Posts in Blog
Word from Pastor Lisa: A Reconciling Congregation
Word from Pastor Lisa: A Reconciling Congregation

We celebrate our recent church conference vote to become a Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) Congregation. On Sunday, Aug. 20, we agreed by 95% (89-2-3) to this important step on our journey of being a church that is open to all, especially those who are LGBTQIA+. This Sunday, Aug. 27 we will rejoice together at 9:30 and 11:45 a.m. with Rainbow Worship in honor of this decision and PrideFest the day before. We will take a congregation photo for RMN, so please wear either an FUMC T-shirt or a brightly colored shirt.

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BlogMariah GesePastor's blog
A Word from Pastor Lisa: Knowing Your Limits
A Word from Pastor Lisa: Knowing Your Limits

“I need to tell you something,” my 104-year-old Grandpa said to me in a serious tone. I leaned in a little closer. “I can’t do it like I used to a year ago. One hundred and four isn’t 103!” 

We both sat back at laughed. “I’ll have to take your word for it, Grandpa!” I told him. Most of us will probably never reach that 104-year mile marker. But we recognize on a regular basis that our bodies, minds, and spirits have limitations. I recently told a friend that I wish I had the wisdom I do now in my 25-year-old body. I’m sure many of you feel the same way. 

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Biblical, Blog, Church, Pastor LisaMariah GesePastor's blog
A Word from Pastor Lisa: "Sorrow and Love Flowed Mingled Down"
A Word from Pastor Lisa: "Sorrow and Love Flowed Mingled Down"

As a pastor, I’m sometimes invited to walk with people in very sacred spaces. The decision to transition genders is one of these spaces. This step is never taken lightly because it involves the entirety of a person – body, hormones, sex organs, mind, spirit, identity, and often a name and pronoun change. It is a very personal decision, and for youth, a family decision involving parents or guardians.

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Blog, Pastor LisaAndy CanadaPastor's blog, blog
Texts from Paul to Divided United Methodists
Texts from Paul to Divided United Methodists

When modern Christians say they wish they could go back to the good ole days of the early church, we have to break the news to them. There were no good ole days. From the beginning, the church faced debates, infighting, struggles, and division. Paul got wind of these storms and sent a letter of comfort and challenge to the young church. The letter is comforting because Paul reminded them of their unity in Christ. It was challenging because Paul refused to let them perpetuate lesser differences which threatened that unity. How might Paul challenge us today in our own fractured denomination that appears beyond repair?

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Blog, Pastor LisaAndy CanadaPastor's blog, blog
A Word from Pastor Lisa: What Gifts Can We Bring?
A Word from Pastor Lisa: What Gifts Can We Bring?

On Sunday, we’ll learn more about what gold, frankincense, and myrrh represented. For now, I hope you’ll reflect on this scene: Weary, stinky travelers from a far-off land who are outside of Jesus’ tight-knit Jewish community. They haven’t grown up hearing the stories of the Hebrew heroes. Yet they recognize the Divine when they find him. And their response is to rejoice, to worship, and to offer gifts that only they can give.

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Blog, Holidays, Pastor LisaMariah GesePastor's blog, blog
A Word from Pastor Lisa: Living in the Grey
A Word from Pastor Lisa: Living in the Grey

We often see the world in black and white when it comes to the church, politics, and our personal lives. You’re right or wrong. You’re red or blue. You’re in or out. Yet most situations in life are much more complex. I want to invite you to take a deep breath. Spend a few minutes of silence with God. Prepare yourself to live in the uncertainty of the grey areas.

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BlogMariah GesePastor's blog
A Word from Pastor Lisa: I Like to Sin
A Word from Pastor Lisa: I Like to Sin

My favorite part of kindergarten is the writing assignments with phonetic spelling, our as our six-year-old calls them, “my personal narratives.” We’ve delighted in the wonderful stories from her perspective, oftentimes with opportunities to decode the spelling.

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BlogMariah Geseblog
Statement of Welcome & Inclusion
Statement of Welcome & Inclusion

We believe all people are created in the image of God. God’s love extends to all people, and all people are of sacred worth. We welcome, affirm, and celebrate people of any age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, race, national origin, ethnic or cultural background, appearance, faith tradition, physical and mental ability, economic condition, marital status, family configuration, or place on the spectrum of conservative, centrist, or progressive.

We proclaim this statement of inclusion and welcome to all, especially those who have known the pain of exclusion and discrimination in the church or in society. We invite all people to join us on our faith journey toward greater love, understanding, and mutual respect.

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BlogAndy Canadajustice, Social Justice, inclusion, LGBTQ, welcome
A Word from Pastor Lisa: Re-member
A Word from Pastor Lisa: Re-member

On Sunday we gathered with Christians from around the globe at the communion table to honor all that Jesus has done for us. Oftentimes we are divided and dismembered – one part of the Body of Christ cut off from another. We are broken and shattered. In that sacred meal, however, we recall what it means to be the whole family of God, and we re-member Christ’s Body, given for us all.

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BlogKatelyn Hlavatydisciples path, Remember, Stewardship