Pastor’s Ponderings

Some of you have heard the story, but it is still great. Not so long ago, someone was parked in front of Calvary United Methodist Church on a Sunday morning. At around 11:15 or so, people were coming out of the church building after worship and time in the parish...

This Sunday, we will include in the worship service an affirmation of faith known as the World Methodist Social Affirmation. This is found in The United Methodist Hymnal (#886). Here’s the background on it: “This affirmation was adopted by the World Methodist Council...

In worship last Sunday, we said together the Apostle’s Creed. Between now and the Day of Pentecost on May 28, different creeds or affirmations of faith will be included in each Sunday service. Some churches do every week, but I tend to include this in the worship...

Give the Gift of Life on Wednesday, May 10th. Calvary UMC is hosting our annual Spring Blood Drive for the American Red Cross on Wednesday, May 10th from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the church's Fellowship Hall. Just a little over 15 years ago, Eric Anderson took over...

We are now in Holy Week, that period of seven days that begins with Palm/Passion Sunday and ends with the break of day on Easter Sunday. This is a time in which we recall the last days of Jesus life and we are incorporated once again into the central mystery of...

Last fall, I asked members of the Church Council to participate in a very unscientific survey. I provided a long list of values. Then I asked these people which values on the list best describe how they experience this congregation and which do not.  I received eleven...

For many years, Calvary Church has sent groups to various places on mission and service projects. Groups have gone to do repair work after hurricanes and floods and done work to build or repair homes, schools, and retreat centers. Some of these projects have been here...

I heard an interview on a podcast this morning. Tom Long was being asked about a book he wrote about Christian funerals. It got me thinking about what makes a good funeral. Here are a few of my thoughts.   A good funeral needs to lift the life of the person who...

One of the practices that Calvary Church followed for many years was a time for blessing those who had a birthday. At the end of the closing hymn on the final Sunday of the month, those who had a birthday sometime that month were invited to come forward to the front...

Calvary United Methodist Church offers a Bible Study for all ages on five Wednesday evenings during the Lenten season starting March 1. This will be an excellent time for sharing and fellowship. We start at 6:00 pm with a meal and finish by 7:30 pm. Each Wednesday, we...