Grace to you and peace, from God our Creator and the Lord Jesus Christ!  Do you know that you are standing on holy ground?  As is often true, a single phrase from scripture makes me think we could stop with the single line.  On this first Sunday of September, with the Blue Hill Fair in the background of all we do and with weather cooperating with a celebratory weekend, it may be that our standing on holy ground could be our greatest recognition.  We celebrate the sacrament of Communion tomorrow and also consider what is sacred and what is to be our response to the sacred.  I can’t wait!  Join us?

Grace to you and peace, from God our Creator and the Lord Jesus Christ!  Romans 12:2 reades,  “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God–what is good and acceptable and perfect.”  — tied to the theme of the sermon, which asks the question “who do we say we are?”

Blessings and peace, Lisa

Grace to you and peace, from God our Creator and the Lord Jesus Christ!  It’s an old story and in some ways may feel like it remains a world apart from our own circumstances.  In other ways, this and nearly every other story from scripture has echoes in our own lives.  That is why we continue to claim these stories’ relevance to our lives.  While Joseph’s being sold as a slave and ending up in the court of the pharaoh may not seem like something we can understand, his faith and his forgiveness can be lessons for our own journeys.  Let’s explore this together. 

Blessings and peace, Lisa

Grace to you and peace, from God our Creator and the Lord Jesus Christ!  I often quote the unnamed source who said “coincidences are God’s way of remaining anonymous” (often credited to either Einstein or Doris Lessing), but usually prefer the term serendipity or providence for the way that occurences align well.  I look forward to worship tomorrow when Derek Van Bever will open up the Word for us and I get to be there!  Our choir has prepared a beautiful anthem, and in the way of serendipity, a song I had stumbled on this week carries part of the message that Derek will share.  While today’s Blueberry Festival may tire out many, I hope that many of us will join together in worship, as well.  Attendance has been very high this summer, and the Spirit is fresh among us!  See you in church!

Blessings and Peace, Lisa

Grace to you and peace, from God our Creator and the Lord Jesus Christ!  I am grateful to you for your understanding as I am in CO for the funeral for a dear family friend this week (leading the service for a family who were members of my father’s church).  I know that we all welcome Clair Maxwell, who again will be at the organ for us while Ann is on vacation.  Thank you, Clair!  My thanks also go out to Jeannie Warren who will be sharing a wonderful message with you from a book I have longed to share with you for some time.  My thanks also to BJ Harris, who will step in as deacon on duty and lead you in your prayers.  Ours is a mighty and faithful congregation!  Come, and worship God together! On another note, I know that many of you will want to attend the memorial service for our dear friend Ruth Anne Beach.  This will be held Saturday, August 19th at 11:00 a.m. in our sanctuary, with refreshments to follow in Fisher Hall.  Please ask Lisa Groo if you are able to help with the reception.
Blessings and Peace, Lisa

Grace to you and peace, from God our Creator and the Lord Jesus Christ!  I look forward to seeing many of you at the performance of Handel’s “Israel in Egypt” tonight at the culminating event of the Blue Hill Bach Festival and am excited to be singing with the choir.  It is an energetic work!  More than to this, I look forward to seeing you in worship tomorrow morning!  Our hymns will be accompanied by Clair Maxwell on organ, and he will accompany me for an anthem as well as provide a prelude and postlude.  It should be a celebratory day.  A favorite line of scripture lies in the text for tomorrow and is one that has crept into my thoughts often since being here on the peninsula.  “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it,” says Jacob after dreaming of a stairway to heaven with angels traveling up and down.  Just where is it that we find and know the holy in our lives?  How might we become “aware of it” more consciously and so be sustained more fully?  This is the gift of gathering in worship and you are invited!