Dear Caldwell, Gail here. Advent is upon us. The season of celebrating the birth of Jesus our Savior has been one of my favorites since my childhood. I’ve always loved Christmas – all the singing and Christmas pageants, all the candles and gifts under the tree. What I’ve come to recognize as I’ve gotten older …
Dear Caldwell, This morning, I read a fascinating profile of a philanthropist named Agnes Gund, who has given millions to worthwhile causes. She recently reflected on her life and her choice not to go into the family business, as her brothers did, because she would have more money. “What would you do with it,” her daughter asked? “I …
Dear Caldwell, Greetings! Gail here at the keyboard this week. I hope and pray that this blog finds you healthy, warm, dry, and rejoicing in the Lord. Despite all the bad news we see and hear about the world around us, we have reason to give God thanks. We can be grateful for food, clothing, …
Dear Caldwell, Well, the mid-term elections have come and gone. The talking heads are slicing and dicing and interpreting the results every which way and will be for a while yet. Some elections still haven’t been called. For many of us, the disquieting state of our national life is still just that – unsettled. Two things …
Yesterday, we heard Mother Teresa’s wise words that, rather than praying for clarity about our lives and the world, we should pray for trust in God. As we await the election results in these days when clarity seems so hard to find, that is a good word. The rest of my sermon yesterday is below, offered …
Dear Caldwell, Last week’s tragedy at a Pittsburgh synagogue may raise questions and concerns about safety at Caldwell on Sunday mornings. Please know that deep thought and preparation have gone into considerations of how to keep as safe as we can on Sundays. A special committee took more than a year to examine best practices, …
Dear Caldwell, Gail here. It’s Halloween today. This day is a tough one for me – because I have a serious sweet tooth. When my husband buys candy for trick or treaters, I always hope he gets candy that I don’t like. That way, I will be less likely to binge on it during the …
Dear Caldwell, As we travel this week from Sunday to Sunday, we are given the words of Rev. Jan Edmiston’s sermon, “How do we make our lives into a thank-you note?” Thank you for what? For God’s grace in our lives; for the hope God stubbornly and unfailingly offers in dark days; for the oft-repeated words …
Dear Caldwell, Perhaps you’ve heard my theory that God’s favorite number is three. (If you haven’t, let’s talk. I can make a strong case!) That theory pops up again as we move through Stewardship Season to raise the 2019 church budget. We are doing so in three steps – the three steps that, according to Thomas …
Dear Caldwell, Each Sunday, we confess our sin and shortcomings and hear the assurance of the Lord’s pardon, saying aloud: “In the name of Christ, we receive God’s gift of grace, May the peace of Christ be also with you.” God’s gift of grace …. There is no other word for how God takes the lead …
