Category: Pastor Thoughts - Edmonds Presbyterian Church

From the Desk of Pastor Rob

10/27/2022

Dear Fellow Travelers,
Welcome to Fall and to lead up to Advent! We are on the verge of something new. A new church year and a new era in our church. I am so excited that we have several new members coming in. We have some building projects and a thriving Bible Study.

We simplified our Mission Statement to “We are a community where people stretch and grow in Christ.” It is something we can all easily memorize, and it contains a strong statement of purpose. We are a community. We welcome people to join us. We stretch our hearts and intellects in the Holy Spirit. And we grow in Christ.

This is stewardship season when we will ask you to make your pledge for 2023. You will be hearing from several elders about the work of our church in coming weeks. As we lean into the end of 2022, we are running tight on cash for several reasons. Your session has taken several actions to economize. We will also ask you to catch up with your 2022 pledges and consider reaching a little further in your giving so that we can end the year in the black. We have an amazing, important, and vital ministry. Pray for our church and for your support.

We will start choir again in November leading up to Advent. We are already making plans for the Christmas program, including Christmas Eve and a rare Christmas Day service in cooperation with Maplewood Presbyterian. I can’t wait to tell you more about it in the coming weeks!

This is what I am planning for worship in November.
Sunday, November 6th. I will preach “Why Build a New Church?” about the return of the exiles from Babylon and the command of God to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. We are rebuilding our church and we are focusing on the most important mission we have for our community and neighbors.

Sunday, November 13th. Larry Y will lead worship using the sermon, “New Heavens and a New Earth.” The Thessalonians were worried that Jesus had not come yet. They were awaiting the promise in Isaiah. What they didn’t know was that Christ is with us now and always.

Sunday, November 20th. For Christ the King Sunday, I will preach “Jesus Remember Me.” This is the cry of the thief next to Jesus at the crucifixion, and Jesus promises a meeting in paradise. Jesus’ presence in our lives is the greatest gift of all time. God is present even in the toughest times. This is the true Kingdom of Heaven.

Sunday, November 27th. Advent is here! I will preach about Isaiah’s words “In the Days to Come.” This is the threshold of a new year and a new era in our church. Come join me in celebrating a new beginning!

It is a joy to be with you in this time. You are a gift to me and all those around you.

Grace and Peace, Pastor Rob

From the Desk of Pastor Rob

9/28/2022

Dear Fellow Travelers,
This is an exciting time to be at Edmonds!

We are starting choir again in October. The first practice will be on Wednesday,
October 5 at 7 PM. Depending on interest and attendance, we will decide on how to proceed from there.

We are also starting membership classes in October to welcome new members during Advent. If you would like to participate, please contact me.

Bible Study has started again! It’s about the Sermon on the Mount using Amy-Jill Levine’s “Toward the Kingdom of Heaven.” Please join us after Sunday Worship in-person or Tuesdays at 10AM for Zoom Bible Study.

The Edmonds Toy Shop bicycle ministry is up and running using our property. Watch for events in the springtime.

I remain very active on social media. Please follow me on Facebook (@EdmondsPres), Instagram (@EdmondsPresbyterianChurch), or TikTok (@realbiblerob). Look on our website www.epc-pcusa.org for links. If you know anyone who could benefit from my messages, please encourage them to follow me!

We continue to offer an alternative worship option via email and YouTube. Please contact the office to get on the email list.

Here’s the plan for worship services in October:
October 2, Rev. Laurel Underwood will be celebrating World Communion Sunday with us! This will be a special service.
October 9, I will preach “Except This Foreigner.” Jesus shows us that many times it is immigrants who show us what gratitude really means.
October 16, In “Honest About Scripture” I will share the many things I have learned by posting daily 45-second videos on the Bible. It is fascinating to see all the different responses and beliefs about Scripture.
October 23, I will talk about the ideas of completeness and perfection in “I Will Pour Out My Spirit.” Are we perfected by God or are we completed by God?
October 30, Rev. Charity Sandstrom will preach an uplifting message.

I am so excited about all of the great things happening with our church!
With the Peace of our God,
Pastor Rob

From the Desk of Pastor Rob

8/30/2022

Dear Fellow Travelers,
We have been busy this summer! We had two church workdays, an active men’s group, an ordination, and new hymnals!

We also partnered with Edmonds Toy Store (part of the Edmonds Food Bank) for doing bicycle distributions in the coming year. Things are really happening at the church!

As we go into Fall, we will restart the Bible Study about the Sermon on the Mount using Amy-Jill Levine’s “Toward the Kingdom of Heaven.” Please join us after Sunday Worship in-person or Tuesdays at 10AM for Zoom Bible Study.

For those of you who would like to become members and those who are membership curious, I will do two sessions in October and November, so we can welcome new members in Advent.

I am very active on social media nowadays. Please follow me on Facebook (@EdmondsPres), Instagram (@EdmondsPresbyterianChurch), or TikTok (@realbiblerob). Look on our website www.epc-pcusa.org for links. You will soon see a new logo and updated website pages as well.

We continue to offer an alternative worship option via email and YouTube. Please contact the office to get on the email list.

Here’s the plan for worship services in September:
September 4, “No Longer As A Slave” Paul’s letter to Philemon shows tremendous grace and mercy, but it is also troubling for us today. I explore how this letter opens our eyes to the tremendous progress that we have made in our church and our society.

September 11, We will worship at Elder Nancy B's house followed by a BBQ social. This will be a special treat! I will preach “Starting Life Over” about redemption and how the small and large turning points in our lives are what being a Christian is all about.

September 18, Rev. Kimberly Crispeno will be back to lead worship with an inspiring message.

September 25, Rev. Charity Sandstrom will be back to lead worship as well.

Carol and I will have our first official vacation traveling around Wisconsin and Michigan. We will tell you all about the fall colors and Great Lakes when we return in October!

I am so excited about all of the great things happening with the church and I look forward to serving with you as we start the new school year!

With the Peace of our God,
Pastor Rob

From the Desk of Pastor Rob

5/26/2022

Dear Church Family,

The Caller newsletter is taking a summer vacation in July and August, so I will give you a preview of upcoming services for June.

Saturday, June 4th at 2 pm. Celebration of life for Martha Orvis. I knew Martha in high school in Southern California. It was a great and unexpected joy to reconnect with her through Edmonds PC. The Hansen (Martha’s family) and Orvis families are delightful people and they welcome you to celebrate Martha’s amazing life. I will be officiating.

Sunday Worship, June 5th. It’s Pentecost! Wear Red! In my sermon, “Why Not?,” I explore Charismatic and Pentecostal expressions of Christianity and how they experience the Holy Spirit, including faith healing and tongues. I compare it to our emphasis on preaching and teaching the Word in Christ. Worship is a balance of heart and the mind, when we experience the movement of the Holy Spirit and we learn about the Bible.

Sunday Worship, June 12th. The sermon is titled “Creation 2.0.” The Creation story is continuous. People forget that when they think the earth and the natural world are disposable. The sense of conquering nature is deep in western Christianity. John 1 is an echo of the Genesis 1 creation story. The incarnation (God made flesh) came in creation, in Jesus, and the resurrection. And it continues today when we come to Jesus Christ and live in his name.

Sunday Worship, June 19th. “A Sound of Sheer Silence.” Elijah was afraid and he ran away. He saw a great wind, but God wasn’t in it. He felt an earthquake and a great fire, but God wasn’t in those either. Then there was a sound of sheer silence. And that is where God was. Things aren’t always what they seem. God is among us in quiet ways. There is hope in the midst of chaos.

Sunday Worship, June 26th. Dave Hackett will lead worship and deliver an inspiring message.

Finally, I want you to mark your calendars for July 10th at 3pm for my Ordination and Installation service. I would be absolutely delighted if you joined me for that event.

Grace and Peace to you all,
Pastor Rob

From the Desk of Pastor Rob

4/28/2022

Dear Fellow Travelers,

It’s Eastertide! Blooming flowers and warming temperatures accompany longer days. It is a good time to be alive! I finished seminary this month and I am getting ready for ordination. It is a very exciting time for Carol and me. Thank you so much for inviting us into the church family. It is truly a privilege to serve this wonderful congregation.

Our Bible Study using Toward the Kingdom of Heaven by Amy-Jill Levine has kicked off and now we are ready to dive into the Sermon on the Mount. It has been a real joy to study and pray with you. If you haven’t already, pick up a book at the church and join us! You can join us in-person on Sundays after worship and Tuesdays at 10 AM on Zoom.

As we emerge from COVID restrictions, we will begin doing more fellowship activities. Keep your eye out for announcements over the summer as we develop more opportunities for fellowshipping together.

We continue to offer an alternative worship option via email and YouTube. Please contact the office to get on the email list.

Here’s the plan for worship services in May. I will preach along with 3 guest preachers.
May 1, Heidi Greider will lead worship. Heidi preached last summer, and I am delighted that she will be preaching again. She is the Manager of Spiritual Care at Seattle Children’s Hospital. She brings us a wonderful spiritual perspective as a chaplain.
May 8, “The Lamb of Heaven.” Psalm 23 gives us an amazing picture of God’s character. I will do a deep dive into the text of Psalm 23 in Hebrew and English. Then I will compare it to the vision of heaven in Revelation 7.
May 15, “All Are Welcome!” Peter recounts the vision of seeing the sheet come down with all kinds of animals to eat. His eyes are opened to see that Jesus is for all humanity. I preach about how this is a vision for the peaceable kingdom of God.
May 22, Rev. Alan Beasley will lead worship again. He will bring a soulful and uplifting message to us.
May 29, Worship will be led by someone new to us, Sao Uamoto. He graduated from Seattle Pacific University seminary several years ago. He has served in several ministry positions in Presbyterian and Episcopalian churches and is a chaplain at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. I am excited to have Sao lead worship!

As Pentecost approaches on June 5, prepare your hearts and mind for coming of the Holy Spirit.
With the Peace of our God,
Pastor Rob

From the Desk of Pastor Rob

3/31/2022

Dear Fellow Travelers,
Wow, it’s Spring and Holy Week is just about here! I am so happy that we get to do some of the things we love to do in person again. We will do Easter baskets on April 9. We will have a Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services in partnership with Calvin Presbyterian on April 14 & 15. And then the big event, Easter on April 17! The choir will bring us the joy of Easter.

In other joyful news, I was called by the congregation on March 20 to be ordained as your installed pastor! Stay tuned for information about the installation service sometime this summer. I could not be more thrilled and grateful for your trust in me and your support as I begin my ministry with you!

Our Bible Study using Wholehearted Faith by Rachel Held Evans continues for two more weeks. It has been a great experience learning a new way to have faith and to learn what it means to be a Presbyterian. Don’t worry if you have miss a few. Just pick up a book at the church and join us! You can join us in-person on Sundays after worship and Tuesdays at 10 AM on Zoom.

We continue to offer an alternative worship option via email and YouTube. Please contact the office to get on the email list. Here’s the plan for worship services in April. I will be preaching for the whole month.

April 3, “There Is Something About Mary.” The story Martha and Mary is so rich with meaning. Along with their brother Lazarus they were personal friends of Jesus and they played a pivotal role in Jesus’s preparation to enter Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.

April 10, Palm Sunday, “Of the Same Mind.” Palm Sunday is at once joyful and harrowing. Jesus knew the danger of entering Jerusalem, but he emptied himself and became an example for us all.

April 14 & 15, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday in coordination with Calvin Presbyterian Church, 18826 3rd Ave. NW, Shoreline. Both services will be at 7 PM. Maundy Thursday at Edmonds, and Good Friday at Calvin. Please try to attend both, as you are able, to show support for our brothers and sisters at Calvin.

April 17, Easter, “Can You See the Real Me?” No one recognized the real Jesus on the road to Emmaus until he broke bread. Just like the song from The Who, it is a cry for identity. What will the church become? How will the real Jesus be revealed in us?

April 24, “We Must Obey God.” Peter just can’t help himself when he is told by the High Priest to stop preaching the good news. He is bursting with the Holy Spirit when he exclaims “we must obey God!”

As the temperatures warm and the sunlight returns, prepare your hearts and mind for renewal.

With the Peace of our God,
Pastor Rob

From the Desk of Pastor Rob

3/1/2022

Dear Fellow Travelers,
Lent is all about preparation. Sometimes we give up something. Maybe it’s a temptation or a bad habit – turning over a new leaf. Instead of being another New Year’s resolution, however, it can be about giving up on an old way of thinking. As we approach Holy Week and Easter, let’s plan to be open to new ideas and new people.

I am excited about our new Bible Study using Wholehearted Faith by Rachel Held Evans. She was a young person who found her faith again in a congregation like ours. It’s a great way to acquaint ourselves with people who can find a safe landing place in our church. I will lead the Bible Study through Lent. You can join us in-person on Sundays after worship and Tuesdays at 10 AM on Zoom. Also, there is a bonus. There will be just enough Presbyterian polity mixed in so that those of you who would like to can join in membership at Easter.

We continue to offer an alternative worship option via email and YouTube. Please contact the office to get on the email list.

On March 6, I will preach about the temptations of Jesus and how we should trust in the workings of the Holy Spirit. We should proclaim “Jesus Don’t Jump!”
On March 13, I will offer an encouraging message about “Our Citizenship is in Heaven.” When it seems like nothing is going right in the world, we can be confident that God will provide.
On March 20, I will focus on “That Which Does Not Satisfy.” We get so wrapped up in striving for the future and what we accomplish that we can forget what is really important. The prophet Isaiah reminds us that we show who we are by the fruit we bear.
On March 27, Christina Bergevin will offer an inspiring message. She is a fourth-year seminary student after a career in music ministry and staff at a megachurch. She has much wisdom about the movements of wider church around us.

As the temperatures warm and the sunlight returns, prepare your hearts and mind for renewal.

I wish you all every grace this March!

With the Peace of our God,
Pastor Rob

From the Desk of Pastor Rob

12/23/2021

Dear Fellow Travelers,
Welcome to the Lord’s Year 2022! You might be thinking, “How is this year going to be different?” It already is! Because we are doing many things that we didn’t a year ago. It is a good time to take stock of how far we’ve come. There are the obvious things, like returning to in-person worship and the choir and the amazing music program we had during Advent. But there are also many things happening in the background, from how we are managing our finances, emerging plans for stabilizing our building, new ideas about missions, and of course, me, as your new pastor. The church is alive and will become more active and alive in 2022. I could not be more excited than to be on this journey with you!

We are studying Romans in our Bible studies. If you haven’t already, please consider joining us on Sundays after church in-person, and on Tuesdays at 10 am on Zoom. Romans is a book to come back to time and time again, because it describes the whole of the Apostle Paul’s theology. More importantly for us, though, it shows how Paul talks to people in the richest, most powerful nation on earth. In a lot of ways, Paul is talking to us! He shows the importance of women in the ministry of the early church, in ways that remind us of the central and growing role of women in the life of our church and the church worldwide.

We will finish Romans by Lent. In Lent, I will start a class about being “Presbyterian in a Changing Church.” Presbyterianism is all about representation and equality. When we do it right, it is welcoming and life-giving, bringing the love of Jesus to individuals and the community in the way we hope for. We will study scriptures and other resources that will make this hope come alive in our church. The study is for everyone who wants to participate in growing the church. For those of you who aren’t already members, by attending these studies, you will be eligible to join the church at Easter, if you choose.

These are the Sunday worship services I am planning for January:
January 2: “The Remnant Awakens” Jacob became Israel, the one who wrestles with God. The most beautiful things are made from remnants and broken things. God recreates beauty in us.
January 9: “You are Precious in My Sight” In the waters of baptism, we die and rise again in the presence of the Holy Spirit.
January 16: “One in Creation” Caring for the environment and caring for people are the same thing. Jesus turned water into wine and celebrated creation.
January 23 and 30: We settle into Ordinary Time, like the people of Judah did in the rebuilt temple in Nehemiah. And we learn that love is for all. There is nothing ordinary about Ordinary Time!

2022 will be an amazing year for me and for you. I can’t wait to travel on the road with you!

In the Grace and Peace of Our Lord Jesus,
Pastor Rob

From the Desk of Pastor Rob

9/29/2021

Dear Fellow Travelers,
Many of you have been praying for me in the last few weeks. I am very grateful for your embrace of us as we become part of the community here at Edmonds. I just took my Ordination Exams in September. It was a real ordeal while also being in my last year in seminary and moving our household in Oregon. Your prayers sustained me, and Carol, and we are super appreciative. Thank you!

We are renewing the life of the church for the Fall. We began our Bible Study of Romans. We are following N. T. Wright’s Romans for Everyone. It is very easy to follow along and it can be picked up at any time along the way. I recorded a kickoff lesson to get started. Just search “Romans Bible Study Kickoff by Rob Christ” in YouTube. We are meeting on Sundays after church at 11am in person. And we are also meeting on Tuesdays at 10am on Zoom (usual zoom details, contact the office if you need help).

While we are not ready to start up choir again, Gina continues to provide rich and beautiful music for worship with the help of several wonderful worship leaders and soloists. Additionally, we continue to offer an online At Home worship option for those of you are not ready or able to join us in person on Sunday mornings.
I have a variety of interesting messages for you in worship for October:

On October 10, we will learn how to “Pray This Way” using a line-by-line study of the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6. I think you see that the Lord’s Prayer is richer and more intimate than you might think.

On October 17, Rob Hagan of the Presbyterian Foundation will tell us about the abundance of God’s grace. I will be his liturgist and we will host a light lunch afterwards.

On October 24, I will tell you how “Fear is Your Friend” in a provocative reading of Job.

On Halloween Sunday, October 31, we will learn about “Ruth and the Shema.”

You are an amazing and blessed community of believers! It is a privilege to serve with you! I wish you all every grace for autumn.

With the Peace of our God,
Pastor Rob

From the Desk of Pastor Rob

8/26/2021

Dear Fellow Travelers,
What a wonderful thing it is to worship together! Carol and I have really enjoyed meeting many of you. We look forward to getting to know you more as time goes on. I told some session members that it has been a beautiful honeymoon. They joked, “Well, we might not actually be married yet, until you are installed and ordained.” I said that’s all the better because it must mean that we are going steady! Whatever it is, it’s a delight to be with you.
One of the great things about writing to you is that I get to let you in on my secret plans. As I have spoken with many of you and observed how you work together, I have prayed for the guidance of the Holy Spirit for how we should re-emerge as a congregation. You have been through so much in the last couple years. It’s a lot to handle, but you’ve remained faithful and gracious. I have focused my messages on wisdom, trust, facing shame, and resting in the Word of God. Let’s take this time to regroup and consider what we want to be as we move forward. My goal is for you to feel grounded and supported by the grace of God.
We are going to spend some time in the book of James this month. I will talk about being “Interrupted by Love” in how we reach out to the community. We will explore the importance of what we say with “Words of Gold and Honey,” and our practical use of the Bible through the “Wisdom of Women.” I hope for wisdom as we make choices about what we will do this fall. We are watching the guidelines closely and discerning carefully about how to do worship, when and how to start choir and the bible studies again. In the meantime, we will continue to offer the At Home worship and online communion so you can stay connected wherever you are.
My big request of you this month is to pray for wisdom and discernment. I hope for us to come together with a mission focus that we all embrace. I also want us to find ways for our neighborhood and our city to experience the bounty of love we have in our church. Check out the updates to our website. Follow our Facebook and Instagram pages and share them widely. Let me know what you think. Please call or stop by. I look forward to chatting with you!
In the Grace and Peace of our God,
Pastor Rob