Moderator's Memos

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it. – William Arthur Ward

It is hard to believe, but Thanksgiving is just two weeks away, which means that we are about to enter the holiday season. I love this time of year and one reason I do is because it is a period that celebrates gratitude, goodwill, and generosity. I’ve decided to get a head start on the season by devoting today’s Moderator’s Memo

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When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed. ― Maya Angelou
 
There are two things you can count on each fall—1) pumpkin spice seasoning will start appearing in practically everything, and 2) people in churches will start talking about stewardship campaigns.
 
Because money is such an integral part of our lives, it should come as no surprise that we end up talking about it at church. And yet, each year when stewardship season rolls around and

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“The human species thinks in metaphors and learns through stories.” —Mary Catherine Bateson

The sanctuary was full of dogs, one cat, one kitten, one parrot, and several animals of the stuffed variety last Sunday. Oh, and there were a number of people, too. Yes, it was the Blessing of the Animals service, something I look forward to all year. It was a chance to catch up with furry and feathered friends who don’t make it to church too often.

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On Books – and Stories of Renewal

I love books and am always curious to see what other people are reading. I recently took a look at the paperback fiction best sellers list printed in The Washington Post and was taken aback to see that three of the top ten bestselling books that week were Fahrenheit 451, 1984, and Lord of the Flies (and all had been on the list for many weeks.) Why is it that so

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In her Pastor’s Page last week, Pastor Ellen noted that “our congregation is both a sanctuary and a source of empowerment. It is both a safe haven in which we can rest and restore and a voice from the prophetic tradition, challenging us to work for change.” These words resonated with me. I believe they capture the essence of what our church is all about.

We engage in a lot of different activities here at CPC. Some are

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