Pastor Patricia’s Pauses

Happy fall! This is one of my favorite times of the year. Maybe it is the warm, cozy sweaters or the pumpkin spice everything or the cooler nights. Maybe it’s Halloween (that is my all-time favorite holiday because of my incessant sweet tooth)! It’s a time to snuggle inside or around a bonfire with a cup of hot apple cider. A time to reflect on how we enjoyed summer and will endure winter. The nights are getting longer, the evenings shorter.

My semester in Seminary is in full swing now. I’m taking 3 classes: Sayings of Jesus, Methods of Interreligious and Intercultural Encounter and Systemic Theology. They are all very intriguing to me and I’m fortunate to be blessed by these classes through the Holy Spirit.

Pie making has been up and running now for a few weeks. The amount of effort that goes into making just one pie still astounds me. But it just goes to show what a group of determined women (and man – Patrick!) can do when they put their minds to it! All the pie making crews will be needing a long winter’s nap!

Bible study, “Forgiving What We Can’t Forget” has been really good, too. I invite anyone to come by any Thursday evening as we will be finishing up the study by the end of this month. This is a chance for all of us to deepen our understanding of forgiveness and each other. Good fellowship happens as well every week.

I have live streamed Sunday services on Facebook for the last month or so. I have not figured out how to do it on the church’s Facebook page, but I do it on my own. Please send a “friend request” to me if you are interested in viewing the live stream. Facebook keeps the video for 30 days, so it can be watched later. This has been a blessing of surprise for me! It is so much easier than recording my sermon and the viewer/listener gets the whole service – not just the sermon.

As we enter into fall, I pray that you find some time to rest and time to deepen your relationship with God. I care deeply for each and every one of you and this church. If you have any pastoral needs, please do not hesitate to contact me.