Take Away or Add To?
Pastor’s Article – March 2022 Tower Chimes Do you have an established way of observing Lent? Traditionally, Christians have given up something—typically, something they enjoy—as a way of immersing themselves in the sacrificial nature of the season. What are you giving up for Lent? is a question that might be asked at a Bible study or between friends. Common answers include various food items (sugar, meat, etc.), forms of entertainment (watching TV, social media, etc.), and alcohol and carbonated…
January 29 Town Hall
Our Town Hall gathering on January 29 was a great opportunity to hear about what our church has been doing since Pastor Drew’s arrival one and a half years ago. Below is a recording of the event.
Advent or Christmas?
Advent and Christmas are liturgical seasons. Advent comes first and lasts about four weeks (there are always 4 Sundays of Advent). Only after Advent is complete does Christmas take place. December 25 marks the beginning of Christmas and goes through January 5. How very different this is in today’s popular cultural. First of all, within popular culture, there is no Advent to speak of. Some have probably heard of “Advent calendars” in which every day a window of sorts…
Your “Money Story”
Each one of us has a money story. I do, and recently I’ve spent some time thinking about and “writing” my personal money story. My particular story, like each of yours, has all the important parts of a good story: a setting a cast of characters a plot conflict a certain tone and an overall theme As I said, each of us has a personal money story. Our stories are unique to us, although there may be elements of…
Pastor’s Report (charge conference)
Pastor Drew’s 2021 Charge Conference Report July 1, 2021, marked the completion of my first year here and the beginning of my second year. The past year posed a number of unique challenges, but it also gave us an opportunity to begin to forge a new path forward. Transitioning to a new appointment for me and to a new pastor for the congregation in the middle of the global COVID-19 pandemic was an exceptional challenge for all of us.…
Reflections On My First Year
July 1 marked the beginning of my second year at Port Huron First UMC. It truly is hard to believe that Caroline and I have been here for a year. In many ways, it seems like just yesterday that we moved. Nevertheless, here we are now, our first year together behind us. From this vantage point I’d like to reflect a bit on my first year. Acknowledging the obvious, undertaking a new appointment in the middle of a global…
One Reason Why I’m a Christian
At the conclusion of my June 13 sermon, I encouraged you to be consciously aware of the reasons behind your Christian faith and practice. To that end, I suggested writing out your own answers to questions such as Why am I a Christian? What difference does Jesus make in my life? Why do I ‘go to church’ (worship)? In light of 1 Peter 3:15 – “If someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain…
You’re Right Where You’re Supposed to Be
I recently sat and talked with a person from our community of faith who’s experiencing a tremendous amount of grief. Because our culture puts a high premium on quick remedies as well as getting on with it, many who are in a place of grief struggle with the sense that they’re supposed to be “working through” their grief. While it’s helpful to bear in mind that there are various ‘stages’ of grief, sometimes knowing that can be a hindrance…
Dying? Says Who?
Maybe you’ve seen the recent headline about the precarious state of the church of today. Three such news captions are “America is Becoming Less Religious” (Washington Post), “Fewer Than Half of Americans Belong to a Church” (Christianity Today), and “In U.S., Decline of Christianity Continues at Rapid Pace” (Pew Research Center). What hit the newsstand is the latest report from the polling giant, Gallup. According to Gallup, for the first time since the late 1930s, fewer than half of Americans…
I Appreciate Your Feedback
I feel like I would be avoiding the proverbial elephant in the room if I didn’t use this opportunity to briefly respond to the feedback I received in regard to my March Tower Chimes article (“Post-Impeachment Reflection”). One thing is for sure, in my 28 years of writing newsletter articles, nothing ever aroused a response – both positive and negative – like that one. If ever I wondered whether or not people read what I write, there’s no wondering anymore!…