Category: Pastor Thoughts - Edmonds Presbyterian Church

From the Desk of Pastor Rob

2/23/2023

Dear Fellow Travelers,
Wow, that was a busy start to the new year! Now we are in Lent, and it is a time for rest and reflection.

We are cooperating with Calvin Presbyterian and Maplewood Presbyterian again this year. Maundy Thursday service will be at Edmonds, 7 PM, April 6th. Good Friday will be at Calvin PC, details to come. Easter Sunday Sunrise Service will be hosted by Maplewood, 6:30 AM, April 9th. And of course, we will have Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday services at Edmonds at the usual 10 AM. Details to come!

Plans for Easter Baskets with the Concern for Neighbors food bank in Mountlake Terrace are in full swing. Our partnership with the Edmonds Toy Shop is growing with a bicycle distribution event in the Spring. Stay tuned for details on these opportunities to serve.

Choir is back! We will sing in worship at least once per month, with practice the Wednesday before. The next practice is Wednesday, March 1 at 7 PM. We will sing on March 5 worship at 10 AM.

Our study of the Sermon on the Mount using Amy-Jill Levine’s “Toward the Kingdom of Heaven” continues. Please join us after worship or at 10AM Tuesday over Zoom.
We worked out all the bugs in our Online Streaming Worship. Please go to the www.epc-pcusa.org website for the latest links.

This is what I am planning for worship in March.
Sunday, March 5th. My sermon “Are You Kidding?” explores the joke that is built into John 3. John uses Greek puns and verbal tricks to show the cleverness of Jesus and the shallowness of Nicodemus and the Pharisees. How we see this passage tells us a lot about how we received the famous John 3:16.

Sunday, March 12th. “Be Careful What You Ask For” is about our need to complain to God. God often answers our prayers in unexpected ways. When Jesus asks the Samaritan woman at the well for a drink, she gets a lot more than she expects, leading her to say “Sir, give me this water.”

Sunday, March 19th. The story of the blind man in John 9 is very funny as well as instructive. When he talks to the judgmental Pharisees, it makes us wonder “Who Is Blind?”

Sunday, March 26th. In “In Dry Bones Wet Eyes” we see the depth of emotions in Ezekiel and in Jesus. Ezekiel wonders if Israel will ever be a nation again. Jesus cries for his dear friend Lazarus and his sisters. Jesus is beginning to know what he will be facing on the cross and he is deeply emotionally affected.

It is a joy to serve God with you! I wish you many blessings in this Lenten season.

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Rob

From the Desk of Pastor Rob

12/29/2022

Dear Fellow Travelers,
This is an abbreviated New Years version of the Caller.
Advent and Christmas was an absolute joy at Edmonds! The choir filled the sanctuary. Nicole, Brian, Allie, and Sarah enhanced our services with their beautiful voices. We cooperated with Maplewood and Terrace View for Christmas services. And we added 7 new members on Christmas Day! What an exciting time to be at Edmonds!

We are resuming our study of the Sermon on the Mount using Amy-Jill Levine’s “Toward the Kingdom of Heaven.” Please join us after worship or at 10AM Tuesday over Zoom.

We worked out all the bugs in our Online Streaming Worship. Please go to the www.epc-pcusa.org website for the latest links.

This is what I am planning for worship in January.

Sunday, January 1st. I will preach about the joy of Psalm 148 in “All the Lord Has Done.” I will teach you the proper way to say Hallelujah הַ֥לְלוּ יָ֨הּ in Hebrew. We will also experience the joy of Neil Diamond’s music, especially “Holly Holy.”

Sunday, January 8th. This is Baptism of the Lord Sunday. John the Baptist asks Jesus “And You Come to Me?” These words tell us so much about the relationship between John and Jesus. Baptism is a time for turning around, metanoia in Greek. Will the church turn around in time for a new generation?

Sunday, January 15th. I will take you on “A Corinthian Tour.” The geography of Corinth in Greece played a pivotal role in the formation of the New Testament. The reason we study the letters to the Corinthians so often is because this rich and vibrant ancient city tells us so much about being a Christian today.

Sunday, January 22nd. We will have a guest reader preach “The Cross is Foolishness.” This is the iconic phrase of 1 Corinthians 1:18 that highlights the craziness of Jesus’s mission in the face of skepticism. Jesus’s journey to the north country is a precursor to Paul’s journeys to the gentiles.

Sunday, January 29th. Charity Sandstrom will lead worship and give an inspiring message. Charity just joined Edmond Presbyterian Church in membership. She is an ordained Quaker minister of 15 years. She is working on steps to be ordained in the PC(USA). Thanks be to God for Charity in our midst!

It is a joy to be with you in the new year. I am so excited to start a new year of ministry together!
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Rob

From the Desk of Pastor Rob

11/30/2022

Dear Fellow Travelers,
Advent is here! Christmas is right around the corner! I can hardly believe that this is my second Advent with you. We have certainly had a very busy year with lots of activity. This year Christmas Day falls on a Sunday. We will have a very special service filled with music, readings, and we will bring in several new church members!

The Choir has been very busy practicing for Advent. Practices are on most Wednesdays, at 7 PM. We have practices planned for Nov. 30, Dec. 7, Dec. 14. The choir will be offering music during worship all season. All are welcome!

Bible Study continues! I love how you take the Bible seriously, and how you see the humanity and humor in the Bible. We are 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.

We are active on social media: 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 us!

We added a streaming worship option. Please see your Saturday morning email for the weekly link. Share this with family and friends who would like to worship online.

Here’s the plan for worship services in Advent and Christmas:
December 4, I will preach “The Lamb of God.” This is the 2nd Sunday in Advent when we light the Peace Candle. Throughout history there has been so little peace. How do we claim the peace that Jesus, the Christ child promises?

December 11, We will have a service of Lessons and Carols, filled with Bible readings and Christmas Carols. We will light the Joy Candle. The message will be “Complicated Joy.”

December 18, In “The Necessary Virgin” I will share the amazing bravery of Mary. Mary gave of herself to be the mother of Jesus. Does it matter that she was a virgin? Maybe not the way that you think. We need to know more about why Mary said “Yes!” to God.

December 24, Christmas Eve. We are cooperating with Maplewood Presbyterian, 19523 84th Ave. W, Edmonds to attend their Christmas Eve service at 3PM. I plan to be there. I hope you will join me!

December 25, Christmas Day! The Maplewood folks will join us for worship. I will preach “Jesus for Everyone.” The service will be filled with music, prayer, joy, and new members!

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

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