October 1, 2025

October 1, 2025

by | Oct 1, 2025 | PS from PS

ps from psHas your church ever had arguments? Has it ever disagreed on important issues? Has it ever had strong personalities that have gotten under the skin of some of the other members? Have the same sort of things happened in your family or in your workplace?   In light of these situations, have you ever asked: what can we do?  If any of these questions are true for you, then you match up pretty well with the early Christian church.Our Adult Forum group, which meets on Sunday mornings at 9:00 AM and is open to all, is going to start looking at the book of Acts. It’s one of the most interesting books in the Bible because there are sooooo many incredible personalities contained within the stories. It captures some of the greatest highs and lows of trying to figure out how to follow Jesus, and share this good news of God’s grace with the world.  Maybe that early church also asked: What can we do?Here’s just a couple of the tough situations that can be found in this book: Acts1:15-22 – they have to pick a new leader after Judas’ betrayal; Acts 2:4-11 – people gather from many different countries and can’t understand one another because of different languages;  Acts 2:43-47 – no longer satisfied with worship in the Temple, tensions in developing new ways of worship  & being God’s chosen people; Acts 3:1-10 – figuring out the role of healing in the church as some questioned the right of Peter & John to assume role of healing that had been Jesus’ forte;  Acts 4:36-37 Barnabas – what was his role, struggle with who was in charge and calling the shots.

And that’s only up to Chapter 4!!!! 

If you’re reading this, and you are a missionary at St. Paul’s, you are part of a church that has lasted almost 200 years. I’ve only been there for a few of them, but I’ve known of several tough conversations, theological challenges, tough personalities, and challenging decisions that had to be made. I can only imagine over the almost 200 years just how many have come up.What can we do?  

One of the things I love about the church community, especially St. Paul’s, is that when we are at our best we are able to have all the hard discussions, all the hard personalities, all the theological challenges, and all the tough parts of following Jesus and still say What CAN We Do with a feeling of being ready to step to the plate?  What can/should/will we do to be part of this imperfect system and yet still share God’s good news?Many people that I meet in my travels throughout Western New York, from Bills games tailgates to pubs to the Erie County fire service to local neighborhoods, have told me stories about things that have pushed them away from Church. They are stories very similar to the stories in Acts.  I wish I could fix some of the scenarios they named, but I know that most of them are just part of being church itself. Because church is filled with broken and searching and imperfect people. Just like me. Just like you.  And we’re all just trying to figure out how to follow this incredible savior.Continue to be part of the church that is being created, reformed and reshaped.  Jump into the Adult Forum if you want to hear some of these stories. Jump into the book of Acts on your own if you’re looking for a way to start reading the Bible. Jump into the stories of some of the most improbable that do the incredible. Because 2000 years later, we’re still trying to figure it out. I only pray that God can use this wacky group of followers that we have today to continue to make sure the world, and everyone in it, knows that they are unconditionally loved by God. Lord, we’re a work in progress.  Stay with us as we struggle.  Amen.  

Still in One Peace,
ps
September 24, 2025

September 24, 2025

by | Sep 24, 2025 | PS from PS

ps from ps


Crazy story coming up this weekend from Luke 16 between Abraham, a rich man and Lazarus.  Summary: rich guy dies, goes to the fiery place, sees that Lazzy made it to heaven, Richy Rich asks the Abe to send Lazzy back to his family to tell them to shape up so they don’t end up in the hot box, but Abe says “Nope, they should have listened better the first time to the prophets that were sent.”

Interesting.  Bible’s full of interesting stories.  But the basic point is: we should all listen better the first time because God is trying to tell us we are loved.  It could/should/might change our lives.  And if it does/kinda/maybe change our lives, then we could/should/might change the world around us.  

Makes me think of Children’s Sermons.  

People sometimes tell me they understand and get more out of the Children’s Sermon than the “Adult” (read: longer with illustrations, a couple jokes and bigger words) sermon.  And I’m glad.  We laugh more.  The kids are awesome and often give funny and perfect answers.  Makes me wonder why I add 12 minutes to the service, especially on game days, when usually the basic message is enough.  

And then that makes me wonder: what Children’s Sermon would you write?  What Children’s Sermon are you currently giving?  What’s Children’s Sermon could you live out today or tomorrow?  

If Richy Rich was counting on you sharing enough good news with his family that it would turn their lives around, what would you say?  What would your story be?  Your illustration?  Your object lesson?  

My prayer for you today is that you will work on your Children’s Sermon for the world around you.  That it will be easy for people to see and hear about God’s love for them.  That it will be simple and fun and easy to figure out.  And that as you share it, you’ll be reminded yourself of the simple and amazing and fun message that you are unconditionally loved by God.  

Lord, help me share a basic message of your love.  Amen.  

Still in One Peace,
ps
October 1, 2025

September 17, 2025

by | Sep 17, 2025 | PS from PS

ps from psIt has felt a bit chaotic in recent days for many.  Many of you in conversations we’ve had or I’ve heard others are having are describing a bit more fear, anxiety, frustration and lostness than normal.  Even my dental hygienist was asking me about this this morning, while scraping a sharp metal object over my teeth and gums and then asking if I felt any discomfort…to which I always reply, “yes, right about when you’re scraping a sharp metal object over my teeth and gums.”  

Sometimes life feels like it’s scraping a sharp metal object over ours teeth and gums and hearts and patience and plans and comfort zones and even our faith.  And those moments of discomfort can become chaotic times pretty fast.  Kristen’s sermon on Luke’s story of the “Lost” parables was great to remind us that just as Jesus goes after the one lost one, he also treasures, stays with and loves the 99.  In fact, Jesus loves 100% of us 100% of the time.  

The challenge in our faith lives is staying connected to that chaos smoothing news.  

Those are the times that I pray.  I pray, not to make God snap his godly fingers and fix x, y, or z (although, to be honest, I do hope for it), but instead to return me to the purpose and position God put me (and you) in: to continue to overwhelm darkness with light, love and grace.

Prayer changes me.  And in that change, chaos is calmed, peace has a chance to return, hope is restored and light gets brighter.  God invites us into that prayer whenever and wherever it is needed.  Whenever and wherever it is chaotic.  Wherever and whenever anxiety rises up.

There’s a classic prayer that hangs next to my desk that my awesome crafty wife made for me 20+ years ago (her two-year long, first and last needlepoint project) that reads: Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference.  

Acceptance.  Courage.  Wisdom.  

If life is chaotic for you today, may God grant you serenity to accept some of the brokenness in and around us and to know that God’s love is bigger than all of it.

If life is chaotic for you today, may God grant you the courage to change the situation around you by sharing more grace and love.

If life is chaotic for you today, may God grant you the wisdom to discern the difference and the wisdom to never forget that you are unconditionally loved by God.

  
Still in One Peace,
ps
October 1, 2025

September 11, 2025

by | Sep 11, 2025 | PS from PS

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I shared these words this morning at the Memorial in Amherst as we remember 9/11 and those that were lost. Today, may you too be first responders of love and grace.
ps
…
How did we get here today?

How did we get here (Amherst’s 9/11 Memorial) today? We came here specifically today to honor those that lost their lives in and around the towers 24 years ago, but how do we get HERE (this time and place in culture) today?

We got here today because on that day in NY, PA and DC, hate reared its head and took the lives of thousands of innocent people. But how did we get HERE today?

Here. Today, 24 years later when hate is continuing to rear its head on a college campus in Utah and school in Colorado, how did we get here today?
When intolerance is the norm, how do we get here today?
When trust of our sisters and brothers is only solidified by a party or an ideology, how did we get here today?
Where social media is a platform that more often divides us rather than unites us, how to get here today?
When we promised 24 years ago, we’ll always remember and never forget. And yet time and time again we have forgotten to love, forgotten to listen, forgotten to show compassion, forgotten to see what 24 years ago and 24 hours ago all have in common….maybe that’s how we got here today.

But let me remind you how we may just be able to move forward from here.

Minutes after hate struck 24 years ago, loves struck back! Hundreds the first responders ran towards the remnants of the hatred and overwhelmed it with love. In NY, 343 of them, making it the final act of this world.

How do we move forward today? Just. Like. They. Did.

Yesterday afternoon in Amherst, dozens of first responders and firematic personnel ran towards another fire to ensure the safety of the residents and minimize the loss of property. Talking with the neighbor of the adjoining house, he said to me after the Main-Transit fire chief came over and told them that his house was spared and he was able to go back in, tears flowed down his face and he said: You guys are amazing thank you so much. I love you. You’re the best. (Spoken to the responders at the event). He was right. You’re the best!

We can remember, never forget and honor those who died that day, and in the years that followed due to illness, by running towards the hate we see with love. And by overwhelming it!

To quote the profit Josh Allen, “Have a little faith next time” and that’s what we need to do. We can have a little faith that our love in the world is needed now more than ever. We can have a little faith that we can channel the country we became on September 12, 2001 and replicate that unity again. We can listen a little longer, show a little bit more compassion, not judge people because of their skin tone or a country of origin, and share our gifts and talents as first responders of grace and love. My prayer for you today is that you will remember and never forget 24 years ago. But that you will allow those memories to guide and shape who each of us can be in the next 24 hours.

Have a little faith, the game is not over. There still is more time. With the memory of those we lost 24 years ago, don’t give up yet.

I share with you, the words of Father Mychal Judge, FDNY Chaplain, who died along with my cousin on that day when the south tower came down. He would say these words as he blessed his responders for their work ahead: Lord, take us where you need us to go. See the people you need us to see. Say the things we need to say and keep us out of your way, Amen

Still in One Peace,
ps
October 1, 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
October 1, 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