Letter from the Pastor

 There are some clear indications today of a decline in religious interest, or at least, a decline in active involvement in the Church.  So we ask ourselves today, “How serious is this decline? What does it mean?  How long will it last?  How deep will it go?”  I do not pretend to have all the answers.  I do know that in order to get the picture in perspective we must stand far enough back to take a broad, long look.  This kind of thing may be new to many of us, but it is not new in the life of […]

In these rather turbulent times, I think almost every one of us knows what it is to have a tranquil life interrupted by an unexpected storm.  It may begin with a spouse    saying, “I don’t love you anymore; I want out.”  Or it can be a doctor who says, “Sit down; we need to talk.  The tests do not look good.”  Or it might be from an employer who says, “We don’t need your services anymore.”  Or a terrorist, who says, “We hate you; and we will do all we can to destroy you.” In this world, the possibilities of […]

In one of the letters of St. Paul, we’re told:  “Let the word of Christ, rich as it is, dwell in you.  In wisdom made perfect, instruct and admonish one another.  Sing gratefully to God from your hearts in psalms, hymns and inspired songs.  Whatever you do, whether in speech or in action, do it in name of the Lord Jesus.” The gift of speech is to be used for praise and worship God. It is to be used to create joy and laughter and song.  It is meant to persuade us in those things that are for our good […]

Have you ever felt the frustration of wanting to say something, but not knowing how to say it?  You have loved someone very deeply, and have sought the words to express that love, but never could find them.  You have shared the sorrow of a friend and have tried to tell him or her how much you cared.  But the words that you spoke did not begin to convey the sympathy that you felt.  Those who are parents have wanted to tell your child something about life something he or she desperately needed to know.  You tried to do that.  […]

Thursday of this week is the 4th of July, a date of historical significance because it marks the birth of our nation. It was on that day in 1776 that representatives of the thirteen colonies signed a document declaring themselves to be a free and independent nation. Most of us are familiar with the contents of that document. We, of course, know it as “The Declaration of Independence.” In clear and concise language, it avows that the colonies are no longer connected with or controlled by the British Empire. That part of the story is common knowledge, but I wonder […]