When I was 7 years old and living in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, my family belonged to a neighborhood pool complex. Early on summer mornings, when the dew was still clinging to the grass and the temperature of the air was still reasonable, I rode my bike down to the pool for my swimming lesson. One morning in particular, the sky was overcast…

Last Sunday evening I went to our junior and senior high youth group. The first 10 years I was a pastor, I had the privilege of leading various youth groups. I have missed hanging out with the youth in the past 10 years! Youth always have different ways of seeing and thinking about the world and God. We tackled a big question…

The bummer about being a preacher is that I have to pay attention to what I am preaching and sometimes it’s stuff I would rather not think about at all. Take economic justice for example. It’s one thing to preach about making invisible people visible and it’s another thing to think about what I personally would have to do to make that…

Last Sunday in church I lugged a suitcase in to Celebration filled with heavy theological books. While I was talking with the children, I had them feel how heavy it was and then I opened it and pulled out the books that I had titled with things like “anger,” “guilt,” “hurt feelings,” and “the unwillingness to forgive.”

What a joy it has been this past week to listen to the sounds of the season and be touched by the children who presented to us a slightly different version of the 3 wise people and the shepherd! The Soup Supper and Christmas Carol sing last Wednesday was a great time to sit down and enjoy a relaxed meal together (thanks to Jim Allardice, Hope Boije and Bill Neely who prepared the food!), and then sing our hearts out together with a wonderful mix of popular songs and Christmas hymns, which Kim so ably played on the piano and organ.

Believe it or not, after having such a fabulous time in Celebration with the children’s presentation of the Christmas story, I went home feeling very annoyed. Why?

Last Sunday in church we talked about being peacemakers. I was doing pretty well until Monday evening when I squabbled with someone in my family. It struck me again as I was stomping away that being truly committed to creating peace does not mean having no conflict with someone, but it does mean being respectful toward that person in the midst of the disagreement. Why is it that when it comes to family being respectful can be so difficult?

In my almost 20 years of being ordained I have never had to call for backup on a Sunday morning! When I knew Saturday mid-day that I would not be able to make it to preach on Sunday morning, I thought about all of our amazing ordained people in the congregation. We are so gifted! Thank you to Vince Mok who responded so willingly to the call for help. What a comfort it was to me to know I was leaving you all in good hands while I missed you!

What a joy it has been and continues to be to walk with you. This past week I have had the privilege of meeting with several of you one on one and with some of you for meals. I never take for granted the invitation to enter your lives in a different and more personal way. The sermon I preached about welcoming others into your homes resulted in enough invitations that I figure if I preach the same sermon once a month, I’ll have it made!

The Presbytery meeting is over and our contract together stands! It was wonderful to be surrounded by a number of Montclair folks as the item was pulled from the Consent Agenda and someone stood up to ask how COM could have approved the contract when it is known that I am in a same sex relationship and I was part of one of the couples married by Rev. Janie Spahr. Rev. Karl Shadley did a beautiful job of stating that because I am a minister in good standing in this Presbytery the COM didn’t have to debate that point. When the vote was taken there were a number of no votes voiced but the motion carried to approve it.

Each one of you is precious and as we begin our journey together during this Interim period, we are invited to see that which is precious in each other…