Why Church?

Our Youth Collective lesson on Sunday afternoon was answering the question, “Why Church?”  We read through three passages of Scripture and sorted through what these passages had to teach us about life in the church.  For your reference we discussed, ACTS 2:42-47, HEBREWS 10:19-25, and 1 CORINTHIANS 12.

Can you have faith without church? Of course. A large part of our spiritual journeys is individual and personal. We need a relationship with the Triune God that is centered around our own study, our own beliefs, our own prayers.  But our journey is also communal and relational.  Isn’t a long hike better with a friend? Sure, you may love the solitude of the forest, but how might your observations be strengthened by another set of eyes to identify trees and wildlife? How much safer might your hike be with a pair of hands to help you climb over tough spots along the trail?

Pastor Loren’s Top 10 Reasons for Church

10) God did not create just one person; God created people in a relationship.

9) God did not choose just one person for salvation; God chose all people.

8) The body of Christ is meant to have many different parts creating the whole.

7) Different voices help us discern and interpret God’s word in our lives.

6) We are given different gifts, and we need all of them to strengthen our faith.

5) Jesus modeled having a group of companions in life.

4) Fellowship and Feasting together are part of the life of faith.

3) The sacraments are meant to be done in community (Communion and Baptism).

2) We need relationships with people who will be present in our times of need.

1) We can thrive when we share things in common and live to serve others.

You can have faith without the church.  But can you have the church without faith? No, without faith it’s just another social club.  Our sense of belonging in the Christian life is centered on shared belief in the Creator God, the Messiah Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. 

John 15:4-5 reads, “Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.” We are all intertwined and connected at the root to the vine of Christ. 

And let us not forget, the church is not a building, the church is people. 

So, when someone asks, “why church?” Don’t just say, “why not?” But tell them a story about what church has meant to you.  Maybe you had a Sunday school teacher who answered all your questions about the Bible.  Maybe the choir became your family.  Maybe you felt the Holy Spirit stir in you during communion.  Maybe church members held you in your deepest grief.  Maybe a minister sat with you in your seasons of doubt.  Maybe you found new friends while pulling weeds in the church yard.  Maybe someone said a prayer for you when you didn’t have the words.  Maybe church friends brought you food when you had surgery.  Maybe the church paid your light bill or built a ramp for your house. All of these and a million more reasons are why we need church.  And perhaps we don’t witness to one another about these deep down, meaningful experiences of God at work in our lives.  Let’s work to change that. 

“24 And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”-Hebrews 10: 24-25

EASTER

Each day stretches longer

As the sun paints the sky.

Scarlet-orange burns

To starlight as we circle the sparkling moon.

Eager to fly high, eager to

Rise.

LTM 4/12/26

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands."

                                                                                                                                                       -Psalm 19:1

Greetings, Lord

If Jesus came in and sat down in our sanctuary, would we recognize him? We’d greet him for sure, new faces can’t really hide in our congregation! But would we identify him as Jesus? If we didn’t know he had a baby donkey tied to the sycamore tree, would we have a spark of recognition? When we brought this question up in Sunday School yesterday, (we meet in the pastor’s study at 10am, you’re welcome to join us) Sandy said he felt like we would definitely know it was Jesus because he’s a divine presence.  Sandy said, “I think the hairs on the back of my neck would stand up.” I like that idea. Maybe he’d have that transfigured aura about him, maybe he’d be glowing.  Maybe if you shook his hand, you’d get a little zing like when you get shocked by static electricity in the wintertime.  Kathy made the valid point that if that were the case, why didn’t everyone who encountered Jesus when he walked among us believe he was as he said?  Certainly, some people did, but many denied his message. I believe my response was something to the effect of, “we have the advantage of knowing his whole story—we know how it ends; thus, we’d be more likely to realize if it were Jesus who stood before us.” And then Marsha brought it home for us in noting, “if we have God and Jesus inside each of us, we’ve already met him. We should recognize him in each other.”  AHH! Ding, ding, ding! 10 points for Gryffindor (Harry Potter reference, what?)!

So, there isn’t a donkey tied up out front because Jesus drives a Subaru. He isn’t wearing robes; he’s got on a fun tie. He may not need his beard trimmed; he might not have much hair at all! He loves the land; he’s a Master Gardener.  He’s got a vineyard. He raises cattle. He reads books and substitutes in classrooms at the elementary school. He’ll hunt and fish with you. He’s in the bowling league. He’s a Ruritan. He’ll tell a good joke and belly laugh at your stories. He’s lived here his whole life. He’s a transplant from “up north.” He washes and dries the dishes. He sweeps the walks. He serves the punch.  He definitely enjoys chatting with people at meals, so I suspect he went through the snack line after worship—I think he has a weakness for giant-sized Goldfish and chicken-salad cups.  He didn’t have to say much, no need to preach but he likes to sing, do you think he’d be a tenor? Alto? Soprano?? I’m certain he also wears bows in his hair and cute gold dress shoes. By the same turn, he’s also a big brother, a quiet middle-schooler and the mischievous youngest child.  He’s a twin, too.  He’s also the voice of any child whispering or fussing in church, desperate to be free to run. Catch your reflection in the mirror—there he is!

So maybe the idea of waving our palms (our hands) at each other and saying, “Hosanna!” in greeting isn’t so far off the mark.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.  And blessed are you who welcomes him.

Do You Want a Revolution (whoop Whoop)?

Sunday afternoon The Youth Collective gathered at Mt. Carmel Presbyterian Church. Two of the girls have been to Massanetta Middle School Conference and are planning to go to Montreat Youth Conference this summer.  For part of our activities this time, the girls taught us two energizers.  If you don’t know, an energizer is a type of dance or movements set to music that is intended to get youth “pumped up” and energized for the conference—particularly in the mornings! The first one the girls taught us is called Revolution, which is performed with Kirk Franklin’s song of the same name.  I told the girls, as Aslan would say, “do not cite the deep magic to me, witch, I was there when it was written!”  That might not be quite the truth, but close.  I’ve been doing the energizer for Revolution for 28 years! In fact, I think it might be the first energizer I ever learned.  It still brings me great joy to “build my cross” with my arms while Franklin’s deep voice calls out:

“The Book of Revelations
Chapter 7: Verses 16 and 17 (yes sir)
They shall hunger no more
Neither shall they thirst anymore (preach, preacher)”

The truth is that when I started putting feelers out for The Youth Collective, this was the type of interaction I hoped for.  I dream of creating a tradition of taking a group of kids to Massanetta and Montreat Conferences as they get older. Youth Group made such an impression on my life, those experiences were vital to my faith formation.   Seeing other kids get a taste of that and enjoy it gives me hope that there are still opportunities for our teens to engage in faith formation that is not only formative, but fun.  I realize now  (what I took for granted all those years ago) how fortunate I was to have adults in my church and presbytery that made space for those types of occasions. And I had peers around whom I could be myself, what a gift!

I am not without youth ministry experience, but my previous groups were already built when I entered them, so I wasn’t building from scratch—and I was in my 20s so it seemed a little easier to be cool, or have rizz, or whatever the kids say these days! I’ll be honest, it has been a tough row to hoe getting this program started…it is hard to get busy families to commit to coming out even once a month, especially when sports are in season. It is also tough to help teens mesh and form bonds without significant time together—and two hours once a month, especially when attendance is spotty, does not make that task any easier.  And in case you haven’t noticed, having a preacher’s kid does not automatically create buy-in! It has been tough for my son to be one of the youngest among the group and at an age where everything feels awkward, being the only kid in sixth grade a lot of times makes it extra hard.  But this week, one of the high school boys asked where he was and when I explained the discomfort my son has been having, he said, “tell him we don’t care about any of that, we want him to come.”  And my heart melted just a little bit, because that young man-- just sixteen years old-- who drove himself to youth group, didn’t have to ask about my son and he didn’t have to say something so encouraging.  And I was able to bring that message back home and see the look of surprise and admiration on my kid’s face.   

This could be the revolution, right? We fear for the future of our churches, we fear for the future of our country, our world, our children! But we have the opportunity to do something right, we have the opportunity to come together and show our children, our teenagers, and yes—our adults—what it means to work together and be a truly supportive community.  And if I may (stands on soap box and taps mic, “is this thing on”?) we can’t expect our kids to want to go to each other’s churches to learn and play together if we won’t do that ourselves! So, when you hear us invite you to a special service where churches are working together, if we get an opportunity to worship with another congregation, or do Bible Studies together or VBS, or a trip, truly anything, I hope you will consider how important your presence is with us.  It is important for your faith formation, yes, but it is also important for the formation of our community.  The body of Christ is stronger when we are all together!!

On April 24th a Praise and Worship Night is being planned at Bethesda. This event will raise money for the youth to go on a trip to Sight and Sound Theatre in PA this summer and possibly contribute to a few of the girls going to Montreat as well. As plans are finalized, I will share them with you, and really, really hope you will come and show your support for this little garden we are planting. We’ll even teach you how to do an energizer or two. Please keep praying for this ministry. One day, with your support, we might just have a bumper crop. 

“Do you want a revolution?
Whoop, whoop”

A Note about the featured picture : This photo was taken by Mike Erdelyi at Montreat Youth Conference in 2010. All those orange t-shirts—those are ‘my kids’ from Three Chopt Presbyterian in Richmond, participating in energizers.

Izzy

On Friday I got to meet the newest addition to the Tate clan, Izzy.  Izzy is a basset hound puppy with long floppy ears, sharp teeth, and brown eyes with which she has already mastered the most pitiful expressions.  I wish all animals stayed little, but especially puppies.  Izzy has already doubled in size in the month my parents have had her. I was excited to play with her since most of the pictures I receive are of her snoozing on dad’s lap.  For her part, Izzy was excited to be outside, being placed on a long tether because she isn’t big enough for the electric fence collar yet.  While we got to know each other, Izzy decided to try and gnaw on my kneecaps.  She got a mouthful of puppy ears instead. Every time she tried to chew on me playfully, I stuck her ears in her mouth. I had to laugh because she would chew on them for a minute or two! Does Izzy understand that her sharp little teeth were painfully piercing my skin? Doubtful.  Does Izzy understand her mouth daggers hurt her own ears? I say yes. 

This makes me reflect on our human nature to deflect troubling or painful things unless they directly impact us. We tend to be dismissive because we couldn’t possibly have the bandwidth to address the overwhelming issues facing our society at every level.  Just like Izzy, I may not consider the consequences of my own actions and experiences until I feel the pain personally.  But in truth, we are all intrinsically connected. What hurts our brothers and sisters should stir us to compassion—it should break our hearts to see the suffering of others (which is why we so often turn a blind eye). 

For example, I watched the price of gas jump $.40 in just a few days.  While that knowledge was unpleasant for me, I filled up my tank anyway, because a few extra dollars won’t break my wallet…and I have places to be! What is harder to consider is the fact that the next family that pulls into the gas station may have to consider if they should pay for the gas, they need to get them to their job or hold off because they need to pay their (astronomical) electric bill.  Or consider your neighbors who depend on Helping Hands once a week to put fresh food in their pantries.  How many grandparents are helping raise their grandbabies and feeding them ultra-processed foods because that is all they can afford?  And oh--by the way--they’re eating it too, even though it’s bad for their already high blood-pressure or diabetes, and they can’t afford insulin without insurance.  I complained about my child having missed so many days of school due to illness that he had to stay after school to make up time…it is but an inconvenience for me. But for some children, whose guardians struggle to get them out of the house every day for a variety of reasons—that program is what keeps them from truancy charges and helps them pass their grade levels!

A quick google search reveals the following information:

Key details regarding homelessness in Rockbridge County include:

Approximately 640 people are homeless or a great risk of homelessness in the county.

• Definition of Risk: The 640+ figure includes individuals at risk due to low income and high housing costs, with available housing units remaining stagnant between 2016 and 2021.

• Regional Context: While local data is hard to track, the broader Shenandoah Valley saw a 16% increase in homelessness in the 2024 Point-in-Time (PIT) count.

• Local Poverty Rates: Poverty contributes to housing instability, with rates in 2023 estimated at 13% for Rockbridge County, 24.1% for Lexington, and 17.2% for Buena Vista.

• Services: Mountainview Terrace Apartments is the only Section 8 housing complex in Lexington.

And just out of curiosity I checked the truancy demographics and from 2023-2024:

·       Rockbridge County High School (RCHS): 31% of students were chronically absent, defined as missing 10% or more of school days.

·       Maury River Middle School: Roughly 15% of students were considered chronically absent (approx. 45 out of 475 students).

·       Elementary Schools: Rates varied, with Central Elementary at 18%, Mountain View and Natural Bridge under 15%, and Fairfield Elementary at 7%.

It’s easy to connect the dots when you see it printed plainly, isn’t it?  Such statistics create a domino effect in our communities.  If you live in Raphine, and you can’t afford to put gas in your car, then how are you supposed to get a job that pays a decent wage? There are only so many places to work that are walkable, right?  If you don’t have a decent wage or job that covers your insurance, how are you supposed to take care of yourself or your family when people are ill?  And if our children are struggling to get to school, or stay in school, or pay attention when their tummies are empty…how can we expect them to learn a trade or go to college? How ever will they get there?  Thus the cycle continues. 

I guess what I am saying is that it is really easy for me, with my private college degree, my multiple master’s degrees, my beautiful free for me house, and my SUV to venture into Lexington or Staunton and enjoy the quaint atmosphere of boutique shops and delicious restaurants, and not see the trouble that lies beyond them.  Paul writes in Galatians that we are to “bear one another’s burdens.” He goes on to say, “7 Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow. 8 If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh, but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 9 So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up. 10 So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all and especially for those of the family of faith.” 

This is why our contributions to Kingsway and the Helping Hands food bank are critical.  This is why our providing meals at Valley Mission are essential.  This is why the Dolly Parton library exists to raise the literacy rate in young children! This is why Mission Next Door was founded.  This is why Head Start exists.  This is why RARA exists.  This is why Rockbridge Area Transportation exists. This is why our children K-12 get free breakfast and lunches! THERE IS GREAT NEED and we are called upon to recognize it and provide for it. 

If we refuse to do better once we know better, if we continue to ignore those who we are meant to walk and live beside, we fall short of the great commandment…and… until we recognize the ties that bind, seeing God in every face we encounter…I fear we are failing.  

Where is God calling you to look and listen?  In what ways is God challenging you to know better and do better? How is God teaching you something by making you bite your own ears?

March Arch

May your March

Arc like a

Rainbow, bright and

Comforting with promises of

Hopeful of seasons to come.

LTM 3/2/26

12 God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh, and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17 God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”-Genesis 9:12-17

The Trolley Car

One winter morning when my son was just a toddler, I could hear him in the living room, talking quietly to his toys, "Where did you go, oh there you are." "No, no, you go here."  I heard the clacking of plastic toys banging together, and the soft, "ding-ding" of his Daniel Tiger Trolley Car.  When I went into the living room to see what he was up to, I found every character from Daniel Tiger, several Little People, Tow-Mater, and Lightening McQueen all crammed into Trolley.  I had a flashback from my study abroad days of riding "the tube" in London during rush hour. 

The first thought I had was, wow, if Pixar and PBS characters from different universes can dwell together, why can't we?  As an adult, when I play with him, I find myself wanting to keep all of the characters and parts separated.  I want the Little People  zookeeper figures with the zoo animals, and the Daniel Tiger toys with the trolley, and all of the Cars characters lined in a row.  They don't go together.  When is it that we lose that sense of imagination?  When do we begin to separate people into categories and labels?  Such divisiveness must be learned...because in a small child it does not exist.  What is it that Christ called us to do, have the faith of a child? 

How do we move ourselves beyond fear, hatred, ignorance--to a place of understanding and harmony? There is such separation around politics, religion, the color of a person's skin.  There is such pain and misery in our world that goes overlooked--how can we not see our brothers and sisters?  How do we regain our childlike faithfulness in Jesus' command to love our neighbor as ourselves?  I believe we have to intentionally place ourselves and our interests in places that matter. We must invest our time into engaging people who are different than ourselves. Simply out of respect. Simply for understanding.  Simply out of love.

God's kingdom is surely more like Kemper's trolley car than the world in which we live. Perhaps in this season, this is the gift I will pray for...more trolleys.   

WHy Ash Wednesday?

From dust you come and to dust you shall return. 

At its most basic level, Ash Wednesday is meant to remind us of who and whose we are.  Genesis 2:7 says that “the Lord formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into the man the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” After the fall God said to Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:19), “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

Ash Wednesday aims to humble us and recognize our vulnerability—we are mere mortals! My mama used to say, “I brought you into this world and I can take you out.”  I like to think this is the Creator’s reminder to us on Ash Wednesday! We are a part of a story that began long before us, and it will end long after we are gone.  We are all humans.  No one is more or less than any other.  Furthermore, at our core, we are made of the same stuff, blood and bone, just like our neighbors next to us.  Brought to life by the same breath…and yes, despite our failings, loved into being by the same God, given grace through sacrifice of the same Christ. And to the same dust we shall one day return. 

Kathy Escobar writes, “Days like Ash Wednesday can help equalize and ground us in a deeper truth.”  In her book, Turning over Tables, Escobar highlights that our culture and religion often reinforce conflicting messages about people’s inherent value by what she calls, “deep grooves of racism, sexism, ageism, and ableism that are intertwined in culture and religion. The result is often division and dissonance not only in our personal experiences but also the systems we are a part of.”[1]

Hebrews 12:1 (The Living Bible Translation) reads: “Let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back, and especially those sins that wrap themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up.”

I hope you will seriously consider the invitation to our community Ash Wednesday service on Wednesday evening at Mount Carmel.  This quiet, simple service that includes the imposition of ashes will begin at 7:00 PM.  Let us, together, begin the season of lent by literally becoming more grounded in who we are as children of God, siblings in Christ.

[1] Kathy Escobar, Turning Over Tables, (Louisville: WJK Press, 2025) p.15

The Prayer

Hope this starts your Monday on a positive note.

Pentatonix: “The Prayer”

https://youtu.be/wnvzwAPqniU?si=dbkCPfNE8QeW6n6i

Walk for Peace

I am sure many of you have heard about the Walk for Peace—a journey of venerable monks and Aloka the Peace Dog walking 2,300 miles from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., to spread awareness of peace, mindfulness, compassion, loving-kindness, and unity. Several of my friends have gone out to witness the monks on their walk and speak of the joy it brought them to see people united for the message of peace. It blows my mind to think of them on this journey through these frigid temperatures this week as they make their way through Virginia. This morning, Isabelle shared a post with me that was written on the “Walk for Peace—Official Community Page” on Facebook. I am linking the page here… but also copying the post from Charlie Nguyen. It is beautifully stated, and I don’t think I could say anything more poignant today!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2438066113278866/

“I am a Christian, and I have been watching the Walk for Peace with tears in my eyes. As other posters have said, I also gave up on the news and instead just watched videos of the monks walking and I’m filled with joy each day!

For many weeks now, I have witnessed something extraordinary, the Buddhist monks walking 2,300 miles from Texas to Washington DC, many of them barefoot, sleeping in tents, eating one meal a day. Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara's feet wrapped in bandages from rocks and glass and nails. One monk lost his leg when a truck struck their escort vehicle and then rejoined the mission after recovery. Another young man who also walked with the monks was hurt but now also returned to walk with the monks! Such courage. Such sacrifice. Such devotion to peace.

Then I started to notice something and I keep thinking about what happened 2,000 years ago.

In Luke chapter 10, Jesus sent out 72 of his followers on a similar mission. He told them to take nothing with them, no purse, no bag, not even sandals. They were to walk into towns completely vulnerable, completely dependent on the hospitality of strangers. When they entered a house, they were to offer a blessing: "Peace to this house."

Like those 72, these monks walk in vulnerability. They carry almost nothing. They depend entirely on the kindness of those they meet along the way. And at every stop, they offer peace bracelets and blessings to everyone who approaches them. It is their own way of saying "Peace to this house."

But it's what happens when they encounter hostility that has taught me the most. In Georgia, Christian protesters met the monks with signs reading "Hell Awaits" and shouts about false peace. And the monks' response? "I wish you well." Then they kept walking.

This reminds me of what Jesus told those 72 disciples. He said that if a town rejected them, they should shake the dust off their feet and move on. For years I thought this was about pronouncing judgment. But watching these monks, I understand it differently now.

I read in one of the community post that a monk gave us this image about a man offering you a burning branch. You can choose not to take it. If you refuse the branch and walk away, the fire only burns the one still holding it. When someone offers you their hatred and you don't accept it, when you simply bless them and continue on your way, you leave them holding their own fire. You don't carry their burden. Your peace remains intact so you can offer it to the next person.

Jesus taught us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:44). He taught us to forgive not seven times but seventy times seven (Matthew 18:22). Paul wrote that love "keeps no record of wrongs" (1 Corinthians 13:5). You cannot radiate peace while holding onto anger. You cannot spread love while keeping a ledger of grievances. These monks are showing the world what that actually looks like in practice.

There is another thing I noticed in video after video. People line the streets to greet the monks, offering flowers. The monks receive each flower with gratitude and the giver experiences joy in the giving. Then as the monks continue walking, they give those same flowers to others along the way. And those new recipients are overwhelmed with joy. The same flower. The same gift. But the joy multiplies with each giving.

This is what Jesus was doing when He sent out those 72 with nothing! Their vulnerability invited participation. The hosts who fed them and sheltered them became part of spreading peace, not just recipients of a message but active participants in the mission. Peace and love are not like material resources that deplete when shared. They multiply through the giving.

I do not write this to diminish anything these monks have accomplished or to suggest they are merely following someone else's script. Not at all. What I see is something far more beautiful and overwhelmingly (to me) heart warming. I recognize that these monks have demonstrated in the most powerful way what it looks like to actually live out these principles of love and compassion.

People who would never enter a church are lining the streets to receive peace bracelets. Communities divided by politics are gathering together at peace sharing talks. Millions are watching online and learning that there is another way to respond to a hostile world.

And I am reminded that Jesus's final command to all His disciples was simply this: "Love one another" (John 13:34).

These monks are walking that command across America, one painful step at a time.

To Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara and all the monks on this Walk for Peace, thank you! Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for your courage. Thank you for showing us what peace looks like when it has feet.

May your walk continue to awaken the peace that lives within each of us. May your feet carry you safely to Washington. And may the God who loves all His children bless every step.

With deep respect and gratitude, A Christian who has been struggling with faith found a renew hope by learning from your example.”

The photo on this page comes from The Prince William Times, credited photographer, Travis Long, courtesy of the Walk for Peace Facebook Page.

Winter Haiku

Risen orange orb

on glittering, glistening

blanket stretches long.

LTM 1/26/25

The Pendulum Swings

The loss of a home in the community to fire over the weekend has touched my heart profoundly.  It weighed heavily on my heart all day Sunday. I simply cannot fathom everything you own being turned to ash before your eyes.  Losing pets that are family members and explaining all of that to two young children is so difficult.  My heart breaks over the overwhelming shock and grief that I know this sweet family is experiencing.  At the same time, the mobilization and outpouring of this community is a miracle to behold!  In less than 24 hours they’ve been given a free place to live as they discern what to do next.  Neighbors are organizing clothing, toys, and food collections, plans for fund collections are being made.  Of course, New Providence stands ready to help with all these efforts. 

On Sunday evening, I learned that a young couple that I have known for over a decade, since my time serving in Appomattox is preparing to welcome a baby girl into the world.  What elation I felt! One of “my kids” is having a kid! This little one will be so cherished, and I can’t help but imagine her growing into a little red head with flowing curls and a musical instrument in hand.  I saw photographs of family and friends showering this couple with gifts and smiled, because once again, we see a community enveloping a family with more than just items they will need, but with love. 

And so, the pendulum swings.  We can experience grief and joy, almost in the same breath.  We can witness tragedy and miracles and hold them both in gentle hands.  The light shines in the darkness.  And the darkness cannot overcome it. 

Tonight my Heart is Tired

My heart is tired tonight, Lord.

My heart is tired tonight. 

I’m tired of the zone being flooded.

I’m tired of feeling overwhelmed.

I’m tired of all the sadness,

scattered about the realm.

Shattered dreams and broken hearts

lay tattered on the ground.

I wonder where in the world you go,

It feels like you’re nowhere around.

I’m tired of guns and violence.

I’m tired of senseless wars.

I’m tired of feeling the edge of terror

knocking on our doors.

I’m tired of the ICE flows,

and the grubby grabs for oil.

I’m tired of the AI lies,

our eyes bear false witness,

they’ve sworn.

I’m tired knowing

neighbors go hungry

While I lay warm and full in my bed.

I’m tired of neighbors dying

without access to the proper meds.

I’m tired of addiction

ravaging our towns.

I’m tired of false promises

for solutions that run aground.

I’m tired of being scared

for our children to go to school.

I’m tired from all the trauma, Lord.

And I just bet you are too.

Won’t you come and save us,

won’t you hear our prayers?

Won’t you wrap us in your wings,

And account for every hair?

We are our brothers’ keepers,

But tonight, I fear I’m lost.

I don’t know how to go on,

while witnessing the cost.

LTM 1/11/26

Daily Jubilee

I love that ever so slowly the days are getting longer again.  The sunlight does wonders for my mental health.  I am not one that revels in cold days or winter sports.  I miss warm summer sunsets and my porch! Snuggly cats, lamplight, and books only take one so far, and so, despite my encouragement in Sunday’s sermon to slow down in the darkness and look for God’s stars to light our way… I am happy each sunset now comes just a few minutes later on the clock from here on out.

While taking down the Christmas tree at the turn of the year makes me sad (and grumpy with the effort), to leave it up all year would be to diminish what makes the season bright and special.  The holiday festivities give us something to look forward to in the short, dark days of winter.  I can’t help but think that this is why, particularly since the pandemic, people put up their Christmas decorations immediately after Halloween! We need the joy of the season, we need the hope we know in Christ, we need the twinkling lights to help us banish the darkness!

Of course, this doesn’t mean that the darkness is behind us, shadows lurk in every corner.  Despite the Light come into the world, the gloom of our broken world looms profoundly. The world and all that is in it does not, unfortunately, reset when we turn the calendar to a new year.  Wouldn’t it be lovely if we had Jubilee years like those of the Old Testament, where the slate is wiped clean and everyone has a chance to begin again? 

To think about it too deeply is to despair, I fear.  Especially since we are hopefully entering the new year following a time of deep joy and rest.  But maybe, just maybe, we can find ways to hold onto that sense of joy and peace, if we keep our eyes on Jesus.  Can we reflect his light in some way, just in our little corner of the world?  Can we start with our awakening in the morning, in the privacy of our homes, and can we carry that warmth into our places of work, our classrooms, our clubs and our community?  Maybe we can be catalysts for the Light brightening as the days grow longer.  Maybe every morning is our own personal jubilee, to begin anew in our striving to center our lives on Christ.  The season of Christmas comes to a close, but the Light of Christ does not diminish. 

Evergreen

As I sip my coffee on this sunny Monday morning, I do so by the twinkling lights of my Christmas tree.  I absolutely love putting up the tree every year (hate taking it down though)! As a kid I always looked forward to helping mom decorate for Christmas. We’d pull everything down from the attic and while mom strung the lights, I’d set to work opening the ornament boxes and untangling the strands of gold beads, hanging them around my neck as if they were the crown jewels.  Every ornament we had told a story.  There were the clear Lucite ones with my mother’s maiden name, handed down from Grandma Pearlie.  Several gold ones with mom and dad’s wedding anniversary and my name etched on them. One mom’s co-worker gifted her that had the image of a wino snowman, it played music when you pushed the button. My Garfield ornament with him dressed as an angel blowing a trumpet, a gift from my best friend in 1995. 

Now that my mom no longer puts up a traditional tree (that’s another story), I have inherited all her ornaments for my tree! Every year I get to pull out my boxes and hang all the ones mentioned above and so many more.  Kemper’s favorite is the Garfield angel.  There are ornaments from family trips, hand crafted pottery ornaments from friends, wooden wisemen crafted for fair-trade from a seminary friend. I have ornaments made by my aunt, and of course ones Kemper made when he was little. I have a few that were made in Appomattox, and of course, now I have New Providence on the tree, too. A Hollins ornament, a Union Pres. Seminary ornament, a Montreat ornament, and of course, Hanson.    Over the years I’ve bought Michael special ornaments too with themes of his favorite things like The Office, and the pièce de resistance, a hand-painted Goonies ornament.  He also has a special gum-ball machine ornament from his sister.  They had one when they were kids and always fought over who got to put it on the tree.  Kemper gets a fun ornament every year, so we have Mario and Minecraft ornaments in the mix. And every year I get an ornament with a photo of Kemper from that year to mark his growth.  Maybe your experience is similar, that a Christmas tree becomes a type of time capsule. 

I started wondering how Christmas trees in homes became a tradition. Don’t be surprised to learn that it actually has pagan roots tied to the winter solstice. A fun fact, Martin Luther was the one who started putting candles on trees to symbolize stars! Anyway, if you’re interested in learning about this holiday tradition, you can read more here: https://www.history.com/articles/history-of-christmas-trees

I hope you have a beautiful holiday season surrounded by family and friends, enjoying all of the special traditions you’ve fostered over the years.  And remember that God’s love and grace for you given to us in Christ, is evergreen.  See you in 2026!

Gaudete Sunday

I saw God and I heard God and I felt God today, and it was all joy.

A few weeks ago, the kids asked during Children’s Time why there was a pink candle in the middle of all the purple ones.  Observant little boogers.  I tried to explain that each Sunday of Advent season as we wait for Christmas, we light one candle to represent our preparation for the Light of the world to come.  The pink one is special because it represents joy. 

The name of this Sunday comes from the Latin word Gaudete which means, “rejoice”. Due to the pink or rosy colors used to signify the day, rather than the typical purple or dark blue of Advent, the day has also been called Rose Sunday. “This distinctive color choice is a visual cue to the faithful that a shift toward celebration and gladness is underway.”[1]

“The history of Gaudete Sunday is deeply rooted in Christian tradition. The observance dates back to the medieval period when the church recognized the need to balance the penitential nature of Advent with moments of joy and hope. The third Sunday of Advent serves as a brief respite from the more somber aspects of the season, allowing believers to rejoice in the imminent arrival of the Christ child.”[2]

Some traditions to mark the occasion in worship in addition to the lighting of the advent wreath are intentionally joyful music, special prayers, family celebrations, and acts of kindness.  Our Sunday morning included all these elements! It was such a delight to see a choir comprised of members from three community churches; they sang beautifully.  The bells rang clear in our sunny sanctuary. We had incredible guest musicians play as well.  I heard so many kind comments following the service about how lovely it was, how well the children did as they lit candles, represented the nativity, and collected the offering.  Whenever these comments came my way, I graciously agreed but also declared that I can take very little credit, “the one Sunday a year I am not in charge!”

We also participated in a collection of toys and non-perishables for local families to receive this Christmas.  These Manger Gifts, as we call them, are a large part of our day.  This community is so charitable, and it is always an honor to serve as a vehicle for such generosity.  After this we gathered for a delicious meal in our fellowship hall.  Perhaps we should rename it the Family-ship Hall, because that is truly what it is.  We enjoyed a feast as we hugged and chatted away the afternoon.  A day we had been anticipating and preparing for over weeks (again, very little of which was me) finally came to fruition and it was so, so good!  And now we are ten days away from the birthday of Jesus! Just ten days away from those good tidings of great joy!

In his 2014 Gaudete Sunday homily, Pope Francis said that Gaudete Sunday is known as the "Sunday of joy", and that instead of fretting about "all they still haven't" done to prepare for Christmas, people should "think of all the good things life has given you."  So, while it is easy to get caught up in the hectic nature of the holiday season, as we try to make things magical for our children and special for families and friends, I hope we can take to heart what Pope Francis said and think about all the good things life has given to us.  And one of those good things, to my mind, and to my eternal gratitude and joy, is you. 

[1] https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/gaudete-sunday-third-advent-sunday.html

[2] https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/gaudete-sunday-third-advent-sunday.htm

Rooting for redemption

All I want for Christmas 2025 is the character of Steve Harrington to survive the final season of Stranger Things. I’m kidding, sort of.  What I would really love is for the aura of Steve Harrington to survive in the real world.  Harrington’s character arc is one of hard fought and unexpected redemption.  In fact, the show creators, Matt and Ross Duffer intended for Steve to be a minor character that got killed off in season one, but they came to love the actor Joe Keery so much, they decided to keep him.  What started off as a stereotypical high-school bully that you’d love to see eaten by a monster, became one of the most beloved characters of the highly popular show. When faced with adversity, Steve learns how important authentic relationships are to survival. Fans of the show call him the world’s best babysitter, because he ends up spending a lot of time trying to convince the younger teen characters that their ideas are risky and dangerous, but when they don’t listen to him, he always goes along to try and keep them safe.  I just really hope when the final battle of the apocalypse comes to Hawkins, Indiana on New Year’s Eve, Steve is left standing.

The real world could take a lesson or two from Steve, and not just about his great 80’s styled hair (he uses Farah Fawcett hairspray by the way).

First, we don’t need to be bullies to survive! The whole idea that we have to outwit another person with our words or punch out first or we become the ones getting punched is absurd. We don’t need to build ourselves up to be these unflinching people who harden our hearts to block out pain while throwing everyone else to the wolves.  Why we think power and cruelty must go together is beyond me.  Life is much richer when we open ourselves up to vulnerability, that’s real courage. Steve got the snot beat out of him in season one, and honestly, he deserved it.  But this wake-up call took him from bully to protector.

[Think Pharoah, Joseph’s brothers, Hamaan, Jonah, Herod, Saul/Paul]

Second, real strength isn’t found in the individual but in community.  Had Steve’s character limped off into the shadows after his embarrassing loss in season one, he would not have survived—but instead, he shed his self-centered, too cool behavior by showing concern for someone he truly cared about and became part of a team. His role became big brother in a way; not always the brightest crayon in the box (he did sleep through algebra one) but a fierce protector, willing to drive his precious beamer full of friends straight into the upside down to defeat evil. He learns that if he is there for his friends, they will also, in turn, be there for him.

[Think Moses, King David, Job, Naomi & Ruth, Jesus’ disciples, the apostles like Paul]

Third, we are our brothers’ keeper—everyone could use a “babysitter” like Steve from time to time.  One of the best lines from the show is when another character, Robin, asks Steve, “how many children are you friends with” as the middle school aged kids keep showing up at his place of work.  But by season five, Steve is so frustrated by his young friend Dustin’s rebellious behavior, he snaps at him. When Dustin says, “your concern for me is overwhelming,” Steve replies, “My Concern!  I have shown nothing but concern for you for forever!”  Honestly, as a wife and mother, I’ve never felt so seen.

[Think Cain and Abel, Esther, Daniel, Peter, Lydia, Philemon & Onesimus]

The point is, we need to pay attention to each other, to look out for each other. The world is full of bullies, darkness, and cruelty happening right before our eyes. The best way to fight all that is together, and with the Light of Christ before us.  At the end of the day, we are all humans, all children of God. All deserving of respect, love, and a shot at redemption. It’s never too late.

“Sermonizing”

Writing a sermon is kind of like preparing for Thanksgiving Dinner…you read a bunch of recipes, you throw a bunch of ingredients together, and pray the turkey isn’t still frozen!

Sometimes, as the young people say, “you’re cooking” and it all comes together beautifully, the way you might make a dish from memory, passed down from the generations before you. You know, the recipe you can’t really give to anyone because you don’t measure, you just prepare by taste.

 Other times, the process is painfully slow, and you wonder if you’ve missed a step or confused your recipes like Rachel’s attempt at an English Trifle (Friends Season 6 Episode 9) where the book’s pages get stuck together and she mixes the trifle recipe with shepherd’s pie.  Her dish has lady fingers layered with beef and sautéed onions and peas.

After almost five years of sermons at New Providence, I bet everyone can tell when I’m cooking like Grandma or baking like Rachel. 

Most days I’m thankful for the process, and the Holy Spirit coming through for me! And all of you, for listening. 

Thankful

For these (and many more things) at New Providence, I give thanks.

Thoughtfulness and Teamwork

History and Heritage

Advent and Angels

Neighbors and Nourishment

Kids and Kin (and Kimberly)

Feasts and Friendship

Unity and Understanding

Laughter and Love

Psalm 107:8-9

8 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
    for his wonderful works to humankind.
9 For he satisfies the thirsty,
    and the hungry he fills with good things.

Give it more time

My impatience got the better of me this week.  My feelings of utter helplessness and lack of control got the better of me, too.  I don’t recall anyone telling me how often as a parent I would wonder if I was doing the right thing.  So far (I think) my gut instincts have been correct, at least when it comes to the big things.  I texted my mother and said, “How come you never told me I would never know what the best thing to do is?” and she replied, “I never wanted to admit defeat!”  When I sent her a GIF of a white flag waving in surrender, she responded, “Sometimes you just have to hug them and hope for the best.  I waved that flag a lot!”  Honestly, that made me feel a lot better, because my mom was always my go-to person growing up.  She always seemed to know what to do, how to fix the boo-boos, how to stop the tears, how to mend the fences. 

I stood in my kitchen on Wednesday morning at my wits end, put my elbows on the countertop and prayed to the Lord to give me wisdom, to stop my child’s discomfort and heal his skinny little eleven-year-old frame. Then I called the doctor’s office and talked to a nurse.  I explained how hard mornings have been, how that is when his pain is the most pronounced, how I can hardly get him to eat breakfast, much less make the 30-minute car ride to school.  I told her that I just didn’t know what else to do for him, I didn’t feel like the medication was helping us, and I was not (am not) cut out to be a homeschool mom. Overseeing make-up work might just end with him in military school!  A few minutes later she returned my call with instructions from the doctor to bring him into the hospital, and they would prepare to do surgery to remove his kidney stone.  Worried, but also relieved, I broke the news to my boy who broke down in tears, “please, mom, please give me a few more days, just a little more time, please.” 

After a few hours that included some bloodwork, an ultrasound, and an x-ray, the doctor came in to see us.  He had a very calm bedside manner and spent significant time explaining the pros and cons of surgery to us, all the while his hand resting on my son’s ankle as he looked into his eyes and included him in the conversation. He pulled up the scans from two weeks ago and the scans from that day to compare and revealed to us that the stone is making excellent progress through the urinary tract! I could hardly believe it.  In about 12 days, the stone had traveled 12 cm, with only about 5 more to go. There’s just one more spot that might be significantly painful for him before he passes it.  When he said, “it’s really up to you all, if he can handle the discomfort a little longer or you are ready to throw in the towel, then we can try to remove it.”  My sweet child looked over at me with his big brown eyes, filled with crocodile tears, pleading to go home. I looked to the doctor and said, “Your professional opinion, what would you do?”  He waited a few beats, building the suspense, then said, “I’d give it more time.”   

And there it was. God’s answer to my kitchen prayer. The doctor apologized for the directive to drive into Roanoke and go through the tests, but I told him I was grateful. I was thankful that he took my concerns seriously and that we were able to get confirmation that we are in fact doing all the right things, that there is an end in sight. God is always at work.  It just takes time. 

2 Peter 3:8: "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day".

Habakkuk 2:3: "For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay".

Psalm 31:15: "My times are in your hands".