Happy Week After Easter!

Greetings from New Jersey!

I hope all is well back in beautiful Northern Michigan. Currently, I am preparing to worship with some good friends in a seminary classmate's church. It is fantastic returning back to Princeton and getting the opportunity to worship and fellowship with dear friends from across the country. This week's trip also includes participation in the Institute for Pastoral Leadership, an event put on by the Princeton Theological Seminary continuing education department. This week is an excellent opportunity to make connections with other pastors and colleagues throughout the country as we share experiences in ministry.

As our snowbirds return to Bellaire, we should consider doing a similar thing. Share our winter experiences with our friends who have been away. Let them know what we've done in their absence. At the same time, we can learn so much from their experiences down south in their "migration" churches south of the snow. Even though we are a divided congregation for part of the year, we are all still part of the same body of Christ throughout the world.

Take care of one another, enjoy worship together, and celebrate again our common faith in the resurrected Christ, who lives and reigns. May the Holy Spirit unite us in our time apart and prepare us to worship together again.

Take care and have a great week in Bellaire!

Pastor Andrew

Have a blessed Maundy Thursday

As we approach the end of Holy Week, I would challenge everyone to again refocus themselves on the events of the Easter week. Take this time, this year, to establish a tradition within your household that can point your thoughts and prayers upon the sacrifice, miracle, and grace offered through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Take care of yourselves and have a wonderful Easter!

Pastor Andrew

Celebrations

Why do we celebrate with one another? Think about times in your life when you gather with others to have a party and be happy about something. For me, I think of birthdays, holidays, and sporting events. Each one of these celebrations is amplified because of the community gathered.

I spent three birthdays in a row in Alaska. The first two were with family and friends and they were incredible. The third was spent alone and wasn't really marked by any significant celebration.

My birthday didn't change but the surroundings were certainly different. The third one was spent driving and wasn't really different from any other day. I needed the other people to make that day special.

This week we celebrate Palm Sunday and prepare to move into Holy Week. Jesus begins the week surrounded by friends and ends the week alone in death. Yet, our faith moves past the emptiness and death to be full of joy and community.

As we seek to love one another and demonstrate Christ's love, do so in a way that not only comforts in times of hurt, but in a way that rejoices and celebrates with our community in times of joy. Seek to be with one another, share meals with one another, and be friends with all of God's children.

Vacation

Just a reminder to everyone that I will be on vacation all week, returning on March 10. Next week we will have a guest pastor in worship. I hope everyone has a blessed week and I look forward to seeing everyone when I return. Our Tuesday morning Bible study and our Wednesday evening classes are both canceled this week and will resume the following week.

Take care!

Pastor Andrew