Author Archives: philandpatricia

Once I built a shed

I am not a “Carpenter” either in song or with saw. Yet, once, I built a shed of old recovered barn wood. That was in the days before I was taking and collecting pictures of life.  So, the images you see in this post are from others who also love old barns for what they areContinue reading “Once I built a shed”

Reading to children – the ritual renewed

My children’s mother, Kandi, and I were blessed by daughter, Jennifer, into our lives in 1968. Then, by son, Mark, in 1970. How we loved and enjoyed them. I have no words to convey the beautiful mystery of them around and within us. By way of Jennifer and Mark I learned again for the firstContinue reading “Reading to children – the ritual renewed”

anger

There is so much acrimony, exasperation, impatience, outrage, ire, resentment, indignation, irritation, petulance, irritability, passion, rage, temper, violence out and about. These words are all synonyms for “anger.” Matt James, Ph.D. in a “Psychology Today” post from July 16 quotes Mark Twain:  “Anger is an acid that can do more harm to the vessel in whichContinue reading “anger”

July 17, 2016 at Trinity Church UCC, Northport, MI

As promised in the previous post, here are Karoline Lewis’ comments on this week’s text from the Gospel of Luke about the sisters: Karoline M. Lewis is the author of John: Fortress Biblical Preaching Commentaries (Fortress Press, 2014) as well as numerous articles for The Christian Century, Feasting on the Word, Feasting on the Gospels,Continue reading “July 17, 2016 at Trinity Church UCC, Northport, MI”

Life is what happens to you when you are busy making other plans

Some of you know that I am a graduate of St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, MO.   That is where I went in the summer of 1972 with their mother, Kandi,  when my oldest children,  Jennifer and Mark, were very small. Jennifer was maybe 3 and Mark was maybe 1. Another person,Continue reading “Life is what happens to you when you are busy making other plans”

What does it mean for us to love?

On May 22, 2016, Trinity Sunday in our liturgical year, I was installed as the pastor and teacher at Trinity Church United  Church of Christ in Northport, Michigan.  You can watch an eight minute video that tells about Trinity and its heritage as well as breathes life into the service of Installation, which was a timeContinue reading “What does it mean for us to love?”

Phil Thomas: Life wisdom . . . economics, where we are

Northport, Michigan is home to a number of amazing people.  Among them is Phil Thomas.  On Thursday, he spoke to around three dozen of us about his life journey and what he believes to be true regarding our economic situation in the US. I encourage you to take the time to read his life wisdom.Continue reading “Phil Thomas: Life wisdom . . . economics, where we are”

may we be worthy

Back in September of ’15, I was getting acquainted, as a resident, with Northport, Michigan. Matt Fitzgerald, whose mother introduced me to this fine village any number of years ago, posted a “Daily Devotional” on the UCC (United Church of Christ) webpage.   Among his faithful words that September day were these “. . . IContinue reading “may we be worthy”

Signs of Spring in the woods of Michigan

So many shades of brown on the forest floor after the snow has melted and we await the delicate grace of thousands of trilliums in their orchestra of vibrant green and effusive white. This is the Leelanau State Park woods on the Cathead Trail today.  As we walked, a few leaves were lifted quietly on aContinue reading “Signs of Spring in the woods of Michigan”