This Sunday is the Fifth Sunday of the Easter season.

Today we explored Mary Magdalene’s experience of the risen Christ,
specifically how Jesus told her

Do not cling to me.

It is often important to let go.

Today is the Third Sunday of Easter.
When Jesus met the two women by the empty tomb, he told them not to be afraid.
The Bible tells us not to be afraid.
Fear gives rise to anger. It triggers a fight-or-flight response to the real or perceived threat.
It limits our ability to respond creatively.
How can we not be afraid when we face serious problems?
The answer is presence.

You are not alone.

The title of today’s reflection is “See for Yourself.”
It is about seeing.
Through the eyes of a child.
With the heart.
Goethe said, “Thinking is better than knowing but not as good as looking.”

Today is the Second Sunday in Lent.

The basic theme of our reflection this morning was "Christianity--It's Not a Religion; It's a Relationship."

It's about what it means to be a Christian.

Today is the first Sunday in Lent.

The theme of my reflections over the six Sundays in Lent will be on Jesus' life and teachings that immediately preceded his death and resurrection.

Today's reflection drew from the teachings of the prophet Joel who tells us that God calls us to "rend our hearts."

What does this mean?

This really isn’t a sermon; it’s a story, perhaps a parable.

It’s entitled “The Rabbi’s Gift.”

Greetings!
This reflection is about how our identity as individuals, as a church, as a nation, and as a world is formed by our past but also by our vision of who or what we can be. The occasion is the celebration of our 160th annual meeting as a church!

Blessings!
Paul

This morning’s reflection focused on listening:

as a kind of presence

as a creative energy

in our relationship with other people

in our relationship with ourselves

in our relationship with God

God called Samuel by name.

Is God calling you?