"Now What?"

Sermon Notes for September 3, 2017

Our passage this morning continues with where we left off last week in Paul's letter to the Romans. First he told this early church that they have to come together as one community, as one body, even though they are very different people with many different gifts. This week he tells them how they are supposed to behave when they come together.

Paul tells them that they must begin with love. The root of the church is a community that loves like Jesus showed us how to love.

Pastor's Greeting

I wanted to begin by saying thank you for making me feel so welcome. The congregation, and especially the PNC has gone out of their way and I really appreciate it. From the cleaning of the manse top to bottom, the beautiful window treatments, the gifts of food and the well-wishers, moving into my new home has been a joy. Thank you all.

Pastor's Summer Message

Dear Friends,

I am writing this on the day of the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. Today is three minutes longer than yesterday was and three minutes longer than tomorrow will be. Three minutes by themselves don't seem like much, yet there is something about those extra three minutes that makes this day significant. It's the longest day of the year, so we make sure we watch the sunset. It's the longest day of the year, and we feel an urgency to use those three minutes wisely and productively.

Pastor's Message

Dear Friends,

Last June at the 222nd General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) our Co-Moderators, Rev. Denise Anderson and Rev. Jan Edmiston challenged each presbytery to address the sin of racism in a more intentional way than it has in the past. Toward that end, the Presbytery of Geneva, of which we are a member congregation, has formed the Anti-Racism Work Group. One of the Group's first efforts is to support the Co-Moderators' suggestion that we all read Waking Up White: And Finding Myself in the Story of Race by Debby Irving.

I have read the book and highly recommend it to you. The author is someone who has dared to look at how she unknowingly contributes to perpetuating racism and gently yet firmly challenges others to do the same. Her chapters are short – four to five pages – and each contains a thought-provoking description of a step she has taken toward becoming more aware of the role racism has played in her white, middle-class, New England life.

Guest Message

When you are feeling stressed, remember: Moses started out as a basket case, and the Lord made something of him anyway! We have now been a year and a half without a permanent minister and some folks have expressed anxiety because of this. But we have been fortunate to have had and still do have excellent interim ministers who have guided our way through this period and have given us new insights and experiences.

Sometimes we have not had a full slate of minister office hours but it is important to remember that God's office hours are 24/7. He is looking out for us and also working with our PNC committee to find the right permanent leader for our congregation. Many thanks to those in the congregation that have volunteered to fill in when help is needed.

Pastor's Farewell

Dear Friends and Members of Watkins Glen Presbyterian Church:

As you know, an Interim position is always a temporary position.  I have been blessed in my ministry with you these past 15 months or so.  My last day in the office will be March 31, and my last day of service will be April 7.

Pastor's Message

"Things fall apart, the center cannot hold..."
William Butler Yeats, The Second Coming, 1919

"In life and in death we belong to God"
A Brief Statement of Faith, PC(USA), 1983

Sometimes in life, we feel as if nothing is holding us:  not the arms of those who love us, not the world as we know it, not the foundations of our community life as a nation...