September 3, 2025

September 3, 2025

by | Sep 4, 2025 | PS from PS

ps from psWell, here we are…BACK… from summer break.  

And this coming weekend at St. Paul’s, we’re back with a bang and kicking it off with “God’s Work, Our Hands Weekend.”  If you are a part of the ELCA tribe, you know that we’ve been doing that for years as a whole church.  We’ve participated many times over the years, but with so many other “God’s Worky” things that we do every day through St. Paul’s mission, we haven’t fully participated each year.

But this year, we are all in and getting after it for TWO straight days.  

Saturday, we’re celebrating God’s Work that will be done by Kristen’s hands!  In her 4pm ordination service (our Sunday regular service has been moved to this service as well and it’s going to be awesome!), you’ll hear lots of stories and hymns and songs about “bring called.”  Called by God to do the things of God as a newly ordained pastor.  Has Kristen been doing God’s work with her hands for years?  Absolutely.  But now it will shaped differently through Word and Sacrament ministry and recognized by the whole church.

On Sunday, after the food truck serves yummy breakfast, we’ll have a brief worship time in the sanctuary, ending with Communion and sending us right out of the sanctuary into various types of service work in the world (check out St. Paul’s Facebook page for the different types of “hour or less” timeframe projects we’ll do).  Some are active, some are writing, some are artsy, some are packaging.  But all will reach beyond ourselves and impact the world with the message that you are unconditionally loved by God.

So, what about God’s work and YOUR hands?  

In Matthew 25, we hear Jesus tell those listening and learning, “whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me.”  This week in your discipleship and this weekend in your participation, reflection and worship, listen for God calling YOU!  If you allow yourself space to listen, I can guarantee you that God is calling and inviting you into ministry.  You might just hear it!!  Maybe being ordained?  Maybe cooking for the hungry?  Maybe getting supplies ready for the homeless?  Maybe prepping a home for the refugee?  Maybe your hands doing your thing which turns out to also be God’s thing.

Listen…God is calling.  May our hands be ready.  See you this weekend in the mission field.

Lord, thanks for inviting us into your work.  AmenStill in One Peace,
ps
September 3, 2025

July 2, 2025

by | Jul 2, 2025 | PS from PS

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Well, here we are at summer break.  

It’s a break from routines and I look forward to it all year long.  Out of the office and more time at LCLC, walks outdoors with folks, sitting at Glens Falls park instead of my office to work on sermons, weeding the landscaping at church (this morning at 9am if anyone wants to join in) instead of talking on the phone at my desk, meetings outside rather than inside and more time off with family and friends.  We even take the chance to worship outdoors in July at St. John’s pavilion.

The break in routines helps me break open the beauty of God’s creation and God’s presence around me.  The creation that was always there all year long.  The presence that was always there all year long.

My prayer for you this summer is that you’ll do things, or NOT do things, that will help you see those things more clearly as well.  God’s creation and God’s presence.  Always there.  All year long.

And with you as one of God’s prize creations, I believe that when you take that rest, that renewal, that change, that left turn, that pause, that shift outdoors, that break, you will be refreshed and refilled with the hope, grace and love that God has been offering all year long.

Enjoy summer break.  And may you be well, safe and blessed as it unfolds.

See you here in the fall.

Lord, break it open and remind us that it was there all the time.  AmenStill in One Peace,
ps
September 3, 2025

June 18, 2025

by | Jun 18, 2025 | PS from PS

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I saw a church sign last year when I was out for a run that read:

Hurt people, hurt people.
Healed people, heal people.

Seems to be profoundly true.  

Our lesson coming up this weekend is Luke 8:26-39.  And it’s a good one…unless you’re an unsuspecting pig that is.  You can click that link to read it or here’s the summary: guy has demons in him; people shun him and he lives in isolation in the “tombs”; demons recognize Jesus; Jesus calls out demons; demons are sent into nearby pigs; pigs jump over a cliff; pig owners are super mad; they tell the village and confront Jesus; they find the man, now healed, sitting with Jesus; they force Jesus out of town; the healed guy wants to go with; Jesus says: go back to your town and proclaim the healing you’ve received.

Several questions come to mind as I read this story:

1.  How did these folks get so blinded to the man’s pain that they left him to live in the tombs?  What happened in their own lives that they ignored his needs and allowed for this isolation to happen?  But I guess: hurt people, hurt people.

2.  Isn’t it amazing that the demons throughout the Bible always seem to recognize Jesus?  Sometimes faster than the regular towns folks!  The demons know there’s a “call out” coming from God and want to avoid it most times.  Even they can sense God’s power over evil.  Can we?  

3.  Are we more concerned about our own pigs than we are for those who are suffering and in need of healing and community?  Are we willing to sacrifice and even change vocations (if we’re out of pigs) to see the healing that is needed and celebrate when it happens?

4.  Seems like it might be a tad risky to return to your own town to proclaim God’s healing when some folks just lost their income source and others ignored you when you were hurting?  I guess following Jesus involves some risk.  Some challenges.  Some changes.  But it seems that the potential for healing of others is worth the risk and could lead to bigger and better things.  Healed people, heal people.  

There’s a lot going on in this story.  There’s a lot going on in our stories.  There are a lot of questions.  But throughout it all, we find Jesus once again standing with the least, little, lonely and left behind.  We find Jesus healing.  We find Jesus present.  We find Jesus inviting us to proclaim.  

In the midst of all the questions in your story, may you find the same.

Lord, thanks for being in the questions with healing, power and presence.  AmenStill in One Peace,
ps
September 3, 2025

June 4, 2025

by | Jun 3, 2025 | PS from PS

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I love doing the Children’s Time at church!

They are some of the most real and vulnerable conversations I have about Jesus all week.  I get untapped enthusiasm and blank stares all together at the same time.  Which is also similar to my regular sermons actually.

This week the kids and I talked about being in the month of June!  It’s exciting and comes with some conclusions: regular school…and Sunday School.  They were excited about the conclusions.  But we agreed that the learning and experiences don’t stop!  

They are just different.  But God isn’t.  God is still there.  Still present.  Still loving.

In fact, the verse in Scripture tells us just that – “Be still, and know that I am God.”  The writer is talking about stopping and slowing and quieting ourselves and the noise around us.  And when we do that, we will see that God is still there.  Still present.  Still loving.

I hope, as you are transitioning into summer mode with less routines, like maybe one of the types of schools, you will plan to intentionally be still. To slow down.  To quiet yourself.  Give yourself permission.  Carve out time for peace and stillness.  

Because the promise is that in that stillness, you will still see God.Lord, thank you for still being there  AmenStill in One Peace,
ps
May 28, 2025

May 28, 2025

by | May 28, 2025 | PS from PS

ps from ps

Last week, I mentioned that we are qualified!!  As baptized children of God, we are qualified to go into the world and bless the Kingdom of God with love and grace.

But let’s not skip the graduation speech!  I remember my son Drew being asked to give the graduation speech at University of Akron for his class.  A huge task for sure.  I was amazed at the profound things he shared and challenged his classmates with.  

But what if Jesus gave the speech?  

Maybe it might sound something like this?

“Little children, I’m so delighted to be here with you today. As I look out at your bright and eager faces, I am reminded of the words of the Prophet, which say, ‘For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.’Today, you stand on the precipice of a new chapter in your lives. You have worked hard, you have studied, and you have grown. You have learned the value of knowledge, the importance of community, and the power of faith. As you go forth into the world, remember also these powerful words from the Torah: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’In your journey, you will encounter many challenges. You will face adversity, you will face doubt, and you will face fear. But remember, my dear ones, you are not alone. As the Psalmist says, ‘The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?’Congratulations, graduates. May the Lord bless you and keep you, may the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, and may the Lord lift up his favor upon you and give you peace. Amen.”Cue the hats being tossed in the air!

Jesus might say these things or many more to us today as we graduate ourselves into this Wednesday.  But I think that sensing hope, activating love, seeing God’s light and sharing blessings are pretty good places for us to start today.  
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Lord, thanks for reminding us of Scripture as we graduate into today.  AmenStill in One Peace,
ps