Dear Saints of God, We are entering the Season of Lent, a time when we walk with Jesus toward the cross. Lent is a season of introspection and making space in our lives to sit with God. Some Christians choose the spiritual practice of fasting, willingly sharing in solidarity with Jesus' suffering. Others may avoid eating meat on Fridays or give up unhealthy habits in favor of healthier ones. Some may engage in charitable activities or set aside time each day to pray or read something inspirational. Some may take this time to do what twelve-step programs call a "Fearless Moral Inventory." Whatever spiritual practice we choose, the importance of interrupting our daily routines and making room to discover who we are at a deeper level cannot be underestimated. These practices help us to see not who we imagine ourselves to be, but who we truly are and who God sees us to be. We use this time to measure our thoughts, words, and deeds against those of the One who had no sin. We find the courage to acknowledge when we, like all of humanity, fall short of God’s desire for our lives. We recognize when we have not loved God “with all our heart, mind, and strength,” when we have failed to “love our neighbors as ourselves,” and when we have not loved ourselves and each other “as God loves us.” We use this time to plead with God as the Psalmist pled, “Create in me a clean heart, O God.” (Psalm 51:10) It all starts on Ash Wednesday, a day when many Christian traditions, including ours, distribute ashes to those who wish to receive them. It is an especially profound spiritual practice because when we receive ashes, we confront our own mortality; we acknowledge that we too will return to the dust from whence we came. When we receive the ashes, we are invited to “Turn away from sin and believe in the Gospel,” believing that death does not have the final word and that God breathes new life into the ashes of our lives, as the hymn says, “If you but trust in God to guide you.” It is in this trust that we find new hope, believing that through Christ, God makes all things new. May your Lenten journey be poignant and filled with courage as we walk with Jesus and witness for ourselves God’s unsearchable love.  Pastor Russ

Dear Saints of God, There are times in our lives when we find ourselves in situations, made not of our own choosing, but nevertheless calling for our engagement. As members of the Body of Christ, we set Jesus Christ as the Head of the Church and we align ourselves with Christ's mission to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor. (Luke 4:18) As the topic of Mercy is now politically charged, it is important that we engage the discourse adding our voices to the chorus of Christians who understand Jesus' message of mercy. As such, the sign in front of our church now reads: “Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy.” Matthew 5:7 Some in our church may have concerns, some in our community may take offense, many may feel that the message names what is in their heart and are glad to take a clear and public stand. I appreciate the concerns, and I appreciate the desire to be an active participant in the public discourse, adding a voice of compassion. For those who have concerns, I offer this reflection: Mercy, in and of itself, is intrinsically good and is a core Christian virtue The message on the sign is a direct quote from the Gospel of Matthew Our Biblical narratives are filled with prophets speaking truth to power - think of Moses and Pharoah, Samuel and King David, Jeremiah and Judah, not to mention Jesus Jesus was counter-cultural and political Jesus challenges us when he is quoted saying “Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:26) We have nothing to be ashamed of when we stand behind and strive to spread Jesus’ words. My hope is that we offer our compassion and mercy even if we do not receive it in kind as we stand courageously together, united in Christ, and living into our own mission statement, “...to strive for righteousness, justice, and peace.” May God's blessings flow abundantly this February. May God guard and guide us as we journey through this moment in time together. Yours in Christ,  Pastor Russ

Dear Saints of God: The Season of Epiphany extends from January 6th to March 2nd. It is a time when we explore Jesus’ early ministry. We read the familiar stories about Jesus’ baptism, his first miracle at the Wedding in Canna, the start of his ministry when he went back home to Nazareth to proclaim the Good News and was nearly thrown off a cliff, the calling of the first disciples, the Beatitudes, Jesus’ command to love even our enemies, and Jesus’ admonition to avoid judging others lest we be judged. Throughout the Season of Epiphany, we will relate these themes to our revitalization efforts. Along those lines, this will be an exciting season of new beginnings. We will be re-introducing Bible Study on Wednesdays from 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Our readings in Bible study will be the readings for the following Sunday. Each meeting will be made available via Zoom, recorded for future viewing, and a written summary will be available. Part of our Bible Study will also include YouTube videos from the “Bible Project”, a wonderful resource that provides context to the historical and literary themes to the readings. We are also introducing a program called “The Theology of Marvels Cinematic Universe” starting in February. It will be a multi-dimensional program that combines movie nights, discussion boards, and group discussions. The program is still under development, so stay tuned. We are introducing a new section called “Deepen Your Faith” into our weekly bulletins. We invite you to take the section home with you to ponder the “Questions for Reflection” throughout the week. There you will also find prayers for the start and end of your day that we invite you to include in your spiritual practice. We are very excited about the simplicity and power of “Realm”, our new church ministry app. A small group has been testing it out and see it has great potential to help us communicate, manage our various committee activities and offerings, and expand our outreach. Over the next few months, we will expand its use. We will do this incrementally in phases. We start with a pilot program where selected members of each committee will receive basic training, test the features, provide feedback, and work together to develop the ways to use it to meet our needs. We will then take baby steps, releasing it to a limited number of new users until we have worked out the bugs and have developed enough expertise to help those who may need help in our final general release. Our goal is to have everyone feeling comfortable, confident, and enjoying its many benefits at some point in time. We understand that with change comes challenges, but with God (and a well-planned phased approach) all things are possible. Again, stay tuned. And so, I encourage you, come to worship and join us as we enter our new ministry led by Jesus as he enters his, join in our new spiritual offerings to deepen your understanding and faith, and get ready to enter the 21st century as we adopt new technology to bring the Good News to God’s beloved. Yours in Christ,  Pastor Russ

Dear Saints of God, The Meaning of Advent: A Season of Hope and Expectation As we enter the season of Advent, we are invited into a time of waiting—waiting for the coming of Christ, the fulfillment of God’s promises, and the dawning of light in the midst of darkness. Advent, which begins the Christian liturgical year, is more than just a countdown to Christmas. It’s a spiritual journey, a season that calls us to pause, reflect, and prepare our hearts for the arrival of God’s grace in the world. Serene Jones, a theologian and scholar, captures the essence of Advent beautifully when she says, "Advent is the season of radical hope, of defiant joy in the face of despair, of long, aching expectation, and of the deep conviction that God will show up to do something new and transformative in our world." These words remind us that Advent is not just a time for passive waiting, but an active anticipation of God’s work in our lives and in the world. The Advent season is marked by a tension between the present reality and the hope for what is to come. As we light the candles of the Advent wreath, we are reminded of the growing light in the darkness—each week symbolizing hope, peace, joy, and love. It is through this liturgical act that we express our longing for Christ to enter our lives in a more profound way, to bring healing and transformation, and to fulfill the promises that began with the prophets and find their ultimate expression in Jesus’ birth. For many, the world feels heavy with injustice, suffering, and uncertainty. Advent invites us to hold space for that pain while also affirming the radical hope that, despite all that seems wrong, God is at work to bring about justice, peace, and love. Advent is not about denying the darkness, but about insisting that God’s light can break through, even in the darkest of times. It calls us to live with an expectant faith, one that looks forward to Christ’s coming, not just in the past event of Bethlehem, but in the present and future realities of our lives. This Advent, let us reflect on what it means to wait with hope, to anticipate the transformation God is bringing, and to open our hearts to the possibility that God is, even now, showing up to do something new and transformative in our world. May blessings abound this Advent season.  Yours in Christ, Pastor Russ