Posts by Pastor


“The Joy of Home”


Posted By on Dec 15, 2024

December 15, 2024 ~ Third Sunday of Advent Worship Series: Come Home for Christmas Rev. Beckie Sweet   The Third Sunday of Advent is traditionally known as Gaudete Sunday.  “Gaudete,” when translated from Latin, means “rejoice.”  And the origin of this name for the third Sunday of Advent comes from the letter to the Philippians which states, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.” Advent is actually a penitential...

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“The Fear of Home”


Posted By on Dec 8, 2024

December 8, 2024 ~ Second Sunday of Advent Worship Series: “Come Home for Christmas” Rev. Beckie Sweet   Every time I hear this Scripture text from Luke’s third chapter, I am transported to one of the many productions of Godspell which I have enjoyed.  With credit to Stephen Schwartz, my favorite part is when a soloist begins:  “Pre-pare ye the way of the Lord.  Pre-pare ye the way of the Lord.”  And as this is...

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“Time to Go Home”


Posted By on Dec 1, 2024

December 1, 2024 ~ First Sunday of Advent “Come Home for Christmas” Rev. Beckie Sweet   Happy New Year! That’s right.  Today marks the beginning of the new church year.  For liturgy geeks, this is Year C in the Revised Common Lectionary cycle, which means we will be hearing a lot from Luke’s gospel over the next few months. But the gospel passage assigned for the first Sunday in Advent, this first Sunday of the new...

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“Overflowing Blessings”


Posted By on Nov 25, 2024

November 24, 2024 ~ Thanksgiving Sunday Stewardship Worship Series: Releasing God’s Blessings Rev. Beckie Sweet   Laura Numeroff is a prolific author of children’s literature.  In one series, in which she partners with illustrator Felicia Bond, Numeroff playfully explores the unintended consequences of giving.  Her titles, with which you may be familiar, include, “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie,” “If You Give a Pig a...

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“Blessed to Bless Others”


Posted By on Nov 17, 2024

November 17, 2024 ~ 26th Sunday after Pentecost Stewardship Series: Releasing God’s Blessings Rev. Beckie Sweet   Several years ago, around Thanksgiving, radio commentator, Paul Harvey, shared a story about a woman and her frozen Thanksgiving turkey.  Now, quite a few years ago, the Butterball Turkey Company set up a telephone hotline to answer consumer questions about preparing holiday turkeys.  But one woman called to...

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