A word about the election Whether you are thrilled about the results or terrified for the future,  we must remain rooted in Christ.  I spent Wednesday morning in the book of 1 Kings,  and read about this bad king,  and that bad king,  and peppered with a few good kings.  And this is the history of…

My dear friends in Christ, This is a difficult week. We have been preaching on being rooted in Christ this fall for good reason. The U.S. is once again in the midst of a contentious election and the consequences are severe for many of us. For those of us who grew up in the U.S….

How’s the “rooting” going for you? We have been in the “Rooted” series for quite a while now and we wanted to check up on you.  It is easy to have our faith-life on cruise control especially when we are stressed or worried or distracted.  So, as long time Covenanters are apt to say, “how goes…

Last Saturday I officiated a memorial service and a burial for a person who was raised in our church. It was an odd situation for a number of reasons, but I shared with them a benediction you may have also heard me share at other memorials. “Do not hurry as you walk with grief. It…

The rootedness of God’s church Most of you have heard the news that Pastor Karen has accepted a new call, and will be finishing her ministry here on November 30th.  I (Pastor Nick) have very willingly agreed to stay on until an interim/transitional pastor is found or until the summer.  I know all of us…

What causes someone to start attending church A church vitality organization recently did a survey of people who started attending church after not being a church attender.  Here is the results: So what should be the take-away?  Most people who start attending church do so because they were invited and had a spiritual desire or…

Dear OCC, Happy Fall! Fall is one of my favorite seasons. I love wearing sweaters. I love that the kids are back at school. This is Jake’s first season playing soccer and he’s actually really good at it, so that has been a blast for me! This morning my devotions reminded me of one of…

Have you noticed the murals? Dear Church, I have a growing passion for murals. Every time I drive to church, I pass the mural near the bridge into Ludlow on Iglesias De Dios Nuevos Conienzos (New Beginnings Church of God).   And now, when I lead worship, I gaze upon the mural painted across the front…

A note about Worship and Worship changes for this fall OCC family and friends, As we look towards the fall and kicking it off with a series about establishing roots in Jesus – whether new to the faith or long-timer,  I (Pastor Nick) have been pondering the challenges we face as a diverse worshipping community. …

What is Labor Day and why is it celebrated in the U.S.? Labor Day was this past Monday.  According to the history channel website, “Labor Day [is] an annual celebration of workers and their achievements, originated during one of American labor history’s most dismal chapters. In the late 1800s, at the height of the Industrial Revolution in the…