PBPC Announcements

PBPC Family, A few years back, Kenzie and I purchased Faithful Families for Advent and Christmas  by Traci Smith. It's filled with 100 ways to help parents and families cultivate sacred space during Advent and Christmas. As is true with most books I buy, I finally cracked it open a few days ago and wish I had done so sooner. In reading through some of her ideas, I realized how easy it is to be carried through the next few weeks. The calendar quickly fills up with work, social events, and last minute shopping trips. Before I know it, it's January and I feel like I've just sprinted through the Advent and Christmas season with little space for reflection and rest. I imagine I'm not the only one who feels this way. One suggestion from the book that I shared during our sermon discussion on Sunday is to make a "NOT To-Do List." This time of the year is filled with so many expectations - generally more than we can fulfill. We cannot do it all. Instead of powering thr...

PBPC Family, Sunday marks the beginning of the Advent season, the church's new year. This is a sacred and holy season, one where we imagine ourselves in darkness, waiting and longing for Christ to come. Over the years, I've been asked a number of times why we have a season called Advent and when did it become a part of the church's worship. Tish Harrison Warren, in her book Advent  provides a succinct and concise history. She writes, "The first time we see Christmas dated to December 25 is the year 336 in an almanac called the Chronograph , though it must have been widely celebrated on that day before then since it is mentioned as common knowledge. In these early mentions of Christmas, there is no evidence that it is preceded by a period of fasting and preparation like Advent. Easter was the first major feat of the church. In preparation for it, Christians began to practice Lent by the second century at the latest. So as a parallel to Lent-Easter, Advent began to be wi...

PBPC Family, I am pleased to announce that, after much prayer, conversation, and discernment, the Mutual Discernment Team (Rory Brown, Chris Adams, Bryan Heath, and Paula Eisenberg) and I have agreed on transitioning me from a Designated Pastor to the indefinite permanent pastor at Park Boulevard Presbyterian Church! I have loved being and doing church with you all these past (almost) 2 years and I am excited to see what God has in store for us as we continue our partnership. As a church, you have been a blessing to me and I hope I have been to you as well. Earlier this month, the Mutual Discernment Team and I finished our meetings and agreed God was inviting us to continue in ministry together. We passed our recommendation onto Session who met with COM (Committee on Ministry), who gave their blessing. Session approved calling me as the permanent pastor last night and subsequently called a Congregational Meeting for December 3. This Congregational Meeting on December 3 (immediately fol...