Is it safe to trust? To be more specific, is it safe to trust the power of the Spirit as she seeks to lead us bravely down the unknown corridors of this and ever day of our lives; and it was the fundamental question with which the exiled Jews of Babylon were faced. It’s the question

I heard a story the other day, an amusing story, about a boy who was wandering around the narthex of a large downtown church one Sunday morning and stopped and examined a large bronze plaque that was hung on the wall. “What are all those names up there?” he asked one of the ushers. “Those

There are a lot of people who do not know how to live without excitement, without stimulation. Whether it comes from pleasure – or from crisis – they thrive on activity, on doing things – on solving problems – on adrenalin. The time that exists between one crisis or another, between one activity or another

For a moment imagine a scene of peace:  close your eyes and imagine it – describe it to yourself as fully as you can – enter into it deeply enough to feel its glow.   Some of you may have pictured yourself dozing in the bottom of a rowboat on a calm and tranquil lake. 

The fundamental fact of our faith is – Jesus is Lord of the Living and The Dead, by him, the dead receive new life, and through faith in him, the living never die.   I am the resurrection and the life, they who believe in me, though they die, yet shall they live, and everyone

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth.  His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life”.   Thus began

Recently a newspaper  ran a little item which I would like to share with you.  It was titled: “In Times of Stress, Just Call on Rover”.  It goes like this:   When it comes to times of stress, the most reassuring companion isn’t your sweetheart – it’s your schnauzer.   A study has found that

Some of you have heard this story before –it has been making the rounds the last couple of weeks. It’s about a congregation that undertook a long and diligent search for a new minister – and at last settled on one. On the first Sunday, the new minister went into the pulpit and delivered an

We understand death to have entered the world as the penalty for Adam and Eve’s disobedience – for their turning away from God and doing that one single thing they had been told not to do, for on the day that they did they would surely die.   The story of Adam and Eve is

I recently read a story about a traveler who was having a conversation with a farmer from upstate New York. They both were discussing the weather, and the farmer assured the traveler that he could tell what the weather was going to be by watching the behavior of his cows. “When the cows are standing,

One day Abraham invited a beggar to his tent for a meal. When grace was being said, the man began to curse God, declaring he could not bear to hear his name. Seized with indignation, Abraham drove the blasphemer away. When he was at his prayers that night, God said to him,    “This man has

“You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.  You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid.  No one after lighting

It is the message of the cross that we proclaim – of the cross and the resurrection; yet for many of us proclaiming the message is difficult. We know what the message is – but we find it difficult to express it to others- to get others to really feel and sense the importance of

  This morning we heard a portion of the “Christmas Story” that we do not hear as often as the rest.  Beginning from the worship of the Shepherds and the naming of the child, we heard what happened when, in accordance with the law of God, Mary and Joseph presented Jesus at the temple.  

For churches across the country, the month of December is devoted to preparation—not only the kind of spiritual preparation that Advent invites; but rather, practical planning: where (and when) to hang the decorations, how to assemble the Christmas liturgies, when to organize the Christmas parties and festivities, and so on. Altar guilds and worship committees

Saying Yes to God’s Love We have looked at three ways of being prepared for the coming of Christ this Advent Season. We have stressed the need to keep the vision of God’s kingdom alive in our hearts – that vision that gives hope as it tells us about the purpose and meaning of life.

Joy Advent 3   Barbara Bartocci was searching for the perfect birthday card for her husband a few years ago.  She came across a promising one.  On the outside it read: “Sweetheart, you’re the answer to my prayers.”  Then she turned to the inside, which was inscribed like this: “You’re not what I prayed for

This is the Sunday of the Candle of Peace and the Sunday of John The Baptist crying out in the wilderness: – “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” – “Repent, for every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” – “Repent, for after me will

The Port Washington community held an Interfaith Thanksgiving Service of Hope and Solidarity, led by members of the Port Washington Clergy Association last Sunday at the Community Synagogue in Sands Point. The gathering prayed together, and Fr. Gary gave the Thanksgiving message, “How Would The World Be Different If I Were a More Thankful Person?”

November is the end of the Christian year and the beginning of the new one on the 27th -Advent.  We have the Fall Fair, Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service on the 20th at 5pm at the Community Synagogue.  Finally there is Commitment Sunday, 27th, setting our footprint for 2017 by offering our skills, time and financial offering.