Pastors' Blog
Archives: April 2021
Dear Beloveds,
There are plenty of settings in which it is appropriate, right, and good to say “thanks.” We thank our families, friends, service people, and God. Last week, Kent invited us to consider the first essential prayer: “Help!” As we continue in the season of Eastertide (the fifth Sunday) and United Parish’s time of stewardship (the second Sunday), we consider the second topic of...
We can all agree that the past 14 months have been a doozy, unlike anything most of us can recall in living memory. Through all of it, I continue to be impressed and inspired by the resilience and ingenuity of our staff and congregation. We have held it together amazingly well. But it's not always easy.
About a decade ago, Anne Lamott offered a book on "the three essential prayers," called ...
This Sunday, we welcome member Kate Baker-Carr as our preacher.
Kate writes:
These last weeks have been a time of great transition and change.
We have moved from Lent through three of the holiest days in the Christian calendar—Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday—and are now in the joyous season of Easter! We are summoned to new life with the Risen Christ. The transition seems straightforward and direct, but in real life, it rarely is. Transitions can be murky and...
One of the benefits of the pandemic has been the ways it has normalized gathering online. Family get-togethers, parties, conferences and worship have continued to happen -- just online. Sure, many of us have had our fill of Zoom fatigue and frustration, but we have been able to connect with loved ones and colleagues across hundreds, even thousands, of miles in ways we wouldn't have considered a year ago. While we can all agree they have not been the same as being "in person," and we've...
Holy Week 2021 at United Parish
Dear Ones,
With all of the events of the past year...with all of the events of the past week, it feels like we have been dwelling in Good Friday for quite some time. And yet, despite the goings on of the world around us, Christ has been born, Christ has offered up his friendship, teachings, and love, and Christ will soon be betrayed by a friend and executed by the state while we stand by in the crowd and watch. Each year when we get...
