I visited Lazy F for the first time ever last weekend. I know that must seem crazy to some of you, but I had never been before. I got to see the cross way up on the hill, marvel at the new dining hall, meet Sam and Mazy, the dogs, and give thanks for the beauty of…

As we continue to explore what it means to be a community of belonging, we have to realize that we won't always agree on everything.  In fact, our church's history is a history of disagreements, dissolutions, and divisions. There are even disagreements about how to read that history.  We'll meet some characters from our Wesleyan history and…

This Sunday we turn to those who have gone before us into that great cloud of witnesses.  We spend time looking back on those lives who have influenced ours.   We look at today and on ahead as we think and pray about those with whom we too will have an influence.  We've learned from those who have…

For me it began with elementary school kickball.  You know how it works, the captain is chosen and then he (or she) begins to choose their team; one and then the other.  It always begins with the most gifted athletes and then each works their way "down" to the smaller, or more uncoordinated or weaker players.  "Okay,…

We all have times in our lives when we don't feel connected. We have times when something we have done has broken ties with those we've loved. We have experiences of being outcast from community. This week, we'll meet an outcast from Biblical times and we'll think about times when we've felt like an outcast or when…

This Sunday, in response to the jigsaw puzzle of last week, I would like to take some time to examine the jigsaw pieces that are our lives. Instead of focusing on the world outside of us, I would like to instead, focus briefly on the world inside of us. A few years back I did a study…

This is not just a communion Sunday, it is World Communion Sunday, a Sunday set apart to remember that we are not alone. We gather with millions across the globe to remember Jesus and his last meal with his disciples. We gather to remember the words, the actions, the teachings, the values, and the sacrifice which he…

As October 1 approaches, I am looking at how things will change when my schedule has fewer hours attached to my work at Aldersgate because I'm moving from working half-time at the church to working quarter-time. As I've said before, I will still be the Associate Pastor and you are still welcome to contact me for whatever…

We return this coming week to a structure for worship that will be more recognizable. The conversations last Sunday for our Table Talks worship were inspired and true. Thank you for listening to each other, for sharing deeply about your experience and your love of God, church, family, and strangers. It won't be the last time we…

This Sunday in worship, the message will be delivered in a style that looks unusual to us. It will be a time to hear God speaking in the truth of the stories we tell each other about our own families and our own experiences. The message will be followed immediately by the opportunity to gather around the…