Pastor’s Column 4th Sunday of Lent March 27, 2022 There are three players in this Sunday's parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:1–32): the loving, generous father who is watching and waiting for the return of his child; the selfish, self-centered younger son who rejects his father and squanders his money; and the older, faithful son who is lacking in compassion. Most of us can identify with one or all of these characters at different times in our lives. The younger son just c

Pastor’s Column 3rd Sunday of Lent March 20, 2022 Haven’t we all at times wanted to ask God, “Why did this happen?” This is precisely what Jesus is asked in this Sunday’s gospel (Luke 13:1-9). “Why did all those people die when the tower in Siloam collapsed? Why were those Jews put to death by Pilate? Were their sins greater than others? Did they somehow ‘deserve’ what happened to them?” Often enough, we have similar questions for God. One has only to read the daily papers.

Pastor’s Column 2nd Sunday of Lent March 13, 2022 “Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good that we are here. Let us build three tents: one for you; one for Moses; one for Elijah.” (from Luke 9:28-36) No pilgrimage to the Holy Land is complete without a visit to Mount Tabor, only about 6 miles from Nazareth in Galilee. The mountain rises about 2000 feet above the plain, with a commanding view. Many years ago I was on a pilgrimage where we had the choice of walking up (like th

Pastor’s Column 1st Sunday of Lent March 6, 2022 Lent is our great opportunity to allow the Holy Spirit to work a spiritual reset within us. Each human being is a union of body and soul. During our lives on earth, God gives each of us free will so that we can exercise choices. While we live, each day, but especially during Lent, we are now in the process of choosing our eternal destiny and the degree to which we will enjoy the glory of God forever in heaven. So much of this w