I think children teach me more than I can ever teach them! I was repeatedly annoyed years ago when kids climbed on the church gate and gleefully swung out and back – squealing their delight. Shouldn’t they respect church property? I was raised in a time when kids, in an effort to teach respect and reverence, were encouraged to give a minister space. Yet my favorite moment is when a toddler runs up to me after worship and leaps into my arms, squealing, “Pastor Kay”! Maybe,

An 8 year-old commits suicide. Worshippers are shot and killed at prayer meeting. Pig’s blood is thrown at a house of worship and swastikas are painted on others. Churches are burned to the ground. If this were happening in our family or church family we would be horrified. Thing is, it has and is happening in our family. Jesus defined family as those who followed him – those who walk the path of faith he forged. We are united as family – the human family, U.S. Citizens,

Holy. “Holy cow!” we say in surprise. “She is a holy terror,” we say of a screaming child disrupting a bus ride. At the same time, some might say “holy” is a term reserved for organized religion, for worship or for rites of passage. Something is holy if it deserves our respect or reverence. I would propose that many otherwise ordinary moments in life are holy. A loved-one’s last breath. A spectacular sunset. The birth of a child. Waves beating on the shoreline. A child

Sunday, May 7th we celebrate a baptism and explore the idea of abundant life. It's a great day to join us and celebrate the love of God in so many ways. Perhaps you think abundant life as a goal to be reached. Maybe you think it is something you might experience in the far, distance future. I encourage you to join me this week in opening your eyes to see where you see evidence of abundant life. Where do you see someone helping another to experience abundant life? For a si