The 39ers have been studying the Gospel according to John. We managed to get through the first six chapters before stopping for the summer. We can only guess how long it will take to finish the rest of the book! In John 6:22-71, we read that, on the day after Jesus had multiplied five loaves and two fish to feed … Read More
June Message From Pastor Gary “Sharing God’s Good News”
It was a cool beautiful morning as I was sitting outside on my deck enjoying my first coffee of the day, thinking about what this day might hold for me. The week was going well, as I had finished the bulletin and it was off to Ruth and Lori. I had called and visited a bunch of people and felt … Read More
May Message From Pastor Gary “Appreciating God’s Goodness”
April showers bring May flowers. . . . Boy, am I sick of April showers, but an abundance of May flowers will be worth it. Last year I could not get my pool filled; this year it’s already overflowing. I have to keep dumping off the excess water every time it rains. But isn’t that the way life is sometimes? … Read More
April Message From Pastor Gary “Observing Lent”
spent a good part of a day working on the program for a Wednesday night Lenten service, the last program in the series, “Jesus’ Final Week”. It made me wonder if this might be the last year this church does joint Lenten services with the Congregational Church. The Lenten services might soon be going the way of the Men’s Easter … Read More
March Message From Pastor Gary “Let the Journey Begin!”
Lent is a time in our church year when we are encouraged to put on the brakes, to slow down, and to focus on our relationship with Christ. I encourage you to take a moment to remind yourself of Jesus’ ministry. Reflect on the true meaning of each of His final days on earth, realizing that every step was necessary. … Read More
February 2023 Message From Christy Barrett, Women Ministries Chair “The God Who Sees Us”
The story of Hagar, Sarai’s Egyptian slave, is familiar to many of us. Likely we prefer to quickly read through the verses about Abram and Sarai’s mistreatment of Hagar in favor of getting to God’s prophecy fulfilled in the birth of Isaac. This time, however, I invite you to pause and consider Hagar’s first encounter with God. Hagar’s story has … Read More
January 2023 Message From Pastor Gary “A New Year”
Well, it looks like we made it to 2023! One aspect of our Christmas holiday season which I genuinely enjoy is how friendly people can be. As I walk through town, a smile, a hello, and a “Merry Christmas” can sure lift one’s spirits. This past Christmas I found most people to be amazingly friendly; I must have heard “Merry … Read More
December Message From Pastor Gary “What a wonderful time of year this is!”
When the angels had left them and gone to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So, they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. When they saw this, they … Read More
November Message From Ruth Johnson “Almost Ready”
A year ago we learned that Pastor Tim would leave us before the end of the month. The COVID pandemic had been around for more than a year and a half and our congregation got hit pretty hard that month.You know the history. It was a “double-whammy” and we were reeling. But God had been preparing Pastor Gary to be … Read More
October Message From Mary Butkevich “Creating a Culture of Generosity – Part II”
When we as a church examine our giving, we must understand that there is a relationship between faith and giving. As Christ followers, our giving is an expression of our faith. There are three figures in the New Testament that demonstrate poignantly the relationship between faith and giving. In Luke 21:1-4, we are introduced to the widow who gave all … Read More
