Blogs

{From Anthony Robinson, found online.} We have imagined that Christianity itself is a religion of virtue. But no. Desmond Tutu reminds us, 'Christianity is not a religion of virtue; it is a religion of grace.' And there's a difference. A religion of virtue says, 'If you are good, then God will love you.' A religion of grace says, God loves you.' Go...

Not only has yoga become part of my weekly routine, I have found a favorite YouTube instructor that I work with a few times each week. This morning while engaged in a session that I have returned to repeatedly, I ah-ha'ed a connection between her directions and Biblical truth. It is not uncommon for her instruction to include, 'breathe love in; bre...

Since late last summer I have been about the work of finding interesting hikes across our state. To assist my cause, my sister-in-law gifted me with a Waterfalls of Oregon coloring book. Her gift instigated adding those waterfalls to my must-hike-list. Between the hikes and the waterfalls, in these months, I have seen much of Oregon. Late last summ...

A few hours ago, a family within our congregation welcomed a beautiful baby girl. Happy parents, happy grandmother, happy great grandparents. Relief after a tough morning. In a couple of hours, two families will gather in our sanctuary for a wedding. It will be both intimate and absolutely perfect for this bride and groom and the people who ce...

What if we took God seriously? The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it.     ~ Psalm 24:1 If we took God at God's word, that the earth, the world, and everyone who lives on it belongs to and is beloved of God, would we value it differently? Water? Air? Natural resources? People? People far aw...

Not only did the photographer share the photo, he also suggested the blog title, 'New Beginnings'. And I am grateful! ~ for shared gifts ~ for spring in bloom ~ for the hope of freedom in vaccinations ~ for the church regathering ~ for the next chapter, that I cannot yet see New beginnings, Easter joy! Pastor Leah 

Is it time? It is past time? Either way, we are moving towards a 'soft' re-gathering, beginning this Sunday. As a staff we are speaking of excitement tinged with anxiety. During these last months, many and various events have unfolded here in the church building. Flooring projects. Painting projects. A flooded Fireside Room. And now, re-constructio...

Drift Creek Falls was the afternoon hiking destination; the suspended bridge was simply a bonus. Well, unless someone has some height issues and then, not so much a bonus as a prayer opportunity…as in praying my way across. And back! We have visions or goals, and 'things' come along, get in the way. Sometimes those are wee 'bumps', other times the ...

Do you ever hear a word or a phrase that just keeps tickling your ear? Perhaps it is because the word or phrase is being used in a new and clever way or maybe it simply touches a truth with such clarity that it will not let go. It could be that my love of language and word-smithing cause my imagination to regularly take such trips; well, and here w...

I am still thinking about language and words… During Holy Week, Pastor Manuel and I had a good conversation about Easter Sunday ~ which he calls Resurrection Sunday. Interesting to think about isn't it? What do you envision when you hear Easter? It certainly could be women in the garden and an empty tomb. It might also include eggs, chocolates, bas...

The text was from one of you, asking about linguistics. She had been asked by someone else about our Easter Litany: Why do you say, 'He is risen' instead of 'He was risen'? Then my texting friend added: I think we intentionally say 'He is risen' because He is still risen; it is still in the present tense. Yes! Yes! Yes! Resurrection is not about so...

How can it be that we call the day that Jesus suffers and dies on the cross Good Friday? Only because Divine Redemption reigns over all things ~ even sin, death and the devil.  Grace, mercy and peace upon all of God's beloved on this Holy and Blessed Good Friday. Pastor Leah 

Setting a table of grace. It is language, a phrase, that I came across recently. Not only did it catch my attention, it has continued to hold onto me. Setting a table of grace. What do you see as you imagine setting a table of grace? Radical welcome? Supreme hospitality? Gracious abundance? Unearned inclusion? In the church year, today is known as ...

'Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body ...

'When I was a boy I used to think that strong meant having big muscles, great physical power; but the longer I live, the more I realize that real strength has much more to do with what is not seen. Real strength has to do with helping others.' ~ Fred Rogers I think Mr. Rogers speaks right into the truth of Holy Week. Jesus, the Son of God could hav...

The center of Oregon, far from the highly populated regions, is riddled with 'ghost towns'. Many of these former relics are so far beyond their history that an uninformed passer-by may not even be able to discern where a town once stood. There are other types of settlements that are also designated as 'ghost towns' but the second group are a mixed ...

Confirmation is a rite within many of the mainline church traditions. It is the day when a person intentionally steps into the promises that were made on their behalf at their baptism. After a two-year journey ~ looking at the bible, creeds, commandments and thinking about the nature of God and our relationship with God the Father, God the Son, God...

As I sat with one of you, you noticed the bight daffodils and commented that they had bloomed in the miserable. Sure enough, even as the trees cracked and splintered under the weight of the ice, the daffodils never abandoned their cheery spring announcement. Let's be clear, those happy yellow blossoms didn't make up their minds to bloom out of shea...

The picture was shared with me. It is the string of barbed-wire-fence that dominates the shot, so much so that the background is out of focus. Not only is it a work of art, it sparks my blog-imagination…Fences are boundaries. Some are intended to keep things in, others are to keep things out. I often get the opportunity to speak deeply with people ...

Wichita is my daughter and her boyfriend Phil's Covid-adoption dog. She is both delightful and beloved. {She was the muse for my February 7th blog, Best day ever!} On Sunday Emily, Phil and Wichita did what they often do, they went for a hike in the amazing expanse of Central Oregon. In fact, they were on a trail in the Ochocos that we also tr...