Lent is upon us and as we gather as a community on Wednesday evenings, we will wrestle together about what it means to be Christian community. Often, we assume it is as simple as showing up, but a brief reading of Acts or any of the letters in the New Testament will show just how difficult it is to live into the Beloved Community and Body of Christ we are called into daily.

The inheritance of the Protestant work ethic makes it difficult for many in our families, communities or country to find value in rest and yet, Sabbath rest is integral to the relationship God has with humankind.

Hope has been coming up around me a lot of late. In my reading, both vocational and personal, in my conversations with friends and colleagues. Hope is sometimes a difficult emotion, value or characteristic to define.

Have you ever been in church and asked, “I wonder why we do that?” or “Why does Pastor Hannah do that?” or “This is different than other churches.”

Earlier this Summer, Ron Kyllo pulled me aside after church saying, “Do you remember that one seed in a bag you gave us last year?” “Yes” I replied, the mustard seed.” He then proceeded to tell me that he had actually planted that single seed and now has a beautiful plant growing in his raised garden.

Minneola, I just want to take a minute and say THANK YOU! It is an honor and a privilege to serve alongside such a congregation as this and as we move into the summer months when we see less of each other, I pray we remember the many ways God shows up in the midst of this body of Christ.

Dear Minneola Faith Family,

Our summer schedule will be here before we know it and as it approaches, it’s important to remember the reality of our faith community’s financial situation.

Jesus Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Our Lenten learning this year is less a study and more a practice. We are learning TO DO something during our Wednesday evening gatherings that is difficult, awkward, and uncomfortable. We are practicing how to have holy conversations about difficult topics.

As we stare down these first two weeks of February we will be bombarded with the deep reds and bright pinks of St. Valentine’s Day.

From the commandments given to us at Mount Sinai, to Psalm 23 when the Lord, “makes us rest beside still waters” to Jesus’ leaving the crowds to go and pray, God’s longing for rest for all creation is demonstrated again and again and again.

Advent is upon us and as always, our community will have the opportunity to reflect, dwell and prepare for the Christmas season as we wait for the birth of Christ together.

It is a bit of a cliché to talk about gratitude during the month of November, but cliché or not, I find the annual rhythm of pausing and reflecting on what I am thankful for a helpful discipline in a social landscape…

As most of you know, I have chosen a career field that is based on taking care of people – healthcare. I have worked in various areas of the field over the years – EMT, 911 Dispatcher, Paramedic, Nurse, and Nurse Practitioner…

Picture used from Finn and the Bell - Rumble Strip original posting.

https://www.rumblestripvermont.com/episodes/422

People of Minneola, thank you. Thank you for trusting God, yourselves, and the call to sabbath that led to our shared Sabbatical Season. In the coming months the lessons, sorrows and joys

As April begins, we find ourselves two months out from our first experience of Sabbatical as a community of faith.