From Our Pastors – December 15

Rev. Megan
Berkowitz

Rev. Amy
Clark Feldman

Pastor Megan
December 15, 2023


“The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn.”

 Isaiah 61:1-2 

Last Sunday, I mentioned that Advent isn’t just a season of celebration but also one of prophetic longing: a vision of how the world might be, looking at things through God’s eyes, while still looking clearly at the world as it is. This text from Isaiah is one of many examples of readings that we share during Advent that express this prophetic longing. Mary’s Magnificat, which Amy preached about a few weeks ago, is another one. 

Prophetic longing understands both the needs in the world which caused God to come to dwell among us, and the transformational hope we come to know in Christ. That longing isn’t confined to the people in the Bible or to Biblical times. This Advent, what is the prophetic longing on your heart? How can you proclaim it?

Peace,
Megan

Past Posts


  • From Our Pastors
    Rev. Megan Berkowitz
    June 6, 2025
    It’s very fitting that our Annual Meeting falls on Pentecost this year. As we remember the Holy Spirit filling the early church and moving them into meaningful action, following in the Way of Jesus, we, too, experience the movement of the Spirit in our own church community. Learn More
  • From Our Pastors : May 30, 2025
    Rev. Clark Feldman
    May 30, 2025
    The Psalmist wrote so many centuries ago (or maybe just yesterday), “As the deer pants for water, so my soul pants for you, O God.”   It’s such a vivid image – this poor deer panting in thirst and exhaustion. How far has it run over dry and scorched land?  What a relief to dip its head towards a cool stream; its thirst quenched.  Learn More
  • From Our Pastors
    Rev. Megan Berkowitz
    May 23, 2025
    We’re heading into a season of joy, celebration, community, and preparation for the future over the next several weeks, and I wanted to be sure to lay it all out in one place so you can plan and save the dates. This weekend, we’ll celebrate and dedicate our new accessible pews in worship and have the second meeting of the spring New Members class immediately following.  Learn More
  • From Our Pastors: May 16, 2025
    Rev. Amy Clark Feldman
    May 16, 2025
    As some of you know, I was away for part of this week at a program for clergy and spiritual directors.  Each morning began at 7:45 a.m. with worship; and ended around 9:00 p.m. with worship.  Spiritual leaders from around the country each led one of the first five services; with each service focusing on one of the five senses – taste, touch, smell, hearing, sight – knowing that Jesus engaged and experienced all the senses in his very human, embodied, incarnate ministry.    Learn More
  • From Our Pastors: May 9, 2025
    Rev. Megan Berkowitz
    May 9, 2025
    I had a lot of interest in the prayer structure I shared during last Sunday’s worship, so I wanted to write it out for you here. If you’re feeling like you’re not sure how to pray or what to say, sometimes a little scaffolding can help get you started. Don’t think that this is the ‘right’ way to pray though — any way to pray that leads you to open your heart to God is the right way! Learn More
  • From Our Pastors: May 2, 2025
    Rev. Megan Berkowitz
    May 2, 2025
    There is very little in the Gospels that tells of Jesus after his resurrection and before his ascension. This period gets 5 weeks in the liturgical calendar, but only one or two stories in each Gospel at most. As Pastor Amy shared in her sermon last Sunday, after the Resurrection, Jesus spends some time eating with his disciples, even sharing a grilled fish breakfast on the beach with them one morning. Learn More
  • From Our Pastors: April 25, 2025
    Rev. Megan Berkowitz
    April 25, 2025
    On Easter morning, we sang the hymn “Now the Green Blade Rises,” with its refrain: “Love is come again like wheat that rises green.” While it raises questions for me every year about how much pronunciation has changed in the last hundred years (did been/green and again/lain really rhyme?), it so beautifully captures the confluence of Easter and the coming of Spring in the Northern hemisphere.  Learn More
  • From Our Pastors: April 18, 2025
    Rev. Megan Berkowitz
    April 18, 2025
    Throughout Lent, we have been Making Space: for compassion, humility, discernment, generosity, and prayer. As we move from yesterday evening’s Maundy Thursday Tenebrae service, sharing around the table and recognizing the coming darkness, to Sunday morning’s joyful worship, we are given one last, sacred opportunity to reflect in this year’s Lenten season. Learn More