Musings from the Pastor’s Desk
Musings from the Pastor’s Desk
February 16, 2025
Choosing Love in Impossible Choices
“And now these three remain: Faith, Hope, and Love. But the greatest of these is Love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:13
As St. Valentine’s Day approaches, Love is the word of the week. I’m posting a meditation by Rev. Cameron Trimble from December 3, 2024, for a time such as this. Love and connection will help us to survive the chaos that has engulfed our country.
Rev. Cameron writes,
Two friends were caught in a storm while hiking in the mountains. They came upon a fork in the trail as the wind howled and snow began to fall. One path led up the mountain but was exposed to the storm’s full force. The other path led down to a valley, where an icy river had flooded the trail. Neither choice was safe. They stood there, cold and scared, debating which way to go.
Finally, one friend said, “Let’s choose the path where we’ll stay together. No matter what happens, we won’t leave each other behind.” They chose the valley path, braving the icy river. They worked together, carefully crossing, encouraging one another, and finally reaching safety. The decision wasn’t without risk but made in Love—choosing connection and care over fear or isolation.
Life often places us at forks in the road where no option feels perfect. These moments of impossible choices test us. We weigh risks and outcomes, knowing that neither path will be easy. It’s tempting to get stuck in indecision, paralyzed by the fear of getting it wrong. But Scripture reminds us that Love is the foundation of our decisions. “The greatest of these is love,” Paul writes because Love gives us the courage to move forward, trusting that God’s presence will sustain us.
Love doesn’t mean we will always make the “right” choice in human terms. It means we choose with intention, guided by compassion, care, and connection. It means we prioritize what will bring healing and wholeness, even if the path is difficult. As the hikers chose to stay together, Love calls us to prioritize relationships, to act for the good of others, and to trust that even imperfect decisions can be redeemed by grace.
If you’re facing an impossible choice, remember that Love doesn’t ask for perfection—Love asks for faithfulness. When you let Love guide you, you are already on holy ground. Take heart, knowing that Love, even in uncertainty, leads us closer to the Sacred and to one another.
We are in this together,
Cameron
I’m including three reflection questions from Rev. Cameron.
- Have you ever faced an impossible choice? How did you make your decision?
- How might asking, “What would love have me do?” shift the way you approach difficult decisions?
- What practices can help you stay grounded in Love when life feels overwhelming?
May love unite us and give us the courage to love one another like Jesus loves us.
Peace+
Pastor Eric
Musings from the Pastor’s Desk
February 2, 2025
Please, Don’t throw Me Over the Cliff!
Mob mentality, also known as herd mentality, refers to individuals’ tendency to adopt a group’s behaviors, emotions, and opinions, often leading to irrational or extreme actions. People in a crowd may feel less personal responsibility for their actions, making them more likely to engage in behaviors they might not consider on their own. This phenomenon can lead to impulsive, emotional, and sometimes violent reactions.
In Sunday’s Gospel from Luke 4:21-30, mob mentality plays a significant role in how the people of Nazareth respond to Jesus. At first, the crowd in the synagogue reacts favorably when Jesus reads from Isaiah and declares that He fulfills the prophecy. However, their attitude quickly shifts when Jesus implies that God’s blessings and miracles are not limited to Israel but also extend to Gentiles. He references the stories of Elijah and Elisha, where God provided for non-Israelites.
This enrages the crowd because it challenges their nationalistic and religious expectations. They had initially admired Jesus as one of their own, but when His message contradicted their assumptions, they turned against Him. In a display of mob mentality, the people—who had just been amazed by His words—become furious, drive Him out of town, and attempt to throw Him off a cliff.
This passage illustrates how easily a group can shift from admiration to hostility when confronted with uncomfortable truths. Collective outrage heightened the people’s emotions, leading them to act irrationally and violently—actions they might not have taken individually. Jesus, however, remains calm and walks away, demonstrating His authority and control even in the face of mob aggression.
Come worship with us on Sunday at 10:30 AM and hear the Word of God preached to the mob. But please don’t try to throw me off a cliff if you don’t like what you hear!
Musings from the Pastor’s Desk
January 26, 2025
Poor Little Toes
Our poor little toes. They don’t get enough credit for what they do and often are called ugly and smelly. But our toes are the most critical parts of our feet as they provide balance and support while walking. They enhance propulsion while we walk or run. While the big toe is said to be the most critical one and gets all the credit for the positive things that all our toes provide, our poor little toes can be misunderstood and forgotten.
Losing any of the toes might not stop you from walking or running, but it can adversely affect your foot’s biomechanics and be psychologically distressing. It can be utterly painful if you get hurt or injure your little toe. All of our toes matter!
In Sunday’s Epistle reading from 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a, Paul says that no matter the gifts we possess, we are one in the body of Christ. Regardless of our immigration status, nationality, sexual orientation, race, etc., we are one in the body of Christ. Each of us has distinct functions, and all work together for the common good.
The members of the body are interdependent, meaning that each individual’s well-being is linked to the well-being of others. The strong must care for the weak, and vice versa, fostering mutual respect and care within the Christian community. If we break a little toe, all the toes feel it, and all work together to help us walk.
Each of our gifts or roles is essential and valuable to the mission of the church. No one gift is superior to another; instead, all are necessary and meant to complement one another, big and little toes
May your toes lead you along the way as you walk humbly with your God.
Pastor Eric
Musings from the Pastor’s Desk
January 19, 2025
175 Gallons of Wine?
In the Mediterranean world of the late first century, the Dionysus cult was popular. According to the myth, Dionysus, the god of the grape harvest and the son of the high god Father Zeus, provided vast amounts of wine for his celebrative followers, who joined in ritual ecstasy. The Dionysian feast was celebrated on January 6, on which date some Christians came to read John 2. Although some interpreters resist seeing Dionysus behind the narrative of Cana, others view this explanation as the most likely impulse behind this Johannine messianic “sign,” which is so markedly different from the miracles of divine healing.
The jars contain about 175 gallons. The wedding occurs “on the third day,” a hidden reference to the resurrection, and on the seventh day in this gospel’s account of the new creation in Christ. For the fourth evangelist, Jesus Christ is the true son of the true God. Yet the glory of this God will come on the cross rather than in ritual ecstasy. Also, the fourth evangelist may be echoing the messianic poems by the Israelite prophets, in which plentiful wine will be served at the end of time.
Join us on Sunday at 10:30 AM and see Jesus as the good son who listens to his mother and miraculously turns bath water into 175 gallons of the best wine! Nothing but the best comes from Jesus!
May Christ’s light fill your heart and guide your path all year.
Pastor Eric
Musings from the Pastor’s Desk
January 12, 2025
What Do You Remember About Your Baptism?
What do you remember about your baptism? This was the question our retreat leader asked us. Not many of us in attendance could answer the question except a few who were baptized as teens or young adults and could share their vivid memories of the event. Their stories were interesting, and I began thinking about my own baptism.
In preparation for the retreat, we had to bring our baptismal certificates. I didn’t have mine, but I viewed the church book containing all the congregation’s baptisms, funerals, and weddings. My name was listed with two other infants at the 11:00 AM worship service at Good Shepherd Lutheran, Plainview, NY, on November 22, 1960.
But this was the only information I had. I asked the family members who were still alive what they remembered, and my aunt, who was my Godmother, could not remember anything. I asked my mother, and her response was, “I don’t know, I wasn’t there.” Where were you, Mom? I asked. She said, “I was home cooking.”
I was shocked and could only laugh. Friends told me it was a cultural thing where the family stayed back to prepare the banquet. But it bothered me for some time that I didn’t have any details from my big day. I could only surmise that I was a well-behaved baby and didn’t cry.
But over time, I pondered how my baptism was not about what we ate, what I was dressed in, or if I cried. What I will remember are the words of life and promise. I was delivered from sin and death and raised to new life in Christ Jesus. God called me by name and claimed me as a child of God, sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.
I love the hymn, You Are Mine, “Do not be afraid, I am with you. I have called you each by name. Come and follow me; I will bring you home. I love you, and you are mine.”
Join us Sunday at 10:30 AM as we celebrate the Baptism of Our Lord. We will affirm our baptism together and feel the love and glory of Jesus Christ wash over us. All are welcome!
May Christ’s light fill your heart and guide your path all year.
Musings from the Pastor’s Desk
January 5, 2025
Hope in Action
I’ve often considered hope a noun, “an optimistic state of mind, based on expecting positive outcomes regarding events and circumstances in one’s life or the world.” (Wikipedia)
This week, I received a card from Sojourners, a Progressive Christian publication, stating, “Hope Is An Action Word.” Yes, hope can also be a verb that describes wishing or desiring something to happen in the future. It refers to a mental state or feeling of expectation and anticipation. For example: “I hope you have a great day!”
In Sunday’s Gospel lesson from John 1:1-18, we hear, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.” The incarnation of God gives us hope that a better future is coming. Even after Advent, we continue to prepare and wait for Jesus’ coming in glory to bring us the Kingdom of Heaven. Hope is an optimistic state of mind, based on the expectation of positive outcomes and is a crucial way to deal with adversity and uncertainty.
Can we enter the new year with hope? Author Adrienne Maree Brown wrote, “The only recognizable feature of hope is action.” There are many ways we can put hope into action. One is to cultivate love and connection. Love can be measured by effort, intention, and the heart behind our actions. Love can change the world because it expresses care.
For me, faith, love, and hope follow each other. We can’t have hope unless we have faith and love. Earlier this week, our 39th President, Jimmy Carter, died. He often said, “My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I can, whenever I can, for as long as I can.” Jimmy Carter dedicated himself to serving others by modeling what it means to be faithful in word and deed. He built homes, dedicated himself to fighting inequality, and fought to eradicate disease and poverty worldwide. In her meditation, Rev. Cameron Trimble said, “In every season of his life, he carried the conviction that service is not just something we retire from–it is something we live into. Carter showed us that greatness is not measured by titles or accomplishments but by the love and care we extend to others.”
We can cultivate hope in our communities by serving with humility, acting with integrity, and caring for others with compassion. Hope calls for action, and action is impossible without hope.
Please join us for worship this Sunday at 10:30AM in person or via Facebook Live; be transformed by God’s grace and forgiveness. All are welcome!
Christmas Blessings!
Pastor Eric
Musings from the Pastor’s Desk
December 22, 2024
Give Thanks to the Holy Child
During this most holy season, may you, like Mary, give birth to the Christ within you to reach out and be part of Christmas’ miracle and mystery. As you celebrate the nativity and welcome the Child into your hearts and lives, welcome every child into your Christian community. Be there for new parents. Help new parents sort out all their every day crazy thoughts and feelings associated with the crisis of childbirth. Offer them the hope of growing and developing as people and parents.
A little child led us to know ourselves and to be our best selves. That message is repeated powerfully with each new child on earth. Christmas invites us to thank our children for the life that God has so miraculously given us through them. Christmas invites us to thank the Holy Child, whose birth and life in love enable parents and children to become holy families. (The above two paragraphs are excerpts from Christmas and Childbirth: A Mother’s Reflections by Joan M. Haugk. Copyright © 1985, 2024 by Stephen Ministries St. Louis. Permission is granted to make copies to share with others.)
Please join us for worship on the fourth Sunday of Advent when we light the love candle on our Advent wreath. Worship and experience the love and joy of being a child of God at 10:30AM in person or via Facebook Live; be transformed by God’s grace and forgiveness. All are welcome!
Advent Love & Joy+
Musings from the Pastor’s Desk
December 15, 2024
The Joy of Kindergarten
“Think what a better world it would be if the whole world had cookies and milk about three o’clock every afternoon and then lay down with their blankies for a nap. And it is still valid; no matter how old you are when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.” (Robert Fulghum)
Robert Fulghum wrote All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. The title comes from the first essay in the volume, in which Fulghum lists lessons usually learned in American kindergarten classrooms and explains how the world would be improved if adults adhered to the same basic rules as children, i.e., sharing, being kind to one another, cleaning up after themselves, and living “a balanced life” of work, play, and learning.
The book emphasizes basic life skills, such as sharing toys, saying “please” and “thank you;” cleaning up after yourself, and not hitting others. A central theme is treating others how you want to be treated, often called the “Golden Rule.” Fulghum encourages a positive outlook on life, emphasizing the importance of finding joy in simple things and being open to new experiences.
Think about how our world would be if the adults shared what they had,
were kind to each other, and did not hit each other. In Sunday’s Gospel from Luke, John the Baptist says what counts in life is to bear good fruits worthy of repentance. When the crowds ask him, “What shall we do?” John gives concrete ethical instructions on how to live a life that begins with changing what’s inside you.
How can we live a life that bears good fruits worthy of repentance? We only have to look back to our early school years and recall the lessons our teachers and parents taught us.
- Share everything.
- Play fair.
- Don’t hit people.
- Put things back where you found them.
- CLEAN UP YOUR OWN MESS.
- Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
- Say you’re SORRY when you HURT somebody.
- Wash your hands before you eat.
- Flush.
- Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
- Live a balanced life—learn some, drink some, draw some, paint some, sing and dance and play, and work some every day.
- Take a nap every afternoon.
- When you go out into the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands, and stick together.
- Be aware of wonder. Remember the tiny seed in the Styrofoam cup: The roots go down, and the plant goes up, and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
- Goldfish, hamsters, white mice, and even the little seed in the Styrofoam cup all die. So do we.
- And then remember the Dick-and-Jane books and the first word you learned – the biggest word of all – LOOK.
(Robert Fulghum, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten)
Join us for worship at 10:30AM on the third Sunday of Advent, in person or via Facebook Live. We will light the Joy candle on our Advent wreath. Come and experience the joy of being transformed by God’s grace and forgiveness. All are welcome!
Advent Joy+
Pastor Eric
Musings from the Pastor’s Desk
December 8th, 2024
Do You Need a Hug?
There are days we need a hug. As the days get shorter and colder, many are prone to bouts of depression. The holidays are especially tough. While Advent is a season of hope and Christmas is a season of joy, not everyone feels hopeful or like celebrating. Grief, illness, aging, loneliness, and loss are magnified. Even those not struggling with losses may feel the stress of preparations and expectations around Christmas.
If you are feeling blue, you might need a hug! Giving and receiving hugs during the holiday season is beneficial because hugs create meaningful emotional, physical, and social connections. This is especially important during a time that can evoke joy and stress.
Here’s why hugs are so helpful.
Hugs promote emotional well-being and can reduce loneliness. They reassure someone that they are loved and not alone. Hugs convey care and affection and spread holiday cheer. Hugs can relieve stress and anxiety by triggering the release of oxytocin, known as the love hormone, which reduces stress and increases feelings of calm and safety.
Physical touch can help ease anxiety during the hectic holiday season by creating a sense of security. Research suggests that hugging can support the immune system by reducing stress levels. Hugs have been shown to reduce blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health, promoting overall wellness.
The next time you see someone sad, anxious, or stressed out, hug them. If you are feeling blue, ask someone to hug you. Whether you’re sharing a joyful hug at a reunion or offering a comforting embrace to someone in need, hugs embody the spirit of the holidays: Love, compassion, and unity.
On Sunday, we will light the peace candle on our Advent wreath. Come to worship and experience the peace and love that God provides … and get a hug!
We will worship together on Sunday at 10:30 AM in person or via Facebook Live. All are welcome!
Advent Blessings+
Pastor Eric
November 24th 2024
To Be A Blessing
This wonderful blessing from author Kate Bowler, taken from her new book of blessings, “The Lives We Actually Have,” can help us as we live our lives as Christians; told by the Prophet Micah, “Doing justice, Loving kindness, and Walking humbly with our God.”
In short, she says, “May you be blessed with the courage to love beyond the lines that divide, to see the beauty in your differences, and to find strength in the tapestry woven from your unique perspectives. When the world tries to pull you apart, may your love be the bridge that connects, reminding you that the most profound connections often bloom where the seeds of difference are shown.
Below is her blessing, which can be used as a meditation tool, prayer, or personal reflection. Be a blessing and share this with others.
A Blessing for Loving Someone When Differences Divide Us.
God, this is a hard one. How do I begin to love or even connect with someone so different from me?
How do I bridge this gap? It feels wrong as the beliefs I abhor.
Blessed are we who want to be a part of the wild and beautiful experiment to find a common humanity.
Who desires to come willingly into the gap that separates human from human to love the stranger, especially the one we really don’t understand and secretly want to set straight.
Blessed are we, willing to stay in the gap, in the contradictions of what we can’t understand.
To actively work on disproving our intuitions about another, in order to begin to see what they see.
Blessed are we, swimming upstream against the current of our own human frailty, our fears and emotions, and willing to be wrong for a second.
To reconsider. And hold to our integrity with kindness.
Desiring to see the lay of the land and play the course, instead of the one we wished it could be.
And to discover that humility is what makes change possible.
Grace is never neutral. It works backwards and forwards in time, conspiring to make wrong right.
May these words from Kate Bowler give you the courage to respect our differences and be repairers of the breach.
Join us for worship on Sunday at 10:30 AM in person or via Facebook Live. All are welcome!
Peace+
Pastor Eric
Musings from the Pastor’s Desk November 10, 2024
Sunday’s reading features other faithful and courageous women like Shiphrah and Phua, whom we heard from last week. Our reading from The Acts of the Apostles (16:11-15) features Lydia, an essential supporter of Paul’s missionary work.
Lydia’s encounter with Paul occurred in Philippi, where Paul had been directed to go by a vision. She was gathered with other women by a riverside when Paul and his companions preached there. The text notes that “the Lord opened her heart” to respond to Paul’s message, and she and her household were baptized.
Lydia was a prosperous merchant, dealing in purple cloth, a luxury item often associated with wealth and nobility, which suggests she was a woman of means and independence. Lydia is described as a “worshiper of God,” indicating she was likely a Gentile who respected and practiced some aspects of Judaism.
Lydia’s contributions to Paul’s travels were both spiritual and material. After her baptism, she invited Paul and his companions to stay in her home, offering them a place of hospitality and refuge. This support provided a base for Paul’s ministry in Philippi and established her household as one of the first Christian gatherings in Europe. Lydia’s hospitality set a precedent in the early Christian church for supporting missionaries and leaders, and her home became one of the first known house churches.
Lydia was considered a bridgebuilder because her hospitality fostered community and unity. Her ability to listen to God’s call was an act of faith, and Lydia’s hospitality demonstrated that our faith must be lived out through concrete actions.
After a difficult and divisive election season, Sunday’s message will focus on repairing the division between our friends, neighbors, and family. The division will no doubt continue, and as disciples of Jesus, we have an essential role to play in helping to repair it.
There are three questions I ask you to ponder:
- How can we be like Lydia in our interactions with others who are different and have differing political opinions?
- How can we cultivate a spirit of listening and responsiveness to God’s call to repair the breaches in our world?
- How can hospitality bring us together to look beyond our opinions and listen with respect while still speaking our truth?
These three critical questions will require courage and involve risking something that might feel uncomfortable. As disciples of Jesus, we have a role model to emulate and follow, and we call upon the Holy Spirit to guide us.
Musings from the Pastor’s Desk for March 10, 2024
Musings from the Pastor’s Desk for February 25, 2024
- Wednesday at 7:00 PM, where we will praise God for the forgiveness we have received.
- Wednesday morning from 7:30-9:30, “Ashes to Go” are given in our driveway for those on the way to work.
Musings from the Pastor’s Desk for January 21, 2024
Musings from the Pastor’s Desk for July 9, 2023
- The Lord God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in love.
- The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.
- The Lord is faithful and gracious.
- Author unknown.
Whenever you’re around I feel the sky tumbling down I feel my heart start to trembling
Peace and blessings!
- “I’m listening.”
- “You can always talk to me.”
- “I’m here.”
- “You’re not alone.”
- “Your feelings are valid.”
- “You’re allowed to feel anxious, even if you don’t know why.”
- “I might not understand what you’re going through, but I’m always here for you to talk to me if you need to.”
- “You don’t need to explain yourself to anyone, including me.”
- “I’ll stay with you as long as you need me.”
- “It’s OK that you feel this way.”
- “You’re loved.”
- 1 in 5 adults experiences mental illness each year.
- 1% of U.S. adults with mental illness also experienced a substance use disorder in 2020 (17 million individuals).
- 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24.
- Lifetime prevalence of any Anxiety Disorder: 31.6%
- Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental illnesses in America.
- Major depression is one of the most common mental illnesses.
- Percent of U.S. Adults with Major Depression: 8.4%
- Percent of Youth (aged 12-17) with Major Depression: 15.1%
- Percent of Youth with Severe Depression: 10.6%
Veterans Crisis Line – Call 1-800-273-8255, press 1
National Alliance on Mental Illness Help Line – Call 1-800-950-6264 or Text 62640
Mental Health America – Call or Text 988 or Chat 988lifeline.org (
For Deaf or hard of hearing, dial 771, then 1-800-273-8255
Just can’t wait to get on the road again
The life I love is making music with my friends
And I can’t wait to Get on the road again – written by Willie Nelson
On the road again
Just can’t wait to get on the road again
The life I love is making music with my friends
And I can’t wait to get on the road again
On the road again
Goin’ places that I’ve never been
Seein’ things that I may never see again
I can’t wait to get on the road again – written by Willie Nelson
Musings from the Pastor’s Desk for March 16, 2023
Musings from the Pastor’s Desk for March 12, 2023
Musings from the Pastor’s Desk for March 5, 2023Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss! On March 2, 1904, Theodor Seuss Geisel, the children’s author, and cartoonist better known by his pen name, Dr. Seuss, entered the world. To honor his birthday, a reading celebration, “Read Across America,” will occur nationwide in thousands of schools, libraries, and community centers. My favorite Dr. Seuss book was “Green Eggs and Ham.” I loved how the dialogue rhymed, and it was a bit silly! But it made me want to read.Geisel was a master at inspiring children with dialogue as a literary technique. Dialogue, a conversation between two or more people in a narrative work, helps advance the plot, reveal a character’s thoughts or feelings, and show how the characters react in a moment. Dr. Seuss’ simple words and rhythmic patterns easily captivate young minds and bring them into the character discussions.The genius use of this device to draw readers to the chit-chat between characters demonstrates the importance of conversation. An open one-on-one casual conversation between two characters creates space for thinking, empathy, and for the critical communication tools we need to live a successful life. Moreover, dialogue can genuinely change the world. Take, for example, “Horton Hears a Who!” In that book, the main character, an elephant named Horton, hears a tiny voice coming from a spec of dust, which he discovers is a small planet called Whoville. After dialoguing with the mayor of Whoville, Horton concludes, “a person’s a person no matter how small,” and Horton goes on with the adventures of trying to save Whoville from being incinerated.In my favorite Seuss book, the dialogue occurs between a character named Sam I Am and another unnamed man who relentlessly tries to persuade him to change his mind. Finally, the ongoing conversation concludes with the success of opening one’s mind: “I do so like green eggs and ham!”The backstory of “Green Eggs and Ham” also includes an example of the success of dialogue. The author’s publisher challenged Seuss to write a book that contained fewer words than his previous best seller, “Cat in the Hat,” which included 236 words. Seuss won the bet by writing this new masterpiece with only 50 words, and only one of the words has more than one syllable: anywhere. That dialogue resulted in his new book selling more than eight million copies worldwide.As schools celebrate Dr. Seuss this month, remember the importance of dialogue. This Sunday’s Gospel message invites us to listen in on one of the essential dialogues recorded in Scripture, a conversation between Jesus and the pharisee Nicodemus. We will hear the discussion as we gather for worship on Sunday, March 5, at 10:30 AM or via; live stream on our Facebook page HopeClinton or our website Hopeclinton.org.Will you join us? Would you? Could you? I promise I won’t ask you to eat green eggs and ham!
Musings from the Pastor’s Desk for February 26, 2023