Dear Caldwell, It’s been fun to find ourselves over and over again in the ancient story told in Exodus of the Israelites’ liberation and journey to the promised land. It is, most of all, the story of a God who frees and provides for all. This week, that story intersects nicely with our own consideration …
“We love God because God first loved us.” Dear Caldwell, The words above may ring a bell. We say them when we baptize infants and toddlers. Long before we can know God, God has adopted us. This is the order of our lives with God. God moves first, out of love, and we respond. This week …
Dear Caldwell, I heard an interesting interview on NPR yesterday about the power of symbols and how some organizations use secret symbols like hand gestures or bumper stickers to identify themselves, including white supremacists. People have always used symbols, for good and for evil, even after developing complex languages. Symbols hold power. They can mark …
Dear Caldwell, In 1951, the great southern novelist William Faulkner penned a story about sin and redemption titled Requiem for a Nun. It included one of Faulkner’s most famous lines, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.” That truth describes more than how past sins can haunt us. It describes ancient patterns and practices in how the …
I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the …
Dear Caldwell Family, In January, our congregation met and talked in depth about the feasibility of a campaign to raise $600,000 in capital funds to do our part in transforming the Price Building into affordable housing for our neighbors in need. After your enthusiastic engagement and supportive response, it’s time to take the next step. …
Dear Caldwell, Last fall, several Caldwell members traveled to the Holy Land. As we pause in the three days from Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday, I invite you to walk with Jesus and the scriptures through some of the pictures from that trip and consider these questions. …
Dear Caldwell, Our Sunday to Sunday Holy Week journey this week takes us from the high of Palm Sunday to the low of Maundy Thursday, all so that we can then prepare fully for Easter resurrection. Thursday night at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary we will share the Last Supper, offer the opportunity for foot washing …
Dear Caldwell, As we move from Sunday to Sunday this week, Intern Amy Speas has chosen a scripture for this Sunday that lifts up one of the Bible’s more intriguing images. Last Sunday, we considered the covenant offer God makes to us in Communion. This week, Jeremiah describes that covenant with God this way. “This is …
Dear Caldwell, Last Sunday we heard the voices of our youth and one adult member of our Heifer Ranch mission trip reflect on what they learned about poverty amidst God’s abundance – and how they will live differently based on what they learned. As we travel from Sunday to Sunday this week, we will stay with …
