From the River's Edge

by Rev. Dr. Dale Azevedo,  Sr. Minister "Come home, come home.      You who are weary, come home." Will L. Thompson Come Home September 8 is Open Doors Sunday. As many of you know, that is the official kickoff of our 2024-2025 program year. It comes at a time that our kids have gone back to school, our boaters lament the passing of summer, and our staff and lay leaders get busy. It is a really...

by Rev. Dr. Dale Azevedo,  Sr. Minister A few weeks ago, during our first grab-bag sermon, I referred to Christian Nationalists adding the commentary that their ideals aren't particularly Christian or patriotic. This was my sermon on kindness and humility where I discussed the "fruits of the Spirit" (June 23) as the Biblical test of true faithfulness. Following that sermon, one of our members...

by Rev. Racquel Ray, Associate Minister of Congregational Life   Christianity is an embodied faith. Beginning with the Incarnation of Jesus, humans are called to relationship with God in body, mind, and spirit. Paul’s letters speak much about the flesh; our temptations, our faults, and our shortcomings. But, even with the limitations of the human condition, we are still called and enabled...

by Rev. Dr. Dale Azevedo,  Sr. Minister It should be no surprise to those of you who have been around for a while that Racquel and I like to share a sermon series over the summer. Two years ago we had the summer of Elijah (wohoo!) and last year we had Women of the Bible. So, I bet you have been waiting with bated breath on the announcement of what series we will do this summer… Well, Racquel and...

by Rev. Racquel Ray Associate Minister of Congregational Life   The book of Genesis 2:2-3 reads, “And on the seventh day God ended God’s work which God had done, and God rested on the seventh day from all God’s work which God had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it God rested from all God’s work which God had created and made.” Beloved, even God rests! In...

by Rev. Dr. Dale Azevedo,  Sr. Minister Stories have abounded for ages (Cinderella, anyone?) about children who have been neglected by their stepparents. Fortunately, recent research at East Carolina University (ECU) has shown that this fairy-tale trope isn't particularly accurate.1 Sadly though, ECU's research comes a little too late for poor old Pentecost. You've heard of Pentecost, haven't...