Our mantra might be “If it is difficult and demanding, then maybe it is of the Spirit.” Another mantra might be “When the promise is clear and the cost vague, watch out, the evil one may be wooing you. But when the cost is clear and the promise is vague–yet there is something alluring, something…
Tag: religion
Pastor’s Letter – February 2013 – Beloved Community
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, The church was closed Sunday, February 10 due to a record-breaking snowstorm that hit Suffolk County and the area around Farmingville hard. As Newsday reported, according to the National Weather Service in Upton, “The blizzard unleashed up to 33 inches of snow as recorded in Medford, and wind gusts…
Pastor’s Letter- January 2013 – The Inaugural
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Inauguration Day felt like a day that God has wanted for all of its creation and creatures. It felt like a day that Jesus prayed for when he helped a Samaritan woman, healed a cripple, touched the eyes of the blind and allowed officials to nail him to the…
Pastor’s Letter – September 2012 – Staying Connected
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, “Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the {person} who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers]…
Book Review – What I Have Come to Know
The family of Rev. Tang recently notified the Congregational United Church of Christ, where I currently serve, that his book has been published. The book consists of a series of reflections by Rev. Tang concerning the illness and passing of his beloved wife, Poey Sim on April 24, 2010. He uses this medium to discuss the epiphanies (visions and…
Pastor’s letter – August 2012 Imagine the Limitless Possibilities!
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I witnessed a great joy this summer! I felt this joy on the last Sunday in July, on the grounds of the Congregational United Church of Christ in Farmingville, NY. The day started out grey and bleak. The skies were laden with dark clouds and there was a light…
New Faith Presbyterian Chruch Greenwood, SC
I just saw this video on-line streaming from the PCUSA 220th General Assembly. It is a great example of Radical Hospitality and Passionate Worship!
This Heartwarming Video will Restore Your Faith in Humanity
Things like this brings me hope that all is not lost and that God is present and actively working in and around us, bringing us a glimpse into the coming Kingdom of God! For more inspiring videos go to GodTube.com https://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=0BEB0MNU
Pastor’s Letter for July 2012 – Refresh, Renew and Respond
Rev. Freeman Palmer Dear Sisters and brothers in Christ, I just returned from a trip to Binghamton, NY where the ministers and lay leaders from the United Church of Christ in New York gathered to refresh, renew and to respond to the new thing that God is doing in and around them.
Faiths on Long Island Part One and Part Two
This opening section gives a brief description of Native American Spirituality, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Baha’i and Unitarian Universalism. Several Individuals produced this 30 minute video about eleven religions in collaboration with the Long Island Multi-Faith Forum in order to promote a better understanding of the religious diversity on Long Island. Sent to me by the Long Island…
The Embodiment of Truth
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” (John 16:13) What is truth? In today’s world of ever-expanding technology and information, it is…
Greystone Presbyterian Church, Oklahoma City
Greystone Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City is experiencing transformation. Around 2008 Greystone was considering closing the church, due in part to dwindling, graying membership. At that same time they call a young pastor, Timothy Blodgett. What happened next was a lot of conversation, prayer and an unexpected offer from a neighboring church to buy the…
