Author: Renee

10 resolutions for 2018 offered by Rev. Jim Wallis of Sojourners Source URL: https://sojo.net/articles/10-resolutions-2018 1. To start each day with a “yes!” to my faith — and to my personal and public morality. Especially since I will be saying no to so much this next year, I want to start by saying yes to God’s love, … Continue reading Pastor’s Corner: January 2018

The All Hallows Triduum: All Hallows Eve, All Saints Day and All Souls Day, bring an end to the harvest season and the close of the ancient Celtic calendar year.  The blending an assimilating of pagan and Christian rituals, customs and beliefs paved the way for what we now call Halloween. I’m sharing this brief … Continue reading Pastor’s Corner: November 2017

I love the changing foliage; the dark late-summer green so subtly shifting to a yellowy-orange or orangey-red.  My favorite leaves are the multi-colored ones - not fully ‘become’ what they are transitioning to be and yet still holding-on, or letting-go, of what they once were.  When you get the chance, look closely at one of … Continue reading Pastor’s Corner: October 2017

From time to find I read things that are just worth sharing. Thank you Rick and Sue Thurston for introducing me to the writings of Peter Enns and for sharing this one piece in particular.  It’s an extension of a message of been sharing with all of you these last several months as we study … Continue reading Pastor’s Corner: August 2017

In the New Revised Standard translation of Scripture, the word “Water” is found in the scriptures 707 times. The translations I most frequently use in worship show: 617 times (New International Version), 700 times (Common English Bible), 636 (King James Version). Nowhere else in scripture is water more important than in Genesis (31x) and Exodus … Continue reading Pastor’s Corner: July 2017

Isn’t it interesting that with just a few simple facial expressions and some varying pitched grunts, squeaks, babbles and cries parents can, for the most part, figure out what their non-linguistic baby is trying to communicate? How more complex and difficult this discerning of communication becomes when we layer culture and languages, age and ethic … Continue reading Pastor’s Corner: June 2017

“Give it back!” “That’s mine!” “I don’t want to share!” “Why can’t they get their own?!?” Sharing is one of those relational skills that we work on from toddlerhood right into adulthood.  Sharing requires us to have compassion and empathy for another.  Sharing requires a beginning sense of permanence - like playing “Peek-a-Boo” with a … Continue reading Pastor’s Corner: May 2017

Mindfulness requires us to slow down and become completely aware of the moment we are living in.      When did you first notice the days were really longer? I don’t mean knowing the days are longer because we “Spring Ahead” our clocks or because the daily TV weather report displays the minutes of daylight gained.  I … Continue reading Pastor’s Corner: April 2017

Sometimes an outline or a chart can say more than flowery language or an extensive exposition on a topic. That’s what happened for me when I found a great outline/chart of The Sermon on the Mount as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew.  The flow of teachings from Blessings, to Right-Relatedness: with God and others, … Continue reading Pastor’s Corner: March 2017

SALT: Such a common element on the earth and on our kitchen tables and spice racks.  We hardly give salt a second thought - unless of course you’re trying to lose weight or have high blood pressure or other heart conditions. It was, and is, so common that Jesus used it to describe the life … Continue reading Pastor’s Corner: February 2017