From Our Pastors – December 22

Posted onAuthorAidan Cuningham

Rev. Megan
Berkowitz

Rev. Amy
Clark Feldman

Pastor Megan
December  22, 2023

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. People do not light a lamp and put it under the bushel basket; rather, they put it on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others.”

 Matthew 5:14-16a 

For nearly four weeks, we’ve celebrated the gifts of God promised to us, made manifest in Jesus, and shining forth in our lives. But God’s hope, peace, joy, and love aren’t about the destination of the manger; when we arrive on Sunday evening and celebrate the birth of the Christ child, it’s truly meant to be the start of something. The start of new life. The start of Christmastide (Day 1 of 12!). And the start of welcoming Jesus’ presence, and the gifts of God, into every single day and every single corner of our lives. This new start is meant to change us, so that we might change the world in turn.

So, beloved ones, I invite you to take those gifts of the Advent season – God’s hope, peace, joy, and love – and to find new ways to shine them out into the world and into the lives of others. You, yes you, are the light of the world, the hands and feet and heart and light of Christ, walking around. Let Christ’s presence in the world change you, and let that light shine.

Peace,
Megan

Past Posts

  • From Our Pastors
    Rev. Amy Clark Feldman
    July 4, 2025
    What an amazing mission trip we had to Puerto Rico! God’s light shone so brightly in and through our teens, college kids, and adult chaperones on the trip; and we made many new friends and connections on the island. We can’t wait to share more with you about it.  Learn More
  • From Our Pastors
    Rev. Megan Berkowitz
    June 27, 2025
    As our regular church year draws to a close, we look towards the summer, when we are usually one Body scattered to many locations. Whether we are traveling, visiting with family, focused on different schedules with children, or simply living at the slower pace of the summer months, we see less of one another. It can seem like church is “off” for the summer as well. Learn More
  • From Our Pastors: June 6, 2025
    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