Thoughts Along the Way. . .

On Wednesday morning I sat in a Federal Courtroom in downtown Portland with two dozen people from our congregation. We were there to offer moral support for Ellis McCoy during his sentencing hearing. For four years Ellis has been dealing with the stresses and challenges related to charges of public corruption. This week all of that reached a conclusion when the judge sentenced him to 24 months in prison. And while I am saddened and disappointed by this sentence, we as a congregation now have an opportunity to be the church is a very specific and tangible way. In Matthew 25 Jesus tells the parable of the sheep and the goats. He lifts up concrete actions and behaviors which are the marks of those who faithfully seek to follow Jesus’ Way. “I was sick and imprisoned, and you visited me.” I was heartened by the number of folks who showed up for the hearing. And I am confident that we will rise to the occasion in the coming months as we reach out in support for Ellis and Kay. Thank you for being the Church – not just with your words, but also with your actions and the living of your lives. It is an honor to be your pastor.

- Pastor Roger
(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

Thoughts Along the Way . . .

If I were to make a list of words that form the heart of what I believe to be most important in this life it would look something like this (in no particular order):

– faith – hope – love –

– spirit – community – connection –

– beauty – abundance – peace –

– support – encouragement – presence –

– mystery – now – wholeness – breath –

Each of them individually is important, but it is all of them together that really begins to bring things into focus. It is hard to consider one without also recognizing the influence of several others. They swirl and dance around each other, like threads in a tapestry forming the fabric of my life. What words would be on your list?

- Pastor Roger

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

Thoughts Along the Way. . .

Last week I shared with you that one of my daughters was at a birth center in active labor. A few hours after I wrote those words she gave birth to her son – Juniper Felix Schaberg. On Sunday morning I warned you that I was going to be insufferable. The truth of the matter is that I had no idea just how over-the-top I would become. Sunday afternoon I drove to meet my grandson and instantly fell completely in love. I am besotted. My heart is expanding beyond anything I could have imagined. And what I am discovering is that this remarkable experience of love is not confined merely to Juniper. I am seeing the whole world with new eyes. It is a holy and transformational gift. “Now faith, hope and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13) Viewing the world through the lens of love is not naïve, unrealistic, and pollyanna-ish. It simply means that my frame of awareness includes qualities like hope, compassion, beauty, and connection. Such a perspective allows me to recognize new possibilities even in the midst of challenging circumstances. The God who shines through in the face of my new grandson is also present in every moment, every place, and every experience for each of us and all of us. May the God of Love come shining through for you this day, illuminating your life and your world.

- Pastor Roger

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

The Future Is Bright for Our Congregation

Just in case I haven’t said it loudly enough or frequently enough, please allow me to tell you as clearly as possible that First Congregational United Church of Christ in Hillsboro, Oregon is a vital and healthy congregation with a bright and promising future. As the Search Committee continues to move forward with their important work I know that some of you are wondering what the future holds in store for your beloved congregation. Please hear me when I tell you that I have the utmost of confidence in what will unfold for you. The Search Committee is made up of strong, faithful, and talented leaders who are working well together towards the common goal of finding just the right match for this congregation. And this congregation is filled with highly capable leaders and many, many faithful members. You have a wonderfully functional facility located in a prime location. There are a wide variety of programs designed to meet people’s needs and interests. You are financially faithful, which results in a solid and stable financial base from which to carry out ministry. And, perhaps most importantly, you are a warm, caring, and welcoming community of faith filled with friendly and compassionate people who actually enjoy working and playing and worshipping together. In short, you are exactly the type of congregation that highly gifted and qualified pastors want to serve. I invite you to continue praying for the Search Committee as they go about their important work. Hold the congregation in prayer, that God’s Spirit will continue to shine forth into the world through our faithful and active presence in this community. And trust that the future is bright for this faithful and vital congregation.

- Pastor Roger

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)

Thoughts Along the Way . . .

As I write these words on Thursday morning one of my daughters is at the birth center in active labor, getting ready to welcome a tiny new person into the world. A month ago my mom took her last breath surrounded by love as she slipped into the embrace of Love Eternal. And now a first breath is about to be taken, surrounded by love in the presence of Love Eternal. This life we live is such a remarkable mixture of experiences. Life and death co-mingle as they swirl around us. Grief and joy reside together in our hearts. It is the package deal that comes with the gift of being human. And all of it, every single breath, every single moment, every single experience, all of it unfolds in the presence of Love Eternal. I invite you to live this day with an open heart so that you might receive and experience the fullness of this amazing gift.

- Pastor Roger

(keeping my feet firmly planted in the flow)