Pastor Phil's Thoughts for the Day

A group of our members have been learning much of what goes into the act of preaching. They were surprised at all the dimensions going on in that moment. The author of A Lay Preacher’s Guide: How to Craft a Faithful Sermon, Karoline Lewis, suggests that in varying degrees every faithful sermon is the following: […]

Pastor Phil's Thoughts for the Day

Permit me to share the words of Howard Thurman as we have sung our Silent Night this week: “The Work of Christmas When the song of the angels is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the kings and princes are home, When the shepherds are back with their flock, The work […]

Pastor Phil's Thoughts for the Day

500 years ago this year, Martin Luther wrote a commentary on Mary’s Song that we call the Magnificat. Mary, inspired by the Holy Spirit, sings of what God will do in her son, Jesus: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on the […]

Pastor Phil's Thoughts for the Day

The gospel we heard yesterday began in this way: In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius,        when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea,               and Herod was ruler of Galilee,                       and his brother Philip ruler                       of the region of iturea and Trakonitis,                             and Lysanias ruler of Abilene,  during […]

Pastor Phil's Thoughts for the Day

We begin the season of Advent. We light a candle. We do this as our Jewish brothers and sisters also light their first Hanukah candle. It is such a simple act. How odd that we feel this makes a difference. But in times when it is difficult to see a way forward, a single flame […]

Pastor Phil's Thoughts for the Day

Do we assume that everyone knows the story of Jesus because we do? I recently found myself robed for worship in a space that held several children whom I suspect have not spent much time in churches. I sat down to talk with them. The leader of the pack, a six year old, looked me […]

Pastor Phil's Thoughts for the Day

One of my great joys in life is seeing students whom I once taught surpass me in excellence. For example, these words by Pastor Jessica Cain were the ones I needed to hear today. I suspect them will move you too! Jessica, the blog is yours this week: One of my favorite verses in the […]

Pastor Phil's Thoughts for the Day

When we prepare to come to receive communion, I often say, “This is not our table, but the LORD’s, and he invites all who are hungry to come, take, and eat.” What is true of the Table is also true of the whole gathering. God’s hosting and showing up and this makes all the difference […]