December 13th, 2023

December 13th, 2023

by | Dec 13, 2023 | PS from PS

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It’s so simple!!  And adorable!!  This story.  Christ coming.  Christ here.  And yet so much gets in the way of it.

The picture above is my costume for the Children’s Christmas Pageant, minus Alice the camel.  I want to use this as the Sunday bulletin cover but got voted down by….well…the entire staff.  So we decided to use one that includes the adorable kids that did the pageant last year.  

It’s an adorable week right?  (Well, except for the above shepherd). Having the kids up front acting out and reading the parts of the story is always adorable.  But when we say “adorable” in relation to this story, we are usually relating it to the cute sheep, angels and other three foot high kids acting out the story.  Cute.  Cuddly.  Funny.  And adorable! 

But that word is an extension of adore, which has a very different meaning.  Adore – to worship; to love and respect deeply.  

When we see this story acted out this Sunday or hear it read next weekend at Christmas Eve services, it is just that, adore-able.  An incredible message of God coming to us, to be worshipped, to love and respect deeply.

My prayer for you over these next few days leading up to Christmas is that you will get BOTH versions of this word.   That you will see some adorable things at the pageant, around your tree and table at home.  But more so that you will have time and space to adore the Christ child born to us, bringing God’s presence to us in a real and tangible way, for us to love and respect deeply.

Adorably adore-able.

O Come, let us adore him.  Amen

Still in One Peace
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December 6th, 2023

December 6th, 2023

by | Dec 6, 2023 | PS from PS

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Isaiah 52:7 – “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!'”During this season of Advent, we prepare our hearts to celebrate the arrival of Jesus Christ, the embodiment of God’s great love for humanity. Advent, derived from the Latin word “adventus,” meaning “coming,” is a time of anticipation and expectation.Isaiah’s words resonate deeply during Advent. He speaks of those who bring good news—messengers heralding peace, salvation, and the reign of God. In a world often filled with despair and uncertainty, these words offer a glimmer of hope—a promise of divine intervention, redemption, and restoration.The birth of Jesus marks the fulfillment of this prophecy, as the angels proclaimed to the shepherds: “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” (Luke 2:10-11, NIV)The Good News of Advent is not confined to a historical event but continues to echo throughout generations, touching our lives today. It’s a message of hope that assures us that God’s redemptive plan is unfolding, offering us peace, salvation, and the assurance that our God reigns.In a world often shadowed by darkness, this Good News shines brightly as a beacon of hope—a reminder that despite the challenges we face, we are not alone. God is with us, bringing light into the darkest corners of our lives, offering forgiveness, grace, and a renewed sense of purpose.As we journey through this Advent season, may we embrace the Good News of Jesus Christ with open hearts. Let us be bearers of this message, sharing the love and hope found in Christ with others. May our lives reflect the beauty of God’s Good News, bringing peace and joy to those around us.………That was pretty good right?  And I didn’t write it!  ChatGPT did.  Artificial intelligence.  And it’s good!  On some level, is Ai the next prophetic voice in the world?  I’m not sure.  I’m actually super nervous about the speed with which it is advancing without us having a full understanding of the complexities and consequences.  It’s on the list of things I don’t fully understand.

I put into ChatGPT: Write me a short Advent devotional focusing on good news….and there you have it.  It was good news to me that the good news was in there at least!  Even in the midst of the technology I don’t understand, God is in it.  Even in the midst of things in my here and now life that are hard to understand, God is in it.  Even in the questions about yesterday and tomorrow, God is in it.  

There’s a lot I/we don’t fully understand.  A long list actually in my case.  Twists and turns of life.  New technologies.  Religious wars.  Corrupt and arrogant leaders.  A long list.  But one thing Advent reminds me of is that the Coming Christ was, is and will be in the midst of it.  

“God won’t be confined to a historical event but continues to echo through generations.  God is with us.”

Well played Ai!  Thanks for the reminder.

Lord, even when we don’t get it, thanks for being in it.  Amen

Still in One Peace
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November 15th, 2023

November 15th, 2023

by | Nov 15, 2023 | PS from PS

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Spoiler Alert!!! – There is more “keeping awake” coming!

If you are a church nerd, you might know that this time of year, when we are all constantly raking leaves and watching the Bills lose in gut wrenching fashion, is also the Church Year End and the soon arriving Church New Year in the start of Advent.  

And the way that the preaching schedule falls at St. Paul’s with me preaching three of the next four weeks (including last week), all the texts are encouraging and even ending with: Keep Awake.  

Keep Awake for the end times.  Keep Awake for the Kingdom of God breaking in.  Keep Awake for Christ coming again.  That seems like a forceful mandate right?  “A little pushy this month God!  How about you lighten up?”

That’s a lot of keeping awake.  So maybe we should put on another cup of spiritual coffee and get after that!?

Because at the same time as we hear this, we acknowledged and prayed for yesterday at our Church Unleashed shoot that it is challenging to be joyful in and amongst the weariness of the current world.  The wars.  The terrorism.  The fights in Congress.  The overdoses.  The deaths too soon.  The cancer diagnoses.  The challenges with finances.  The hunger people are experiencing.

So maybe the continual push to keep awake isn’t a forceful mandate?  Maybe it’s a gift.

Keep awake to God’s presence.  Keep awake to the promise of Easter over death itself.  Keep awake to the Holy Spirit walking with you.  Keep awake to the Christian community of church wrapped around you.  Keep awake to the food arriving that nourishes.  Keep awake to the meal on the altar that promises.

Keep awake….I guess…needs to be repeated a few times then.  Because it’s a gift during the weariness.

So go ahead Bills, play well and hopefully don’t yank our hearts out next weekend.  But if you do, we will keep awake during that….and the rest…to God’s eternal love for us.


Lord, let’s pour another cup of coffee together and look around.  Amen

Still in One Peace
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November 1st, 2023

November 1st, 2023

by | Nov 1, 2023 | PS from PS

All Saints Day.

It’s a “lesser” tradition in the Church calendar, but a super important one.  There are many people that would classify themselves as “Christmas/Easter people,” meaning that they go to church on these two big holy-days.  But there’s not many people that would call themselves “Reformation/All Saints People.”  But maybe more of us should!

This day (and the church services this weekend) will be about the “saints that have gone before us.”  While Reformation Day the week before reminds us that we are ALL saints and children of God, this day is about remembering all the saints that have gone before us into eternal life.  (See the promise of Easter for details)

Churches have various traditions in their worship times together – lighting candles to represent the light those people brought to the world, posting pictures of the faces of those we love and some, like St. Paul’s, will write names out on clouds and surround the sanctuary with them as the “great cloud of witnesses” around us.

The remember is bittersweet.  But it’s important .  In many cultural traditions, saying the names of our ancestors out loud keeps their memories and spirit alive around us.  

So I want to invite you to take some space and time today to remember your saints – those that have impacted, shaped, directed and carried you – recently or a long time ago.  Look through the pictures.  Read the letters you might still have.  The articles about them.  The stories they helped create.  Call/Text your loved ones that knew them as well and keep those stories alive.

Shed the tears if they come.  Enjoy the laughter if it comes.  But in all things, give thanks for them.  Give thanks in the confidence that they have entered the Promise.  They have finished the race and won the victory because of Easter morning.  And live into their best for those you can impact by carrying their story forward.


Lord, thank you for the saints, especially……….  Amen

Still in One Peace
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October 25th, 2023

October 25th, 2023

by | Oct 25, 2023 | PS from PS

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What if you were truly free….what difference would it make today?

Think about our brothers, sisters and siblings across the world right now….in Palestine…in Haiti…at the borders…those dealing with abuse…or racial or gender discrimination.  Think about those that are battling cancer or substance abuse or mental health challenges.  

What if any of them were free from all that?  How great would that be?

Whether you are reading this and battling one of those challenges or something a little less acute or intense, I want to remind you that Reformation Sunday is coming.  This is the weekend in church that we get to hear the text from John where Jesus says: “If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”

And guess what? Spoiler alert….. He did.  And therefore, you are!

Because of that news, the challenges we battle on a daily basis are NOT the final answer for us and DO NOT define our freedom.  Our freedom comes from God’s grace through the power of the cross.  A cross that defeated death itself and can also defeat the power that any adversary claims to have over us.  

Freedom for you.  No matter what.

The power of that proclamation doesn’t promise an easy path for sure.  Ask anyone battling the issues I named above or the issues that you are battling right now.  

But that freedom is a gift to hang onto.  It’s a reminder of the bigger picture.  It’s a reminder of the bigger champion.  It’s a reminder of the bigger Truth that you are a child of God and nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus.  NOTHING.  

May this upcoming Reformation weekend remind you of that.  May the battles you face be conquered by the power of Christ within you.  And may you know you are not alone because you are connected to the wider Christian community and to the faith that is within you.  

May you know that you are free because of Christ.  Free indeed.

Lord, thank you for the freedom that conquers all.  Amen

Still in One Peace
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