I had the opportunity to preach in February, just a few weeks after having written my comprehensive annual report which began with early 2020, as I described totally normal worship. It then led the reader through a brief period of exploration as staff figured out what we could do after that “normal” period was no […]
Staff
The Owl in the Yard
“There the owl nests and lays and hatches and gathers her young in her shadow; indeed, there the hawks are gathered, each one with her mate.” —Isaiah 34:15 Dear friends, This is a bird house in my backyard, awaiting new occupants in the spring. The owl isn’t real, it’s piercing eyes and angry scowl are meant to scare […]
Reflections and Transformations
But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of God never ceases, God’s mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:19-23 Dear friends, January is sort of a quiet month. It’s often cold and snowy, grey and dark. The excitement and […]
Virtual Epiphany
Dear friends, For the last twenty-four years, we have celebrated Epiphany in a joint worship service with our friends at Plymouth Church. This year, of course, it will look different, as we join together in a combined Zoom worship service on Sunday, January 3. We have invited Rev. Liz Garrigan-Byerly to preach in her […]
Music Appreciation
This month I want to draw your attention to the music appreciation sessions that happen every Thursday night (with rare exception) live from my dining room table. By my most recent count, this month we will hit our thirtieth session since the middle of March, when it seemed like something fun to do for a […]
“Advent Virus”
WARNING…WARNING: ADVENT VIRUS Be on the alert for symptoms of inner Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. The hearts of a great many have already been exposed to this virus and it is possible that people everywhere could come down with it in epidemic proportions. This could pose a serious threat to what has, up to now, […]
Herald of Good Tidings
Dear friends, On a sunny Friday afternoon in November, Nicola and I put on our masks, grabbed our cell phones and hiked up to Tippling Rock. We stopped a few times along the way—at a field where the grass was brown, at a bridge that leveled out the path, and finally on top of […]
Bounteous Blessings
We have an incredible lineup of special music this November. For the first time during our virtual worship months, I’m reasonably sure, the majority of music you hear are recordings made especially for Edwards virtual worship. That’s amazing. And while some has been recorded by me, as you’d expect, more and more is being generated […]
Closer than Ever
“But take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of your life; make them known to your children and your children’s children…” Deuteronomy 4:9 Dear friends, In this season of giving and gratefulness, my heart is […]
Sailing for Stewardship
Dear friends, The Stewardship Team (Liz Garrigan-Byerly, Debbie Roy and Debbie Clark) invites you to join us on a journey of imagination. Imagine Edwards Church as a ship—small enough to maneuver through the narrows, large enough to hold all of us, with plenty of room to invite friends and neighbors and strangers. We are […]