On Tuesday, the Irelan family celebrated my dad’s 90th birthday with a Zoom meeting. My brother Bob, his wife Lisa and their daughter Tess, joined in from Falls Church, VA (in the midst of Tropical Storm Isaias). My Tahoe sister Sue and her husband Gordon were in Colorado with my…
Read More about Pastor’s Letter August 5, 2020“No one sews a piece of un-shrunk cloth on an old cloak, for the patch pulls away from the cloak, and a worse tear is made. Neither is new wine put into old wineskins;. . .” Matthew 9:16, 17 Dear Ones, I was reminded of these words of Jesus about…
Read More about Friday, April 17, 2020“Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised. . .” Matthew 28:5,6 Dear Ones, Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen, Indeed! Happy Easter! Yes, it is still Easter. Sunday was just the first day…
Read More about Tuesday, April 14, 2020“If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.” 1 Corinthians 12:26 Dears Ones, We continue to live in a time of confusion and upheaval as we respond to the reality and the threat of Covid –19 in our midst.…
Read More about April 7, 2020“But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, God’s mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:21-23 Dear Ones, I continue my regular practice of driving to the Samoa beach…
Read More about April 3, 2020“I give thanks to my God always for you…” 1 Corinthians 1:4 Dear Ones, My heart is full of gratitude for all of you! At the beginning of this time of “Shelter in Place” I was really concerned about how we keep the church together. I know the church is…
Read More about Tuesday, March 31, 2020“My soul waits for the Lord, more than those who watch for the morning.” Psalm 130:6 Dear Ones, We are in the midst of trillium season, my 8th and final trillium season as your pastor. By now most of you know that I have a thing about trilliums, the lily…
Read More about March 28, 2020Dear Ones, I have attached the letter read on Sunday to the congregation announcing that Rebecca Irelan will be the new pastor of Eureka First UMC effective July 1, 2020. I am delighted with this news and feel assured that you will be in excellent hands with Pastor Rebecca. You…
Read More about March 17, 2020–announcing Rebecca Irelan“Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you.” Jeremiah 29:12 Dear Ones, I write this letter on the eve of Lent, Tuesday, February 25, 2020. Lent is the season of 40 days before Easter, not counting Sundays, that begins on Ash…
Read More about March 2020“Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” Matthew 36:42 Dear Ones, Once again we are ready to begin a new Christian Year with the beginning of Advent on December 1. Advent is the season of 4 Sundays preceding the celebration of the…
Read More about December 2019Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:14 Dear Ones, These words from James remind us of the unknown future we all have on this earth in our…
Read More about October 2019Dear Ones, In 2014 a stranger came a to our worship service on Sunday morning. He was clean and well dressed with a jacket and tie, but his roller bag suitcase gave him away as someone without permanent housing. I, and many of you, greeted him and over the next…
Read More about September 2019“I said, ‘I will guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue;’” Psalm 39:1 Dear Ones, Sometimes we can feel overwhelmed with what it means to follow in the way of Jesus. We may think that if we become familiar with the entire Bible, then we will…
Read More about June 2019“By God’s great mercy God has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” 1 Peter 1:3 Dear Ones, Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen Indeed! The proclamation of the Resurrection of Jesus the Christ following his death by crucifixion…
Read More about May 2019“What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations.” Psalm 104:24 The Message Dear Ones, This is my seventh Trillium season with you. I always delight in walking and hiking in various places, delighting in the diversity…
Read More about April 2019“the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on [the Lord]. For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’” Romans 9:31 Dear Ones, My faith has been nurtured primarily in the Methodist Church. Though I was baptized as an…
Read More about March 2019“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12 Dear Ones, All of us are familiar with what is known as “The Golden Rule.” Jesus spoke these words as part of his Sermon on the Mount…
Read More about February 2019
