By: Charley Rastle Our lives are an amazing journey. For much of my life, I just followed the stream, reacted to situations, and was swept along. As I got older, I became more interested in how I lived my life, how I was responding to...

By: Larry Dansky Psalm 63 O Love, you are my Beloved, and I long for you My soul thirsts for you All that is within me thirsts As in a dry and barren land with no water. So I have called out to You in my heart, Sensing your power...

By: Karen Hoover Ephesians 6:10-16 Like many, I’ve been working hard to maintain my equilibrium in the face of all the change that is hemorrhaging out of our nation’s capital. But then came the horrifying news that...

By: Andrew Cone Andrew Cone was part of the group of confirmands this year. As part of their commitment to the church, each of our youth in this confirmation class was asked to write a statement of faith. Several confirmands shared...

By: Diana Shellenberger After living in this house for 18 years, only today I discovered this pink rose bush. Because it’s located within a tangle of red rose bushes along the south side of the house, I might be forgiven for not...

By: Kajsa Teitelbaum I tend to think of myself as a rather positive person, with a bright outlook on life and the future; however, lately, I have been struggling with keeping that attitude. There is simply too much conflict, evil, and...

By: Carolyn Gard I sit in the front row of the choir, which gives me a great view. If I look to the left, I can see the congregation and check up on who’s there. To the right, I get a close-up of the flowers, the parament, and the...

By: Nancy Wade Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14 The Kindergarteners of First Cong taught me much during the past six...

By: Betsy Barrett This piece begins with my journaling, then becomes what I call “God Writing” … when I write to God and God responds.   The sun is shining down on me. My face feels warm and I love sitting with my pen moving...

By: Pedro Silva For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord...