My granddaughter called me on Monday evening and asked if I could meet with her to discuss an English assignment she had for school. Feeling honored by the request I eagerly agreed and went to meet her—without asking about the assignment. When I met her she showed me a copy of Elie Wiesel’s Night and… Read more FROM OUR INTERIM PASTOR ~ A DIFFERENT REASON FOR THANKSGIVING
I am looking forward to the program on Tuesday evening, November 19th, when we will host Peterson Tocscano. Tthanks to Natalie Byington who is making Peterson’s visit possible. Monday evening he will be at College Hill United Methodist Church. Tuesday he will be at Pine Valley sharing a program called “Doin’ Time.” You can check… Read more FROM OUR INTERIM PASTOR ~ THOUGHTS ON NONVIOLENCE
The colors this November are magnificent. Moses never saw a bush that burned brighter than the one that burns outside the door of Pine Valley Christian Church. The intense colors lift the latch of our mind and open the gate of our heart. Now let me try to link this observation to our lectionary text… Read more FROM OUR INTERIM PASTOR
Pine Valley Christian Church, November 3, 2013, All Saints Sunday Psalm 139, Rev. David Hansen Escape From God A sermon by Paul Tillich on Psalm 139 “Where could I go from Thy spirit and where could I flee from Thy face?” These are the central words of the great 139th Psalm. They state in the… Read more God’s Commonwealth
It is November. It is time to wish family members, friends and neighbors near and far a Blessed Thanksgiving, Holiday Cheer and a Joyous Christmas. And we will do all of this here at PVCC! My mind today is looking around the corner to 2014. I hope you will read this, and give me some… Read more FROM OUR INTERIM PASTOR
Recent events caused me to pick up my copy of Rabbi Michael Lerner’s The Politics of Meaning: Restoring Hope in an Age of Cynicism (Addison-Wesley, 1996). Lerner offers the following definition of spirituality: “an awareness of the fundamental unity of all being, and of our connectedness to one another and to the universe” (page 56).… Read more FROM OUR INTERIM PASTOR
This October, I have been turning again to a book of prayers written by Arnold Kenseth, Sabbaths, Sacraments and Seasons. For October, he offers this prayer: “O thou great God who, with thanksgiving, broke bread for our hunger and gave us drink for our thirst, continue in thy mercy to feed us always on thyself.… Read more FROM OUR INTERIM PASTOR
This Sunday we have a spaghetti dinner after worship—Thank you, members of the Hospitality Spirit Team. WAM and the Ministerial Search Team are also meeting—and we say thank you for all your work and your care for our common life together. Our Mission Statement says that we are a progressive faith community practicing unconditional love… Read more FROM OUR INTERIM PASTOR
October 6th is World Wide Communion Sunday. This Sunday we celebrate the unity of the global community of Christians and ecumenical cooperation. We will have a special celebration of the Presentation of Breads to mark this day. CROP Walk is this Sunday. Carmen will again represent Pine Valley Christian Church in this walk to end… Read more FROM OUR INTERIM PASTOR
Our theme this fall is “Revival of the Spirit – Faith Acting Through Love Transforming the World.” We are celebrating the life of the spirit and our own spiritual revival. I have enjoyed the personal stories of the last two Sundays, and look forward to the weeks ahead. My thanks goes out to all who… Read more FROM OUR INTERIM PASTOR ~ CELEBRATING PVCC