We continued our 5 week sermon series studying stories of water in the Bible. This week we read and reflected on Acts 8:26-39, “Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch.” The two individuals have a deep spiritual encounter on the road. Their conversation includes 4 important questions and culminates in a spontaneous baptism. We are invited into the story, reflecting on our own faith journey, including baptism. 

This Sunday, we continued our 5 week summer series, Come to the Water and welcomed our guest Preach, the Rev. Lisa Eleck.

Almost everything in this part of God’s creation needs water.  Without water there would be no life on earth.  According to the book of Genesis even before the creation began there was water, “a wind from God swept over the face of the water.”

Water is also an important part of our faith.  Not only is water present at the beginning, but Jesus also actually walked on water.  And not only that, but the most unlikely people are baptized in water.  Jesus also asked unlikely people for a drink of water, and an unlikely prophet gets thrown from a ship into water only to be saved by a great fish that swallowed him.  For the next five weeks we will be exploring biblical images of water and how water may remind us of God’s presence in our lives

This Sunday featured a Litany for Outdoor Ministries, focusing on our UCC CT Silver Lake Camp and Conference Center. Pastor Ron and Pastor Laura ministered at Silver Lake, and will be sharing their reflections on Silver Lake and UCC Camp Ministry as apart of a dialogue sermon.       

One definition of perspective is "a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view."

How do we affect others? How do others affect us? Sunday we explored why the "How" is important in our journey.

For June 30 and July 7, Pastor Laura's mini-sermon series will incorporate stories from her pilgrimage to Iona. June 30 was more history focused, about St. Columba and the history of pilgrimage. This Sunday, July 7, will be focused on the Iona Abbey community today. Join us in worship or watch a recording if you would like to hear more about Celtic spirituality and the transformation of pilgrimage.

Pastor Laura's pilgrimage to Iona was a profound and transformative journey. The journey was not simply travel, but truly a spiritual pilgrimage. Nestled in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, Iona is revered for its historical and spiritual significance, drawing pilgrims seeking solace, enlightenment, and connection with the Divine.

From the moment Pastor Laura set foot on the island, a sense of sacredness enveloped her. The rugged landscape, surrounded by the restless sea, seemed to whisper tales of centuries past. The abbey stands as a testament to the island’s role as a cradle of Christianity in Scotland, founded by Saint Columba in the 6th century. As she wandered through the abbey’s weathered stones and moss-covered walls, a deep felt of reverence for the generations of pilgrims who had come before us, seeking spiritual renewal in this hallowed place.

The community on Iona, both residents and fellow pilgrims, also enriched my journey. Whether sharing meals in the cozy warmth of the St. Columba Hotel or attending services in the abbey’s chapel, Pastor Laura felt a sense of kinship with others who, like her, were on a quest for deeper spiritual meaning. 

The people in the church at Corinth always had an excuse for not doing what Paul told them to do.  Paul was growing tired of it.  “We have spoken frankly to you Corinthians,” he finally tells them.  “There is no restriction in our affections but only in yours.”

Those words hit me hard as I began to plan for PRIDE Sunday.  How many of our LGBTQIA+ siblings have felt the “restrictions” from the church?  We have come a long way in unrestricting affections over the last few years, but we aren’t there yet.  So, this Sunday we talked about what it truly means to have our hearts wide open to all God’s children.  How can we be loud and proud with our weekly welcome and say to everyone, all y’all, no matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, are welcome here.

Pastor Laura has been reflecting on changing seasons – for some, Memorial Day Weekend marks the start of summer, or others might be counting down to the Summer Solstice on June 20th. This Sunday, we will recognize our high school graduates, students who are marking a different change of seasons. Graduations, birthdays, holidays help us celebrate milestones and recognize the changing seasons of our lives.

The words of the Psalm remind us of the ways that nature can be our spiritual teacher. Maybe you are in a season of bearing fruit and celebrating new adventures? Or maybe it is a season of rest, enjoying the refreshing waters of creation. 

come into being! ~2 Corinthians 5:17

During the seasons of Advent and Lent, times when we are preparing for something (birth during Advent and resurrection during Lent), we will pray a unison prayer of confession. We do not pray those prayers because we are fundamentally bad people. Rather we pray those prayers in order to remember that God has the ability to transform us, even when we are not the best people that God calls us to be. God can turn even our failures around when we are honest enough to recognize and acknowledge them.

After the confession, Pastor Laura or I always offer words of forgiveness, words that recognize the

extraordinary power to transform our lives comes from God, not from us. Often, part of that assurance

comes from the scripture verse above, anyone in Christ is a new creation! On Sunday, we will explore

what that means.