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A Sunday (13) in the Life of a Pastor/Mother: 3 Going on 16
“Sound of Music” is one of my favorite movies. I even went to Salzburg and did the “Sound of Music” tour. One of my favorite scenes is when Rolf and Liesl sang “I am 16 going on 17.” In a couple months, my baby girl will be turning 4. I asked her last night how…
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Is There a Different Way to Do Presbytery Meetings?
I began my moderator year for the Presbytery of San Francisco January of this year. My focus for this year is to change the way we meet during our Presbytery meetings. Like most presbyteries, we sit in pews for 5-7 hours listening to reports and voting on important issues. What is clear is that people…
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United We Stand, Divided We Fall
22“No!” the other woman shouted. “He was your son. My baby is alive!” “The dead baby is yours,” the first woman yelled. “Mine is alive!” They argued back and forth in front of Solomon, 23until finally he said, “Both of you say this live baby is yours.24Someone bring me a sword.” A sword was brought, and Solomon ordered, 25“Cut the…
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A Sunday (12) in the Life of a Pastor/Mother: Happy Birthday
Today, we celebrated St. John’s 142nd birthday. It always falls near St. Patrick’s Day, so usually we celebrate with corned beef and cabbage and of course a chocolate cake. It’s amazing to reflect on how much has changed in the 8 years that I’ve been there, I can only imagine how much has changed in…
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The World Is Flat or Is It? – Changes in Presbytery & GA
9 The headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine. He didn’t know where it came from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. (John 2.9) Jesus chose as his first miracle to change water into wine. Seems like a mundane trick to choose as your first “hey guys, look what I can do”…
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A Sunday (11) in the Life of a Pastor/Mother: Spring Forward
1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. (Ecclesiastes 3.1) I’m convinced that Daylight Savings Time is some cruel joke on either parents or pastors. And if you are both, then it is doubly cruel, especially when you lose an hour. Daylight Savings Time only seems to affect pastors…
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Help the Children: Empower or Save?
13 Some people brought children to Jesus so that he would place his hands on them and pray. But the disciples scolded them. 14 “Allow the children to come to me,” Jesus said. “Don’t forbid them, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to people like these children.” 15 Then he blessed the children and went away from there. (Matthew 19.13-15) Recently, there…
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A Sunday (10) in the Life of a Pastor/Mother: Jesus & 3 Year Olds
41Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for Passover. 42And when Jesus was twelve years old, they all went there as usual for the celebration. 43After Passover his parents left, but they did not know that Jesus had stayed on in the city. 44They thought he was traveling with some other people, and they went a whole day…
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Interactive Prayer Stations for Lent II
1 Jesus returned from the Jordan River full of the Holy Spirit, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness. (Luke 4.1) Lent is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on one’s spiritual and faith journey. There are many themes you could focus on. This particular one focuses on the word “journey.” Below are ideas for…