I’m sure you’ve heard of “Christmas in July.” But Advent in August is probably something new. I doubt that it will become a catchy phrase, though I do like the alliteration. The Session, Deacons, and I are having a planning retreat on Saturday, August 15. The major theme will be Waiting on God’s Spirit--hence, the connection between Advent and August, since Advent is a time of waiting. We’ve been reading a book by co-authors Andrew Root and Blair Bertrand that encourages churches not to...

When you read this, my family and I will be with eight other members and friends of Covenant Presbyterian Church at Iona Abbey in Scotland. We are participating in the “Wild Goose Worship Week” from June 27 to July 3. The “Wild Goose” is a Celtic symbol of the Holy Spirit, and the Wild Goose Resource Group, who will be leading the workshops at Iona that week, is committed (“are” committed as they say in the UK) to worship renewal and helping congregations find new, innovative, and creative...

Pastor’s Ponderings June 2026 . . . is the name of our new sermon series on the Book of Romans. I also thought about naming it “A Summer in Rom(ans)” but I ultimately decided that naming it “A Summer in Rome” sounded more enticing. If anything, we should use more adventure metaphors in our Bible studies to remind us that studying the Bible is not only like reading a travel guide to an exotic place but it also involves time travel and imagination and prayerful watching and listening. This...