Jesus beginning to share with his disciples that the end of his ministry among them is drawing near. He is trying to explain to them what lies ahead, how it will be different from what they have witnessed so

The Lord has drawn near…(to us) February 18, 2024 Shortly after we moved to Patterson, when I was just 11 or 12 years old, a man by the name of Wilbur Olsen gave our family a great gift. Wilber was a long time member of the church and lived on the hillside overlooking Whaley Lake

The ‘constancy’ of grace… February 4, 2024 Scriptures: Isaiah 40:21-31 Who is it…in whom I believe?  Who is this one who reaches out to me in the quiet of a dark night? Who is this one whose insistent attempts to comfort or reassure reach deeper into my soul than any other? Today’s reading from Isaiah

‘Saved…’ January 28, 2024 Scripture: Mark 1:21-28 We have all heard the term ‘saved’. But I wonder if we all understand what that means? How many possible definitions are there for this single, yet quite significant term in our faith language? And how might those differing definitions speak to our understanding of the true nature

Come and see… January 14, 2024 Scriptures: John 1:43-51          ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’, Nathanael asks. ‘Come and see’, replies Philip. The challenge has gone forth…‘We have seen the Lord!’  The doubting one asks, ‘Can it really be as you say?’ The challenge continues, ‘Come and see for yourself.’ We are all

The Spirit of our God January 7, 2024 Scriptures: Genesis 1:1-5, Mark 1:4-11, Acts 19:1-7 I intentionally changed up the usual order of the readings this morning in order to show the progression of the Holy Spirit through from the very beginning of Creation up to the birth of the church in the Book of

Who is looking for who? December 31, 2023 Scriptures: Galatians 4:4-7, Luke 2:22-40 This passage is filled with interesting images…with Mary and Joseph’s faithful adherence to the law and customs surrounding Jesus’ dedication and reception into the covenant community, with Simeon’s affirmation that Jesus indeed was the promised Messiah, along with his prophecy that Jesus

‘Scrap’ December 24, 2023 ‘Scrap’ as he had been known for quite some time now, started out with a much more noble self image. He could trace his original family lineage all the way back to the Cedars of Lebanon. Those same majestic trees from which King Solomon had drawn, when he first set about

Rejoice, pray, give thanks? Really? December 17, 2023 Scriptures: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24, John 1:6-8, 19-28         Our second reading, found at the end of Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, was meant to remind the early church in Thessalonica of their call to follow his example, and to hold fast as witnesses