Category: From the Senior Pastor

From The Interim Senior Minister

Dear Friends,      I greet you at the beginning of an exciting new year of ministry here at Monroe Congregational Church. Our Church Family is still basking in the glow of Jenn’s election to be the new Senior Minister and the coming months will filled with plans and work as we complete this phase of [...]

Thursday December 29th, 2011 in From the Senior Pastor, News & Notices | No Comments »

Worship Service January 1 at 10:00am

Please Note – There will be one worship service at 10:00 AM on Sunday, January 8th.  Rev. Paul Bryant-Smith will be our guest minister while John is with the Men’s Retreat at Silver Lake.     Our two service format will resume on Sunday, January 15th with services at 8:45 and 10:30 AM.  

Thursday December 29th, 2011 in From the Senior Pastor, News & Notices | No Comments »

Candidating Sunday December 4

Dear Friends,      I want to take one more opportunity to encourage you to be part of the candidating activities this weekend as Monroe Congregational Church takes a very important step into the future.  Over the past five months our Senior Pastor Search Committee has done a marvelous and dedicated job.  Their hard work in [...]

Wednesday November 30th, 2011 in From the Senior Pastor, News & Notices | No Comments »

STEP INTO THE FUTURE WITH MCC!

 Dear Friends,       Maybe it’s just me, but I’m thinking that Mother Nature should relax, take a vacation, get some therapy or something!   Enough already.  Driving to the church this morning I was still dodging tree limbs and phone lines and worrying about all the people who spent last night in a cold house.  As [...]

Tuesday November 1st, 2011 in From the Senior Pastor, Stewardship | No Comments »

Note from Pastor John

Dear Friends      Part of the excitement of our Homecoming celebration last Sunday was to kick off the congregational input portion of the Search process.  For the next few weeks, I am urging you to fill out our church survey and attend one of our focus meetings.    The survey is available on MCC’s website homepage [...]

Wednesday September 14th, 2011 in From the Senior Pastor, News & Notices | No Comments »

A Note from Pastor John

Dear Friends,      As we cross the threshold into “Strawberry Month” I want to highlight some of the important moments that the month of June will offer to us.  First, this Sunday, June 5th is Confirmation Sunday.  At our 10:30 service 16 of our marvelous young people will be confirmed into membership here at MCC. [...]

Tuesday May 31st, 2011 in From the Senior Pastor, News & Notices | No Comments »

A Note From Pastor John

Dear Friends,       I greet you in the middle of a glorious springtime which provides the backdrop for an exciting and productive season here at Monroe Congregational Church.  As we wrap up winter programs and begin to ride the joyous spirit of Strawberry Festival into June, we also officially begin the Search and Call process [...]

Friday May 13th, 2011 in From the Senior Pastor, News & Notices | No Comments »

Farewell!

Over the past 16 years, I’ve enjoyed using this space to reflect on the life of faith as we experience it in community. The pastor’s column in the Steeple has provided me with an alternative to sermons, prayers, and meeting reports as I sought to provoke and to sooth, to raise questions and open possibilities, [...]

Friday January 14th, 2011 in From the Senior Pastor, News & Notices | No Comments »

Thank You from Pastor Pete

Thank You! My doctoral conferral service was a magical moment for me. What a beautiful morning! Looking out and seeing all of your faces – the faces of those who have loved and supported me throughout my time at Hartford Seminary – was amazing. I will never forget it. The reception, your cards and gifts, [...]

Tuesday December 14th, 2010 in From the Senior Pastor, News & Notices | No Comments »

Safely Gathered In

 Where are the fruits of summer? Only the herbs are green in the garden now Even the pumpkins and gourds Are caved in and frost-broken  Are the grandchildren coming? Only a few still live at home or nearby A few we haven’t seen in years Others we know we won’t ever see again  Where are [...]

Tuesday November 30th, 2010 in Fellowship, From the Senior Pastor | No Comments »

Hospitality as a spiritual gift

Have you seen the seven new families that have been worshipping with us lately? Most of them have children who have been attending Sunday school, Jr. PF, Confirmation, and Sr. PF. By their very presence, they are already contributing to our common life and bringing us hope for our future as a faith community. As [...]

Wednesday October 27th, 2010 in From the Senior Pastor, News & Notices | No Comments »

Dissertation Presentation

“My Home is Over Jordan: Fulfilling Covenant with Mainline Young Adults” If you’ve been wondering what Pete’s been researching and writing for the past two years… If you took part in his doctoral project and want to see the impact of your words and actions… If you have an interest in 18-29 year-old young adults and [...]

Wednesday September 29th, 2010 in Christian Education, From the Senior Pastor, News & Notices | No Comments »

Pete’s Final Report Card

My doctoral dissertation, entitled, “My Home is Over Jordan: Fulfilling Covenant with Mainline Young Adults,” is finished! My defense (the very last hurdle) is scheduled. On Tuesday, October 19, I will meet with three professors from Hartford Seminary who will have read my paper and prepared questions for me. My job is to justify my [...]

Wednesday September 29th, 2010 in From the Senior Pastor, News & Notices | No Comments »

From the Senior Pastor

 God’s Embrace Some of us have secure, loving homes and some of us do not. But no matter what, each of us has a home in God’s Spirit and a home waiting for us here at MCC. Come celebrate our wonderful church family on September 12! We will return to our two-service schedule (8:45 and [...]

Thursday August 26th, 2010 in From the Senior Pastor, Worship | No Comments »

The Launch

The Launch Kayak paddle rhythm Double dipping, double dipping Gliding atop Lake Zoar Keeping to the shore shade, My pathway zigs and zags Like a search vessel I am searching, indeed For a bird, to be exact For a black-crowned night heron, to be precise One that I met long ago, A decade ago, in [...]

Friday July 23rd, 2010 in From the Senior Pastor, Worship | No Comments »

Back in the Fold

Joy Over the past week, I’ve had so many moments of joy: performing a wedding, helping to dedicate a Habitat home, being led in worship by our wonderful teens and children, spending time with Sr. PF and some of our long-term members. Returning from Sabbatical has been like coming home in the best sense.  Jenn [...]

Friday May 28th, 2010 in From the Senior Pastor, Worship | No Comments »