Staff Trax

Dear Ministry Partners,

There are moments when the pace of change and the disruption of what is familiar can be deeply upsetting. So much so, that the resulting discomfort and the loss of what once was may give rise to feelings of anger, grief, and bitter disappointment. Change and disruption may also fuel unfulfilled longings for an idealized return “to the way things used to be.”

This week’s Gospel is the first section of the first chapter of the book of John. It is a fitting way to start the new year, because it will be 2022 by the time we read it in church this Sunday.

“John 1:1-18 is a poetic introduction of Jesus Christ. Jesus is referred to using the Greek word Logos, meaning ‘The Word.’ This passage clearly describes Jesus as identical to…

Did you know there are actually twelve days of Christmas? The count begins on Christmas day and ends on Epiphany, Jan. 6. I have always loved learning about the back story of songs and hymns, and thought I’d share the interesting story behind The 12 Days of Christmas.

The song begins, “On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me...” “True love”…

As some of you know, my daughter Katie and her family have been on the prayer list of our church due to her recent diagnosis of lymphoma. It is Stage 3, meaning above and below the abdomen. The good news (if there can be any) is that lymphoma is a much more curable form of cancer. She has her two sisters here, a lot of friends’ support, and me. Mostly grandma support for an 8-year-old boy and…

Here we are once again in December. Many people throughout the world are frantically shopping for gifts, decorating their homes, and planning holiday celebrations with loved ones. For Christians, Advent is a time to slow down. We wait in…

’Tis the season it is. This year, I felt, went faster than last year. I definitely had more things that needed to be done outside the house, as well as more visits to my mom’s house and a high school senior that had senior stuff going on even after school was out to prepare for her senior year.

The things that I noticed that changed this year, just from these last few months, were the…

This week in middle school Sunday school, we studied the story of Ruth. We were challenged by the curriculum when the authors had us dive deeper into the word hesed.

Many biblical words such as mercy, compassion, love, grace, and faithfulness relate to the Hebrew word hesed (חֶסֶד), but none of these completely summarize the concept. Hesed is not…

Dear Partners in Ministry,

Soon we will be entering the season of Advent and another busy time of holiday preparations, Christmas programs, family traditions, travel, and never-ending to-do lists. Amid the chaos of our busy lives Advent invites us to make time for Sabbath renewal. But given all that has happened during the past year, many may struggle to experience the “hope, love, joy,…

When I was in college, I was given lots of opportunities as a young musician. I directed and accompanied church choirs; taught piano lessons and keyboard classes; and played and sang for weddings and funerals. It was a great way to figure out what I wanted to do with my life and start to really see how I could bring joy and comfort to others through music.

I did try to avoid difficult situations,…