Author: Renee

God has a dream, a vision for the world.A vision that has been revealed, pondered, studied and lived out.A vision that has both small and humongous pieces.A vision that is both inviting and repelling.A vision so beyond our individual imagining that it has taken millions of people millennia to simply begin it’s becoming. It has to … Continue reading Pastor’s Corner: November 2015

The Lectionary is a three-year cycle of assigned readings, which are taken from the Old Testament, the Psalms, the Gospels, and the Epistles. The idea is by following this cycle you will have covered the vast majority of the Bible at the end of the three years.  I am generally a Follow-the-Lectionary preacher. That means … Continue reading Pastor’s Corner: September 2015

For some reason, my Spring schedule seems very full.  The more I complete, the more I find needing to be started. So once again I am sharing one of Rev. Mike Piazza’s insightful writings from his daily devotional, “Liberating Word”.  I, too, will be preaching on the passage that tells the story of the Ethiopian … Continue reading Pastor’s Corner: May 2015

A poem of presence for this Eastertide, “I AM There” by James Dillet Freeman A copy of this poem was left on the moon by Astronaut James Irwin, Apollo XV Do you need Me? I am there. You cannot see Me, yet I am the light you see by. You cannot hear Me, yet I … Continue reading Pastor’s Corner: April 2015

Molly Baskette writes in, “The Church that Plays Together” that: As a young doctor, Stuart Brown was doing research into the character of murderers who otherwise had no criminal history.  He discovered something amazing, a common thread in 90% of their stories: as children, their play was severely restricted.  Brown, a workaholic, spent many more decades … Continue reading Pastor’s Corner: March 2015

January has come and gone and with it, for many of us, our New Year’s resolutions and promises as well.  We resolve to ‘get healthy’, to ‘think more positively’, to ‘do less’ and more. (yes, that less-more is intentional)  The unfortunate thing is, that one of the main reasons people don’t follow through with resolutions … Continue reading Pastor’s Corner: February 2015

This is the time of year that church members receive the phone call asking them to serve on a committee or be part of a board or work on a particular church project.  And because of that, I’ve been thinking and reading a lot about church structure and leadership. What are the so-called “best practices” … Continue reading Pastor’s Corner: January 2015

Some gifts are the best only after the time of giving has long-since past. My fifth grade year started off with significant weight gain and my first pair of glasses. I was a good student but not great – probably because I couldn’t see.  I was a good athlete but not stellar – probably because … Continue reading Pastor’s Corner: December 2014

All of our lives get busy, including mine.  I have struggled all week to write my own thoughts on the topic of over-consumption and its effects on charitable contributions.  Once again I must thank and acknowledge, Rev. Michael Piazza (Liberating Word: a ministry of The Center for Progressive Renewal) for saying it best.  This is … Continue reading Pastor’s Corner: November 2014

MISSION SHARES I know what you’re thinking. I can almost see your faces coming through my computer screen; eyes rolling, arm hairs standing on end, frustration and anger welling-up inside; blood pressure rising. Some of you have even thrown this newsletter to the floor and have run off with your hands over your ears screaming, … Continue reading Pastor’s Corner: October 2014