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PASTORAL PONDERINGS
The venue held about 17,000 people. The lights dimmed and the vocal artist stepped out to thunderous applause. He took the microphone and welcomed the crowd which became so quiet that it was eerie; and then he said, something like: “The world outside this Arena is a real mess, but in here we are a peaceful, joyful crowd celebrating the unity that only music can bring.” The crowd erupted then again in noisy applause and the concert began.
Josh Groban is a premier singer, who never forgets the people and his roots , , ,

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PASTORAL PONDERINGS
Sunday, May 24th is Pentecost. The Birthday of the Church. The thing that has always amazed me about Pentecost is that all those people gathered there at the Temple Mount of Jerusalem who were strangers to each other and spoke all kinds of different languages, could actually understand each other!. . .

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PASTORAL PONDERINGS

The young waiter had a tattoo above his elbow peeking out from under his monogrammed work shirt. Sharp and dancing eyes, he was pleasant to be around—just so alive with energy. The tattoo just declared “Psalm 139:14.” Such a simple thing, and yet a profound statement. “I Praise the Lord because I am fearfully and wonderfully made . . ..” Hope sprung up in my Lent-weary heart as he graciously served me and joked about the beginning of his day. , , ,

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Pastoral Ponderings

It is March. This month always reminds me of Lewis Carroll’s classic book Alice in Wonderland. Partially because kids in school used to call me “Alison Wonderland” and partially because cabin fever at this time of year can drive me a bit “mad” like the March Hare and his friend the “Mad Hatter.” Besides which, for the March Hare, it is always teatime! And, for me, except for my two cups of coffee in the early morning, it is always “iced teatime!”

The March Hare is mostly a bit off his rocker in March, but Alice has also remarked that, “The March Hare will be much the most interesting, and perhaps as this is May it won’t be raving mad – at least not so mad as it was in March.” Ah, in March we often think that it would be lovely if it was that other month that begins with “M!” . . .

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PASTORAL PONDERINGS

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your Heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.” Deuteronomy 6:5

When hearts are mentioned, I am sure that this mention conjures up visions of February 14th and Valentine’s Day for a lot of you, as it does for me. If one were playing “Pictionary” or other of the many games based on word associations, and a symbol like the emoji in the above quote in place of the word “heart” were drawn or shown, I am sure that the word “valentine” would come to mind. In fact, valentine would be considered a synonym for “heart.” But, just like the observance of St. Valentine’s Day has been subverted to be a day given over to romance and a day to choose and communicate with sweethearts—even though February 14th is actually the anniversary of the Martyrdom of St. Valentine, a Roman priest who refused to pay tribute to the pagan Roman gods . . .

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Pastoral Ponderings
Many holiday gifts came my way during the Christmas season. I want to thank you all for thinking of me and I am grateful for the generous monetary gift that you gave me, as well as all the other goodies (BTW who gave me the beautiful musical snow globe? No card was attached?) I feel so blessed by your love and generosity.
My trip to Cleveland was also a great blessing as I was able to get re-acquainted with my grandsons, Henry and Joey, and my granddaughter, Maya.. . .

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Pastoral Ponderings

Here at the First Congregational UCC we know who Santa Claus is! We even know who his wife, Mrs. Santa Claus, is! We are so fortunate. Don’t forget to go down for a visit with them on Saturday, December 6th at the Farr Center (sponsored by the Jr. Clio Club) from 11am-1pm. You might also catch them riding around town in a big red fire truck!

There are some wonderful classic Christmas Movies that I hope to get to see again this year: “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “Miracle on 24th Street,” and “Yes, Virginia There is a Santa Claus.” The last one is a fictional film fleshing out a story around the famous editorial written by New York Sun reporter Francis P. Church, in 1897 in answer to a letter by eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon which contains the title’s phrase.
Here is a picture of the actual letter that Mr. Church received: . , ,

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Pastoral Ponderings

Advent and adventure come from the same root. It means something is coming and in the case of adventure, it means one is going out to meet something that is coming and is anticipating new experiences. What is coming in Advent, of course, as we begin the church year is Christmas, the birthday of the Christ Child. I think it would be wonderful if we also thought of this time of preparation as a time of adventure!
My sermon series throughout Advent this year will be focused on the question “What Child Is This? Beyond the Lullaby.” . . .

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Pastoral Ponderings
October is a special month for me. On October 10, 1993, thirty-two years ago, I was ordained into the Christian ministry. I still remember the joy of that day and the little impromptu dance that my UCC colleagues and I did to celebrate at the end of the service at State Street Church in Portland, Maine! My first call had already begun in Ortonville, Minnesota and Millbank, South Dakota and I and the whole family flew back to Maine for the Ordination service which was held in the same sanctuary in which a few months before, with the U-Haul literally waiting outside the door, I had undergone my Ecclesiastical Council.
Those were heady times.
“Double-10 Day” was always special to me, . .

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Pastoral Ponderings
“Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.” — Psalm 74:17 (KJV)
Sometimes we forget that the Seasons are also a part of Creation. Without the seasons we would have no food, or water, or the essentials of life. It is the Seasons that allow the seeds to germinate, the snow and rain to re-circulate all the water that God created for us. The Teacher, writing in Ecclesiastes, famously reminds us of this in Chapter 3 verse 1 when he says: “To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heaven.” I don’t think any of us can hear that verse without singing the 1959 Pete Seeger song, “Turn, Turn, Turn” which was made popular by the Byrds!. . .

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