It's been far too long since I added anything to the blog...but it's also taking far too long for our son to arrive! Rachell and I are not so patiently waiting and I am home with her until our son decides he'd like to see life on the outside. In the meantime, I am away from the office and will be returning to the church on June 10. Thanks again for the incredible support and love this congregation always offers. Please pray for us and a safe delivery.
Peace and grace,
Pastor Andrew Pomerville
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Worry
This weeks gospel lesson comes from Matthew 6:24-34 and focuses on worry. Jesus advises us to "not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today."
Easier said than done.
I am becoming more of a worrier everyday. I worry about my own life, my family, my house, my community, my health, my friends' health, the state of the world, hunger, war, lonliness, children without families, families without children, and everything else there is to worry about in the world.
I know that worrying won't add a hour to my life, but I still find myself occupied with anxious thoughts about the world around me.
Worry is unavoidable. However, I do think that this passage still calls for a healthy kind of worry. Love necessarily requires that we worry for the other person - that we worry for the well being of others. Yet the power of the gospel within this worry motivates us to not just dwell on the worry, but to act out our nervousness. We need to seek ways to shout out our worry in prophetic tones and work to alleviate our worries throught the mission and power of Christ.
We need to harness our worry and turn it into actions.
I say all of this as I worry about the upcoming birth of my son and I worry what kind of father I will be. Instead of worrying, I need to put this anxiousness into my efforts to care for, love, and support my family.
Have a wonderful, worry-free week!
Pastor Andrew
Easier said than done.
I am becoming more of a worrier everyday. I worry about my own life, my family, my house, my community, my health, my friends' health, the state of the world, hunger, war, lonliness, children without families, families without children, and everything else there is to worry about in the world.
I know that worrying won't add a hour to my life, but I still find myself occupied with anxious thoughts about the world around me.
Worry is unavoidable. However, I do think that this passage still calls for a healthy kind of worry. Love necessarily requires that we worry for the other person - that we worry for the well being of others. Yet the power of the gospel within this worry motivates us to not just dwell on the worry, but to act out our nervousness. We need to seek ways to shout out our worry in prophetic tones and work to alleviate our worries throught the mission and power of Christ.
We need to harness our worry and turn it into actions.
I say all of this as I worry about the upcoming birth of my son and I worry what kind of father I will be. Instead of worrying, I need to put this anxiousness into my efforts to care for, love, and support my family.
Have a wonderful, worry-free week!
Pastor Andrew
Thursday, May 15, 2008
What does the Lord's Supper mean to you?
The worship committee has been having a lively discussion about communion - when in the service, where in the church, how we partake, what we partake, and why we share in the Lord's Supper.
Discussing communion is nothing new to the Christian Church. Splits and denominations have happened throughout the centuries over these various interpretations. The latest discussion at Church in the Hills has revolved around when in the service to share in the Lord's Supper.
The Sacrament must be taken with the Word of God proclaimed. That said, when should the communion liturgy take place in the service and why? I know the answers from our Book of Order, but I'm curious why it is important to your worship experience for it to occur in the place it does. Any thoughts?
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
New website is completed!
After a long time without a permanent website, we are homeless no longer.
Please follow this address to see our website in its infancy, as we continue to add pictures and information over the next couple of weeks.
www.churchinthehills.org
The blog will continue to be updated regularly as we maintain the website for standard information and the blog for more up-to-date-changing info.
I hope spring is meeting everyone well, energized, and ready to serve as Christ calls you.
Peace and grace,
Pastor Andrew
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Pastors Past and Present
Church in the Hills was blessed this last week with the opportunity to share in worship with former pastor of the church Rev. Don Gordon and his wife Beth Gordon, who were in town celebrating their fortieth wedding anniversary. Congratulations to them both! This was an amazing time for the congregation to remember fond memories of the church while sharing the hope we have for the future.
Here we have a picture of Denali, Rachell and Andrew Pomerville with Don and Beth Gordon.
Here we have a picture of Denali, Rachell and Andrew Pomerville with Don and Beth Gordon.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Changes
My wife is due in a little more than a month with our second child. I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was nervous about all the changes our new son will bring into our lives. This transition from a family of three to a family of four has thrown me for a loop – How will we travel? Will they both sleep through the night? Will there be enough room in our house? Will there be enough food? Will our lives look anything like they do now?
The last question is the one that’s been weighing on me the most because I know the answer.
No, our lives will never look the same as they do now.
This realization can provide either a moment of dread, fear, and confusion or a sense of anticipation, joy, and hope. I’m leaning toward the latter. I know things will be different but I have to believe they will be different in an amazingly wonderful way. Change is not a negative thing. In this case, change is related to one of the most powerful life experiences for my family.
Within our spiritual walks, we are constantly assaulted by external factors – good and bad. These outside stimuli inevitably lead to changes in our lives that force us to react, adapt, and move forward. From a faith perspective, it is comforting to be assured that our spiritual journey is not a static one. We continue to grow in our faith, knowledge, and understanding of God’s grace and love. We are not the same now as we were last week, last month, last year, or even ten years ago. However, God is constant and unchanging while we continue to see bits and pieces of the whole picture during this growth of faith that comes through the Holy Spirit.
We cannot predict how our faith will be affected by tragedy, grief, loss, and confusion. However, we do know that our God will be a constant presence and support. I’m not sure how my faith will be affected by the birth of my son, a change in my family, new questions about parenting, and what I am called to be in this community; but I do trust that God who is faithful and just will work all my self-doubts, questions, and anxiety for good.
The last question is the one that’s been weighing on me the most because I know the answer.
No, our lives will never look the same as they do now.
This realization can provide either a moment of dread, fear, and confusion or a sense of anticipation, joy, and hope. I’m leaning toward the latter. I know things will be different but I have to believe they will be different in an amazingly wonderful way. Change is not a negative thing. In this case, change is related to one of the most powerful life experiences for my family.
Within our spiritual walks, we are constantly assaulted by external factors – good and bad. These outside stimuli inevitably lead to changes in our lives that force us to react, adapt, and move forward. From a faith perspective, it is comforting to be assured that our spiritual journey is not a static one. We continue to grow in our faith, knowledge, and understanding of God’s grace and love. We are not the same now as we were last week, last month, last year, or even ten years ago. However, God is constant and unchanging while we continue to see bits and pieces of the whole picture during this growth of faith that comes through the Holy Spirit.
We cannot predict how our faith will be affected by tragedy, grief, loss, and confusion. However, we do know that our God will be a constant presence and support. I’m not sure how my faith will be affected by the birth of my son, a change in my family, new questions about parenting, and what I am called to be in this community; but I do trust that God who is faithful and just will work all my self-doubts, questions, and anxiety for good.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
When the body just says no...
I returned from my continuing education event at Princeton on Saturday night. It was an amazing event and inspired me to take careful stock of my leadership strengths and weaknesses while thoughtfully considering how the leadership of our church could me more effective in following the mission Christ puts before us.
So there I was after worship on Sunday preparing for a fantastic week...and then I wasn't.
No one "plans" on getting sick. I understand that. I also know that there really is no "good time" to get the flu - but why now?
After two days of pain, chicken broth, and Gatorade, I'm back at the church and ready to again resume active ministry.
Besides illness, are there other physical limitations that hold us back from doing what we truly feel called to do? I ask this in response to our recent classes on the struggles in Israel and Palestine. During the classes, we were emotionally moved by the stories of pain, death, disease, displacement, and hate. However, we were at a loss as to what we could do being in Northern Michigan. It seems impossible to make a difference.
It is.
It is if we think it is all up to us and our abilities. However, it is possible for us to be used by the Holy Spirit to do the impossible. Our God works miracles in our midst and uses us, even sinners like us, to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world.
We must not lose hope or the assurance of God's grace to overcome darkness in the world. Rather, we must turn to God in prayer confident that the Lord can work all things for God - in spite of the impossibilities and limitations around us.
Pray - love - and show God's grace in the way we seek to serve one another.
Peace,
Pastor Andrew
So there I was after worship on Sunday preparing for a fantastic week...and then I wasn't.
No one "plans" on getting sick. I understand that. I also know that there really is no "good time" to get the flu - but why now?
After two days of pain, chicken broth, and Gatorade, I'm back at the church and ready to again resume active ministry.
Besides illness, are there other physical limitations that hold us back from doing what we truly feel called to do? I ask this in response to our recent classes on the struggles in Israel and Palestine. During the classes, we were emotionally moved by the stories of pain, death, disease, displacement, and hate. However, we were at a loss as to what we could do being in Northern Michigan. It seems impossible to make a difference.
It is.
It is if we think it is all up to us and our abilities. However, it is possible for us to be used by the Holy Spirit to do the impossible. Our God works miracles in our midst and uses us, even sinners like us, to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world.
We must not lose hope or the assurance of God's grace to overcome darkness in the world. Rather, we must turn to God in prayer confident that the Lord can work all things for God - in spite of the impossibilities and limitations around us.
Pray - love - and show God's grace in the way we seek to serve one another.
Peace,
Pastor Andrew
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