Blogs

We all plant seeds. But which seeds will we plant? Zinnia seeds will not produce lupine; sowing lettuce will not yield corn. Likewise with our actions ... attitudes ... and our relationships ... We all plant seeds. Which seeds will you plant? Pastor Leah 

{shared by one of you} Three fire trucks with lights going and horns blowing … followed by 30-40 cars with their own horns blowing, along with balloons waving and signs displayed … paraded by the retired fireman's house. Plus, all the neighbors were standing outside with their own signs and balloons, yelling 'good luck' and 'we love you'. All this ...

The sign reads 'listen to understand'. I can't think of a more important thing that we can do to respect and honor others. And yet, it aint easy. Tomorrow is Pentecost, the day that we celebrate the birth of the Christian Church as the Holy Spirit was poured out upon Jesus' followers. In that place, there was wind… and flames… but perhaps most impo...

Two of you called yesterday. The first person wanted to comment on and compliment the leadership that is unfolding at Immanuel. The second was from someone who was having a really hard day and needed to have a place to give voice to her grief. What a gift each call was! This Sunday will be the 12th week of Quarantine, which blows my mind; we have b...

Today I once again realized 'the thing' wasn't 'the thing'. This happens to me so often, that I am always surprised that I am surprised! We were off for a hike. I am looking at the starting point and ending point…well, and how many miles. Shortly after we start, we come upon a lone walker, who immediately decides that she is going to walk with us. ...

We are village people; well, maybe not THE Village People. But village people nonetheless. As in, it takes a village. We need the village. Teachers that journey with our kiddos. Coaches that do the same. Co-workers. Fellow congregants. Friends. Neighbors. We need each other. Perhaps this is one of the lessons that isolation has to offer ~ a renewed...

We have so much history to look forward to. Pastor Leah 

Today Pastor Manuel and I finished up our Homiletics Conference, which is a good thing because we've spent the week drinking from a fire-hose. It has been much. While there will be many preaching and theological nuggets to chew on in the days and weeks ahead, the notion that is currently dancing in my imagination is a 'Decentralized Church'. Say wh...

While our 'Live Stream Congregation' now includes all sorts of new folks, the truth of the matter is, many members are missing because they do not have access or the technology to enter into this era of online worship. How to loop people in, to be intentional community, to speak Good News to all, is a primary desire of my Pastor-Heart. From both se...

This week Pastor Manuel and I are participating in the Festival of Homiletics, online of course. Homiletics is the art of writing and/or preaching sermons; pretty exciting, huh? I have been asked if I am hoping to learn to preach. Absolutely! Yes! The conference we are attending is a mix of worship, music, preaching, interviews and lectures. Again,...

I do not know when we can gather together again in worship, Lord. So, for now I just ask that: When I sing along in my kitchen to each song on Stevie Wonder's Songs in The Key of Life Album, that it be counted as praise. (Happy 70th birthday, SW!) And that when I read the news and my heart tightens in my chest, may it be counted as a Kyrie. And tha...

An alternative walking route took me up by the hospital where I encountered the 'Good Vibrations Station'. A person or a group created a physical place where encouragements could be shared ~ and with its proximity to the medical center of our town, certainly intended to bless the front-line, essential workers in our community. One of the contributi...

Another blog with fancy pastor-math? Actually, inciteful math. A video from Pastor Tim Harlow of Parkway Christian Church in Chicago was passed to me this week from my pastoral colleagues here in Silverton. His wisdom resonated within my spirit, such that I shared the link with leaders at Immanuel, as we begin processing how/when our current worshi...

'Finding beauty in a broken world is creating beauty in the world we find.' ~ Terry Tempest Williams 

Thought for the day, remember to look out.  Pastor Leah

Face-of-God stories… Questions… Comments… Greetings… Theological contemplation… Parents, I would love to hear from your kiddos. Texts, emails, even snail-mail that I could share at Kid's Time during worship. Can't wait to hear the wisdom! And keep them coming! Pastor Leah 

In the midst of quarantine shut-down, the Prayer Shawl Ministry storage moved from a confined corner of the Library Office to an entire wall of carefully sorted and displayed yarn options. With their supplies now thus stored, he knitters and crocheters have full access. Besides that, it really looks like a work of colorful art. Well, and I admit I ...

Friday morning at 10:13, Silverton Health Workers were honored {saluted?!?!} with a military fly-over. A couple of minutes beforehand, I made my way down the street, out from under the cover of trees that shade our yard, to better take in the event. As it turned out, neighbors up and down the street were doing the same. I saw some of my neighbors f...

Your check is in the mail… Several weeks ago, before the government stimulus checks began arriving, one of you asked me where that money might be most useful. This family is on solid economic ground and their understanding of the intent of the money, is to help folks who are already at the edges. So Pastor, how can we pass this money along to where...

A couple of weeks ago I received a package from my niece, the same niece who when I checked in on her, told me that she could 'arts and crafts until the apocalypse', which was her cleaver way of articulating both her creative side and her introverted nature. She had created a funko for me ~ a figurine with short dark hair, a purple stole and mustar...