MID-WEEK MEET-UP: Reading the Bible

Hi First Presbyterian Church,

It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! July has been a very full month for me - from going to Utah for the PC(USA)’s General Assembly, to visiting family south of Buffalo, and hiking in the Adirondacks. I hope you’ve been enjoying your summer as much as I have!

One part of summer that I’m especially enjoying is our summer sermon series. It gives me a chance to reflect on things you are thinking about, and I particularly like exploring your questions after worship during our Q&A. Here’s the schedule for the remainder of the sermon series:

August 4 - Predestination (Pastor Aaron)

August 11 - God’s Final Judgment (Pastor Aaron)

August 18 - Death and the Afterlife (Pastor Aaron)

August 25 - Why Bad Things Happen to Innocent People (Pastor Erin)

During my sermon two Sundays ago, I emphasized the importance of the Bible in the Protestant tradition and how reading the Bible should be an important spiritual discipline, especially for Protestants. This is one of the reasons I am looking forward to our one-year Bible reading plan that will begin this September. One of our strategic objectives in the coming year is trying to reimagine discipleship to become highly personal, relational, and biblical. The one-year Bible reading plan is going to help us work toward this objective. 

We will have paper copies of the Bible reading plan available at the end of August for those of you that would like to use an analog version of the plan. However, the Bible reading plan we will be using is also available on the Bible App. Not only does the Bible App have the text of the Bible (including audio versions), but it also has an interactive platform that allows us to talk to each other and encourage each other as we read through the Bible together. Click the following link to go the website to download the Bible App to your mobile device: the Bible App. (Note: you can read the Bible on your desktop through the aforementioned link, but the Bible App is really designed to work on a mobile device.)

Go ahead and download the Bible App and get familiar with it before September, especially if you plan to use the digital version to follow our one-year Bible reading plan.

I'm looking forward to growing in our faith together!

Peace to you,

Pastor Aaron

MID-WEEK MEET-UP: Summer Sermon Series

Hi First Presbyterian Church,

It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! I’m happy to be back from a long and intense experience at the PC(USA)’s General Assembly in Salt Lake City! This Sunday begins our summer sermon series called, “I’m Wondering…” In this series, we’ll be seeking to answer the questions you have about Christian beliefs or practices. As we did last year, there will also be a 30-minute Q&A after worship for us to discuss any follow-up questions or thoughts you might have from the sermon. The Q&A will start approximately 15 minutes after worship ends. Here are the list of topics for the sermon series:

July 14 - The Nature and Practice of Forgiveness (Pastor Aaron)
July 21 - Differences between Catholics and Presbyterians (Pastor Aaron)
July 28 - Original Sin (Pastor Aaron)
August 4 - Predestination (Pastor Aaron)
August 11 - God’s Final Judgment (Pastor Aaron)
August 18 - Death and the Afterlife (Pastor Aaron)
August 25 - Why Bad Things Happen to Innocent People (Pastor Erin)

I really enjoy facing the tough task of answering your sincere theological questions. However, I think my favorite part of this sermon series is the Q&A after worship, since it allows for an opportunity for a dialogue, instead of just a sermon. Based on your feedback from last year, I think the Q&A was your favorite part, too.

I can’t wait to worship with you this Sunday as we think about the nature and practice of forgiveness. See you then!

Peace to you,
Pastor Aaron

MID-WEEK MEET UP: Dads & Grads

Hi First Presbyterian Church,

It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! This Sunday is our annual Dads and Grads Sunday, which means four things: 1) we will be acknowledging Father’s Day, 2) we will be celebrating our graduating students, 3) it will be our last Sunday for the summer with two services - 8:30am and 10:00am, and 4) we will be having our annual strawberry social with ice cream from Pittsford Farms Dairy and fresh strawberries!

During strawberry season, I think about two things. First, one of our daughters was born in June, and my wife Laura and I were eating lots of strawberry shortcake the weeks leading up to her birth. In fact, our last meal before rushing off to the hospital was strawberry shortcake. Strawberries have had a sentimental meaning to us ever since!

Second, I learned that, unlike peaches, plums, tomatoes, and bananas, strawberries do not continue to ripen after they are picked. This reminds me of what Jesus said in John 15:5,  “I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit.” The more we stay connected to God, the more the fruit that God wants to grow in our lives (love, joy, peace, etc.) will ripen. Like a picked strawberry, the Holy Spirit’s fruit in our lives won’t continue to ripen if we don’t remain in communion with God. What can we do to stay in communion with God? Praying, reflecting on scripture, encouraging one another in our faith, and serving our neighbors. 

Let’s focus on growing bright red spiritual strawberries this summer!

Peace to you,

Pastor Aaron

MID-WEEK MEET-UP: Summer Sermon Series

Hi First Presbyterian Church,

It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! Over the past month, many of you submitted questions to be included in this year’s summer sermon series. They were all great questions, and some of them will be challenging to answer! We managed to consolidate all the questions into seven different topics, each topic comprising the focus of a single sermon. Here is an outline for this year’s “I’ve Been Wondering” series.

• July 14 - The Nature and Practice of Forgiveness

• July 21 - Differences between Catholics and Presbyterians

• July 28 - Original Sin

• August 4 - Predestination

• August 11 - God’s Final Judgment

• August 18 - Death and the Afterlife

• August 25 - Why Bad Things Happen to Innocent People

While we can’t fit any additional topics into the sermon series, if you have a specific question that fits into one of these seven topics, you have until the end of today to submit it to connect@pittsfordpres.org to ensure we address it in one of these sermon. 

As we did last year, we will also hold a 30-minute Q&A after worship each of these Sundays to allow you some time to follow up with additional questions you may have on the topics. I’m glad to know what some of you have questions about, and Pastor Erin and I are excited for the opportunity to try to answer those questions!

Peace to you,

Pastor Aaron

MID-WEEK MEET-UP: A Christian Summer

Hi First Presbyterian Church,

It's time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! Someone said to me recently, “It’s a good thing there are no major Christian holidays in the summer, because no one would be around to celebrate them!” It’s true that when summer arrives, many people travel a lot due to having more time and opportunity. It’s also true that the major Christian holidays are concentrated in one part of the year. Did you know that the briefest possible time between Christmas and Easter is just 12.5 weeks (87 days), and that the longest possible time is 17.5 weeks (121 days)?

When it’s not Christmas or Easter, what are we supposed to be looking forward to as Christians? I love the name “Christian,” because, in the name itself is the answer to that question. Christ is the answer! As Christians, we ought to be looking forward to Christ at all times of the year. Christmas and Easter are two important moments in the life of Christ that give meaning to his life and ministry, but, as Christians, Jesus is meant to be our focus at all times. In fact, the truest meaning of Christmas and Easter appear in our lives when we seek to apply them to our whole lives. What does it mean today - in the middle of May 2024 - that God came to us as a human being (Christmas)? What does it mean today that Jesus was raised from the dead (Easter)? How do those moments in Jesus’ life - and, indeed, all of his life and ministry - affect the way we go grocery shopping, talk to our neighbors, treat the poor, or choose to spend any of our time? As Christians, Jesus should affect our whole lives - the entire direction of our lives as well as all the details along the way. 

As summer approaches, I encourage you to think about how to invite Jesus into your plans. What would it look like to have a “Christian summer”? I’m not sure I’ve ever reflected on a question like that before, but it might be worth it. 

One final thought about the name “Christian.” In the Greek New Testament, the word for Christian is christianos. Interestingly, words in the New Testament with the ending -ianos seem to refer to partisan allegiance. For example, people who were the political allies of the infamous Herod the Great and his royal household were called herodianos. The reason followers of Jesus were first called Christians (christianos) was because they understood themselves as people whose “citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20) and who answer ultimately to no authority but Christ.

Let’s live this summer - and indeed everyday! - as though Christ alone is Lord of our lives.

Peace to you,

Pastor Aaron

MID-WEEK MEET-UP: Trinity Sunday

Hi First Presbyterian Church, 

It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! Don’t forget - if you want to submit a question to be incorporated into the summer sermon series, you have until June 5 to send them to connect@pittsfordpres.org.* There have been some really good questions submitted so far about predestination, life after death, heaven and hell, the differences between Catholics and Presbyterians, etc. I can’t wait to see what other questions you might have and to try to answer them in an upcoming sermon!

This Sunday is Trinity Sunday. Many churches observe Trinity Sunday the first Sunday after Pentecost. It makes logical sense. Since Pentecost marks the day when Jesus (second person of the Trinity) sent the Holy Spirit (third person of the Trinity) from the Father (first person of the Trinity), it follows that the next Sunday is an appropriate time to reflect on God’s trinitarian nature. 

Do you ever wonder about the Trinity - like, why do Christians believe in a Triune God? Have you ever wondered why we call the first person “the Father” and the second person “the Son” and how they are distinct from the Holy Spirit? Have you ever wondered if we’re supposed to pray to one or all three of the Trinitarian persons? Does it matter?

I hope to answer all of these questions and more this Sunday! In the meantime, I encourage you to reflect on these words penned by Ambrose of Milan in the fourth century AD. They were translated into English by John Mason Neale in 1852:

O Trinity, most blessed light,
O Unity of sovereign might,
as now the fiery sun departs,
come shed your light within our hearts.

To you our morning song of praise,
to you our evening prayer we raise;
our humble joy shall ever be
to praise your name eternally.

Peace to you,
Pastor Aaron

 * Or mail them by that date to First Presbyterian Church, 21 Church Street, Pittsford, NY 14534

MID-WEEK MEET-UP: The Apostle Junia

Hi First Presbyterian Church,

It's time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! This Sunday is Pentecost! Not only will we be celebrating the gift of the Holy Spirit who was revealed to us on the Day of Pentecost, but we will also be welcoming four young people into our congregation by their profession of faith in Christ. I hope you will be there for worship!

Our scripture text for Pentecost, as it is every year, is Acts 2:1-21. In my sermon I will be focusing on why it is that the apostle Peter emphasizes that God’s power is poured out on men and women. Because of the sermon I’m preparing, I’ve been reflecting this week on the calling that God places on all people in the church, regardless of who they are. Do you know about Junia?

I’ve known about Junia for a while, but I just discovered that in the Eastern Orthodox Church, her feast day is this Friday, May 17. She is mentioned in Paul’s letter to the Romans 16:7, “Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives who were in prison with me; they are prominent among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.” Notice what Paul is saying. He calls Junia an apostle, and not just an apostle but “prominent among the apostles!” Sometimes, people assume “apostle” simply refers to one of Jesus’ twelve disciples. But that isn’t true. There were many apostles in the New Testament including James the half-brother of Jesus (Galatians 1:19), Barnabas and Paul (Acts 14:14), Epaphroditus (Philippians 2:25), and Andronicus and Junia (Romans 16:7). “Apostle” comes from a Greek word that simply means “one who is sent.” In early Christianity, apostles were highly regarded leaders in the church.

For centuries, however, Junia was unknown to the church, because people within the church, generations after the time of Jesus, were offended by the fact that a woman could be an apostle; so they changed her name to Junias - the male version of the same name. The only problem is: if this person’s name was “Junias” it would be the only known example of that name. “Junia,” on the other hand, was a known female name. Furthermore, early Christian theologians acknowledged Junia as a female apostle. In the fourth century AD, John Chrysostom, the archbishop of Constantinople, was commenting on Romans 16:7 and wrote, “To be an apostle is something great. But to be outstanding among the apostles – just consider what high praise this is! They were outstanding on the basis of their works and virtuous actions. Indeed, how great the wisdom of this woman, that she was even deemed worthy of the title of apostle!”

There were women apostles in first century AD, because… of course there were! God pours out the Holy Spirit on all who are in Christ! “There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).

In Christ, you are also God’s chosen instrument to bring salvation and life into the world! What is the Holy Spirit wanting to do with your life?

Peace to you,

Pastor Aaron

MID-WEEK MEET-UP: New Sermon Series

Hi First Presbyterian Church,

It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! Many of you remember that, last summer, Pastor Jacobson and I preached through a sermon series that was focused on answering your own theological questions. As a worship leader, I sometimes follow the Revised Common Lectionary, which is a three-year cycle of Bible readings for worship used by many Protestant churches. I also like to deviate from the Lectionary and preach through a series of sermons focused on topics like the seven “I am” statements of Jesus in the Gospel of John. The sermon series last summer went over so well that I’d like to do it again. Plus, it gives me an opportunity to understand what you are actually curious about!

Have you been wondering about something Christians believe (like the Presbyterian view of predestination) or something Christians practice (like fasting or forgiveness)? Then, you have an opportunity to ask your question and have it answered in a sermon this summer. If you’d like to submit a question to be incorporated into the summer series, then send it to connect@pittsfordpres.org between now and June 5. We’ll keep your questions anonymous, just in case that encourages you to participate. Let’s grow in our faith together this summer as we consider what it means to follow Jesus.

Peace to you,

Pastor Aaron

MID-WEEK MEET-UP: New Members Class

Hi First Presbyterian Church,

It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! Today, I want to highlight the fact that I am hosting another new members class this May. In addition to all the familiar faces we see each week, there continue to be many new people worshiping with us and connecting with us throughout the week. My three-session class is designed for people who want to become members of the congregation; however, anyone who simply wants to learn more about the current vision of the church is welcome to attend the class, too. It starts this Sunday!

The class will be offered at 11:30 am following the worship services on May 5, May 12, and May 19. The class on May 5 will answer the question: “What does it mean to be a Presbyterian?” The class on May 12 will answer the questions: “Why become a member of a church?” and “Why become a member of this congregation?” In the final class on May 19, we’ll tie up loose ends and take a “Spiritual Gifts Assessment.” New Member Sunday (when a prospect’s membership becomes official) will be May 26. If you want to become a member or if you are interested in attending the classes for any reason, please let me know by responding to this email!

I hope you have a great week!

Peace to you,

Pastor Aaron

MID-WEEK MEET-UP: Where we are in our Faith Forward Initiative

Hi First Presbyterian Church,

It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! My forthcoming May newsletter article provides an update about our progress on our Faith Forward initiative. So I want to make sure you see it and am giving you a sneak-peak of that article now. Here it is!

———

Happy May! It’s important that the congregation stays continually informed about the progress we’re making through our Faith Forward initiative. As you heard during the February 11 congregational debrief, the Faith Forward initiative identified four strategic objectives for our church:

• Everyday Faith - to reimagine discipleship to become highly personal, relational, and biblical. 

• Groups and Gatherings - to provide safe places, times, and gatherings for people to connect on the journey.

• Pittsford Connects - to reimagine our campus to become a safe place that meets our neighbors’ “first” needs (physical, social, and emotional).

• Re-align to our True North - to reduce the amount of organizational inefficiencies while refining structures to support what matters the most.

These objectives were announced at the debrief to inform you about the goals we’re aiming to accomplish. No policies have been updated nor significant actions taken as of yet. Until the Session decides to make any updates or changes, it’s business as usual. So… what have we actually done about these objectives since February 11? Well, the Session has decided to take on one objective at a time and is currently prioritizing the fourth objective to “Re-align to our True North.” Toward that end, we are studying a decision-making and operational concept called “policy governance,” which was developed by the psychologist and organizational theorist John Carver. The Deacons and the Trustees have been invited into this study. We are also talking to other churches who have refined their organizational structures so we can learn from their experiences.

I am also working with some of the Elders on a few ideas to develop our “Everyday Faith” objective. However, this is in the very nascent stages of development and has not been discussed by the Session as a whole nor by any Committees.

As I said, it is very important that you know that the momentum of the Faith Forward initiative moves ahead and that you are aware of what that forward motion entails. The Session is discussing ways that we can keep the channels of communication open with the congregation about this vital work. As always, we are hopeful about the future for First Presbyterian Church, knowing that we’re following God’s leading. 

———

Peace to you,

Pastor Aaron

MID-WEEK MEET-UP: Some Thoughts on the Eclipse

Hi First Presbyterian Church, 

It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! Despite the clouds blocking our view of the sky on Monday, I hope you were able to enjoy the total solar eclipse. I still thought it was really neat to experience darkness for a few minutes in the middle of the afternoon. I also enjoyed seeing the photos of the moon and sun from people who did have a clear view of the eclipse. 

I’ve been reflecting on amazing astronomical occurrences recently and recalled an interesting story from the book of Joshua. In Joshua chapter 10, we read about a story in which the Israelites alongside the people of Gibeon were being attacked by the Amorites. In the heat of battle, Joshua cries out, “‘O sun, wait at Gibeon, and moon, in the valley of Aijalon.’ And the sun waited, and the moon stood, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies” (Joshua 10:12-13). In Sunday School, I was taught that God heard Joshua’s prayer and “made the sun stand still in the sky” (i.e., the earth stopped rotating on its axis). When I was in graduate school studying theology, an Old Testament professor named John Walton gave me a new understanding of that story. 

In the ancient Mediterranean world, many civilizations placed a lot of value on omens. Lots of different things could be good or bad omens, such as the behavior of wild animals, the motion of the clouds, and the movement of the sun and the moon. In fact, in some ancient Assyrian records, we know that if the sun and the moon were both seen in the sky at the same time, it could be a good or bad sign depending on the day of the month. If it was the fourteenth day of the month, then seeing them both in the sky was a good sign. If it was the fifteenth day of the month, it was a bad sign. If it was the sixteenth day, it might be good or bad. Let's reread John 10:12-13, “‘O sun, wait at Gibeon, and moon, in the valley of Aijalon.’ And the sun waited, and the moon stood, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.” It seems that when Joshua prayed, he wasn’t asking for the sun to stand still in the sky; he was asking for the sun and the moon to both be visible in the sky together, knowing that the Amorites would see it and likely perceive it as a bad sign and not want to engage in battle. That’s exactly what happens, and the Amorites were thrown into confusion and the Israelites won the day. 

Humans have always been looking at the skies, and God has always known that. Instead of trying to make meaning from the movement of the sun, moon, and stars, God has desired for us to allow them to point us to a greater meaning, namely the magnificence, creativity, and power of their Creator. While I never believed that Monday’s eclipse portended any sort of apocalyptic significance, I do believe that God wants us to look at the ineffable beauty of creation (including Monday's eclipse) and allow it to draw us closer to God. Pastor Erin reminded us on Sunday how unique it is that our sun and moon are exactly the same size in the sky. Laura and I were talking about this on Monday, specifically the fact that the sun is 400 times bigger than the moon and the only reason they appear the same size is that the sun is also 400 times farther away from us than the moon. That is simply amazing!

Psalm 148:13 says, “Let all creation praise the name of the Lord, whose name alone is exalted, whose glory is above earth and heaven.”

Thanks be to God,
Pastor Aaron

MID-WEEK MEET-UP: The Betrayal of Jesus

Hi First Presbyterian Church,

It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! Don’t forget - this week we will have our foot-washing service at 7pm on Maundy Thursday and our Tenebrae service at 7pm on Good Friday. Then, on Easter Sunday our sunrise service will happen at 7am at the Evergreen Shelter at Mendon Ponds Park at 103 Canfield Road in Pittsford. (A photo is attached of the shelter for your reference.) Our other Easter services will occur as usual - at 8:30am and 10:30am.

This is Holy Week, and today is Good Wednesday, sometimes called Spy Wednesday. It’s called Spy Wednesday, because it was the day of that first Holy Week on which Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus to the Judean supreme court.

Thinking of the betrayal of Jesus, my mind immediately goes to other famous betrayals in history, specifically the assassination of Julius Caesar by members of the Roman Senate in 44 BC. This moment is well known to us through Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and Caesar’s famous last words, “Et tu, Brutus?” Having been stabbed 22 times, Julius’ close friend Brutus applies the final blow that ends Julius’ life.

However, Julius Caesar and Jesus Christ are hardly worth comparing to one another. Julius had shed much blood through civil war in order to consolidate the power of Rome and become its first Emperor. He isn’t exactly what we would call “an innocent person.” Jesus, on the other hand, was the perfect Son of God. He “has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin” (Hebrews 4:15). He came to earth not to be served but to serve others (Matthew 20:28). He came to teach us that the way of God does not involve consolidating power for oneself but in letting go of our pursuit of power and control in order to trust God.

The innocence and perfection of Jesus makes his betrayal by Judas so much dark and ominous. Read what Judas did:

• “Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What will you give me if I betray Jesus to you?’ They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.” (Matthew 26:14-16).

• “Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, ‘The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.’ At once he came up to Jesus and said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ and kissed him.”(Matthew 26:48-49).

It’s likely that these “silver coins” were a day’s wage each, meaning Judas betrayed Jesus for a few thousand dollars. That was what the life of the Son of God was worth to Judas? And then to betray him so personally - with a kiss?

The temptation we have when reading this part of the Gospel is to distance ourselves from Judas. “How could anyone do such a terrible thing?” we might ask. However, I think, during Holy Week, the point is to see ourselves as Judas. I find myself betraying Jesus more times than I would like to admit - in my thoughts, in my actions, in my failure to prioritize him over my own interests. The only appropriate response is to grieve my sin and place my hope in the fact that “God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Consider the great love that God has shown you in sending Jesus to be crucified... for you. Reflect on it this Holy Week, and let it change your heart.

Peace to you,
Pastor Aaron

MID-WEEK MEET-UP: Palm Sunday Services

Hi First Presbyterian Church!

It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! I wanted to draw your attention to the order of worship for this Sunday, which is Palm Sunday.

Our 10:00 am service is going to be different than our usual format. The majority of the service is going to be a musical presentation of John Rutter’s “Requiem.” Drs. Jared Chase and Bruce Frank along with our chancel choir, soloists, and orchestra have been working hard to prepare for this cantata. Our children's choir will also be singing, and, of course, we'll be waving palm fronds! You won’t want to miss it!

Our 8:30 am service is going to follow our normal format. I will be preaching the next sermon in our series, focusing on what Jesus says in John 10:9, “I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.” We will also be installing our newest Youth Elder Will G. into his role on the Session. How exciting!

I encourage you to come to the 8:30 am service to hear the proclamation of the Word and to encourage Will as he takes this step into leadership in the church. I also encourage you to stay for the 10:00 am service to listen to the cantata and allow it to help prepare your heart and mind for Holy Week.

Peace to you,

Pastor Aaron

MID-WEEK MEET-UP: "The Bridegroom"

Hi First Presbyterian Church,

It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! I’ve been thinking a lot about fasting during Lent, and in particular the point Jesus makes in Matthew 9:14-17 - fasting is meant for us to feel hunger to help us cultivate a deeper spiritual longing for Jesus. In that passage of scripture, Jesus refers to himself as “the bridegroom.” While thinking about longing for Jesus, I was reminded of another passage of scripture where Jesus refers to himself as “the bridegroom” - Matthew 25:1-13. In that passage, Jesus tells a story about ten young women who are awaiting the arrival of the bridegroom. As part of their waiting, five of them bring oil lamps without oil, and the remaining five bring oil lamps with flasks of oil for their lamps. They go out to wait for the bridegroom (presumably during the daytime) and end up waiting long into the night for him to return. They all fall asleep while they wait, until they’re awakened by the news that the bridegroom has returned and will be with them any minute. The young women who didn’t bring oil aren’t able to light their lamps. The ones who brought oil don’t have enough to share, and so the oil-less women must go find oil to buy. Unfortunately, while they are gone, the bridegroom appears and only those who were prepared with oil in their lamps go into the wedding banquet with him.

The background to the story is lost on us who are separated by geography and centuries from this cultural context. It’s likely that the ten young women are from the bridegroom’s household (maybe sisters or cousins or employees), and they are waiting for him while he is likely meeting with the bride’s father, agreeing to terms for her dowry. (Yeah, I know - a very different culture, right?) Once he returns, the young women will escort him to his bride (now in his own household) to consummate the marriage. Afterward, a wedding feast will be held.

It seems obvious that the five women who didn’t bring oil assume the bridegroom is going to quickly agree to terms for a dowry and return soon. That isn’t the case. In fact, even the women who did bring oil were surprised when he finally returned. What’s the point of this story?

Within the larger context of Matthew’s Gospel, it’s clear that this is a metaphor for Jesus’ return to earth, his Second Coming. What is he trying to tell us about his Second Coming? To me, he has one point to make: always be ready, because you don’t know when it will happen. Don’t be like the five who assumed that his delay wouldn’t be long, which will lead you to be unprepared when he finally does arrive and which has the potential to lead you to believe that he’ll never come at all. Even within one generation of waiting for Jesus’ return, Christians were already becoming disenchanted with the idea that his return would ever happen. 2 Peter 3:3-4 says, “In the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts and saying, ‘Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since our ancestors died, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!’” If that was true for those who lived shortly after the time of Jesus, how much truer for those of us who live thousands of years after them! This is the very point of the story about the 10 young women. Jesus is returning… so we ought to be vigilant in being ready!

I think it’s also important to notice that, despite their preparedness, the five who did bring oil for their lamps were still surprised when the bridegroom appeared! It seems there have been people in every generation of the Church’s history that have tried to predict the coming of the Lord based on things happening around them. Upstate New York is notorious for producing such “millenarian” groups like the Seventh-Day Adventists and the Shakers. The reality is, however, like Jesus says in this passage from Matthew 25: “you know neither the day nor the hour” (v. 13).

There is much that many people are anxious about these days. Some people may tell you, “Despair! If Jesus really cared about us, he’d come back and do something about it already. Abandon your hope! Jesus isn’t coming!” Don’t listen to them. The bridegroom delays but he hasn’t abandoned us. Other people may say, “The Bible has predicted the things we’re seeing in the world, and we can know exactly what God is going to do next!” Don’t listen to them, either! We don’t know when Jesus will return.

The only thing we do know is that Jesus has told us to be ready. So… let’s be ready. Let’s not let him find us sleeping or unprepared. Let’s get serious about our faith. Let’s decide that if Jesus does return tomorrow, he’ll find us loving our neighbor with selflessness and humility… which is what he really wants us to do.

Lenten blessings,

Pastor Aaron

MID-WEEK MEET-UP: Facing East

Hi First Presbyterian Church,

Did you know that early Christians made a habit of facing east when they prayed? Clement of Alexandria (a theologian from the second century AD) once wrote, “And since the dawn… is the image of the day of birth…, in correspondence with the manner of the sun’s rising, prayers are made toward the sunrise in the east.”  Likewise, Origen (a theologian from the third century AD) said, “It should be immediately clear that the direction of the rising sun obviously indicates that we ought to pray inclining in that direction, an act which symbolizes the soul looking towards where the true light arises.”

While it is still Lent, perhaps you can add this practice to your spiritual disciplines. Are you an early riser? Then, I encourage you to grab your cup of coffee or tea, find a good spot that faces east, and start your day with prayer as you watch sun rise. Just as the light of the new day begins to shine on you, ask God to give you clarity, direction, hope, and warmth for a new day. May you feel God’s presence and grace this Lent.

Peace to you,
Pastor Aaron

MID-WEEK MEET-UP: How is your Lent going?

Hi First Presbyterian Church,

It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! I wanted to remind all congregation members that our annual meeting is this Sunday following our 10:00 am worship service. Please note that this meeting is in-person only! Our Presbytery has advised us that, due to a change in NY State law in 2021, congregational meetings can be either virtual or in-person but not both. So, in order for us to meet our quorum needed, please make every effort to be here in-person to attend worship and the congregational meeting afterward.

----------------

How is your Lent going? Are you fasting or abstaining from something else during this season? In Matthew 5:6, Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be filled.” Can you imagine what our lives might be like if we pursued God like we pursue food and water - as if our very lives depended on God? Can you imagine what our lives might be like if we looked to God like we look to entertainment, hobbies, or creature comforts - as if God was the respite we needed from the stress and harshness of life?

There is a reason Christians have fasted during Lent for thousands of years – to remind ourselves that our need for physical sustenance is equally matched by our need to know and love God. Picture yourself in the middle of the desert with no water. It’s 110 degrees. The sand is hot. There are no clouds. The sun is beating down. There is no shade. You can’t even sweat anymore. Your mouth is dry and parched. You would give anything for just a drop of water. Have you ever desired God as much as you might want that drop of water? Jesus wants us to understand that we do, in fact, have a deep and desperate need for God. Thankfully, in Jeremiah 29:13, the Lord says, “When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart.”

What Jesus did for us in his death and resurrection was to reconcile us to God. You can know God today because of Jesus. Jesus offers us a relationship with God… but only if we want it. Lent is a perfect time to reach out and talk to God, who wants nothing more than to hear from you. As we await the story of Easter, never forget that the gift of Easter is already yours today. That gift is Christ himself, and he awaits you.

Peace to you,

Pastor Aaron

MID-WEEK MEET-UP: God Moves in a Mysterious Way

Hi First Presbyterian Church,

It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-up, which I’m sending out early for two reasons. One reason is I wanted to address the technical difficulties from worship yesterday, and the second reason is because I won’t be able to send it out as usual this week since I will be out of town visiting family. 

If you were trying to worship with us over live-stream yesterday and couldn’t, it’s because, unfortunately, there was no live-stream. We had temporary technical difficulties that have been sorted out. We do have recordings from the Scouts who had prepared contributions to the service, which you can find here. 

On a different topic, as you enter this first full week of Lent, I encourage you to read and reflect on these words from one of my favorite William Cowper hymns, called God Moves in a Mysterious Way. 
----------

God moves in a mysterious way, his wonders to perform.
He plants his footsteps on the sea and rides upon the storm.

Ye fearful saints fresh courage take, the clouds you so much dread,
Are big with mercy, and shall break with blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, but trust him for his grace.
Behind a frowning providence, he hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast, unfolding every hour.
The bud may have a bitter taste, but sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err, and scan his work in vain.
God is his own interpreter, and he will make it plain.
----------

Here are two sung versions of the hymn that you might also find encouragement listening to:

God Moves in a Mysterious Way (Indelible Grace)

God Moves in a Mysterious Way (Grace Community Church)

May God bless you in this holy season.

Lenten blessings,

Pastor Aaron

MID-WEEK MEET-UP: Ash Wednesday, Lent Sermon Series, and Our Strategic Objectives

Hi First Presbyterian Church,
It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! I want to remind you that today is Ash Wednesday and that we will be imposing ashes during a worship service tonight at 7pm to mark the beginning of Lent.

I will also be preaching a new sermon series throughout the season of Lent, focusing on the seven “I am” statements that Jesus makes in the Gospel of John. This Sunday will center around the statement that Jesus makes in John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd.” It is also Scout Sunday.

In case you missed the congregational debrief, here is a link to the recording: Congregational Debrief. Our consultant Kevin and the Vision Team introduced you to the four strategic objectives that we will be pursuing over the coming years. Those objectives are: 

• Everyday Faith

• Groups and Gatherings

• Pittsford Connects

• Re-align to our True North

These four objectives are going to become the focus of our ministry efforts, and I assure you that you will be hearing lots about them. Please watch the debrief if you haven’t already, as it will provide you with the best overview of these objectives. I am so thrilled to be on this journey with you!

Lenten blessings,

Pastor Aaron

MID-WEEK MEET-UP: Congregational Debrief this Sunday!

Hi First Presbyterian Church,
It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! There is a lot happening this Sunday - worship, the congregational debrief, the Choral Extravaganza at 2 pm, and the Super Bowl! Just because it is so important, I wanted to take this opportunity to highlight how you can view and participate in the long-awaited congregational debrief from the Faith Forward initiative. 

We will have both worship services this Sunday as usual - but they will be different from one another. At 8:30 am, we will have our traditional service, during which I will finish up our core values sermon series with our core value of “love.” At 10:00 am, the congregational debrief will take place during worship. Just to be clear: the congregational debrief will only be taking place at 10:00 am. There will still be Sunday School, but there will be no “Mouse Report” during worship. Your children under 6th grade may go to Sunday School as soon as worship begins. Youth in grades 6 through 12 will be staying in worship for the debrief. 

During the 10:00 am service, you will have the opportunity to hear from our consultant Kevin Ford, your pastors, and some other members of the Vision Team, as they explain the background and result of the Faith Forward initiative. Kevin and the Vision Team will also be staying after worship to answer a few questions in the sanctuary. 

If it is at all possible, please try to attend the 10:00 am service to hear the debrief. I encourage you to worship at 8:30 am and then also stick around for the debrief in the second hour. The debrief (as well as the Q&A that follows) will be live-streamed and archived on YouTube, but it won’t be possible to participate in the Q&A remotely.

I hope to see you on this important Sunday! 

Peace to you,
Pastor Aaron

MID-WEEK MEET-UP: UPDATE ON CONGREGATIONAL DEBRIEF

Hi First Presbyterian Church,

It’s time for our Mid-Week Meet-Up! The final Faith Forward retreat happened this past weekend, and I want to provide you with an important update. But first - I want to make sure you know that this Sunday is an “Intergenerational Sunday.” In recent years, we have been having an Intergenerational Sunday a few times a year. There won’t be any Sunday School, because the children of the church will be staying in the sanctuary for worship. While we will be using familiar elements of our traditional worship service (with prayers, scripture, hymns, music, and a sermon), the worship service will also be more interactive and more accessible for everyone, including a different style of sermon. This Sunday’s Intergenerational service will be special, because the youth of the church will be leading it! I hope you will decide to worship with us - at either 8:30 am or 10:00 am!

Now - our Faith Forward update! As you know, February 11 is the date of our congregational debrief. The debrief was originally planned to take place after worship that day. However, the Vision Team heard from many people who indicated that they would not be able to attend the debrief if it was after worship. It’s important that as many people as possible are available for the debrief; so… the debrief will now be taking place during the 10:00 worship service. 

 At this debrief, you will hear from our Vision Team and our consultant Kevin Ford about the following:

• Our strategy for engaging our congregation

• Our strategy to nurture spiritual growth in our congregation

• Our plan to rebuild our organizational structure so that it supports our vision

• Our strategy for focusing our ministry outreach

Since the debrief will take place during worship, it will be live-streamed and archived on our YouTube page. But please make every effort to attend the 10:00 am service on February 11, as you will not want to miss this important event. Our usual worship service will also be happening at 8:30 am that day. 

I am so excited about the work the Vision Team was able to accomplish and the work our congregation has ahead of it to grow and change. 

Peace to you,
Pastor Aaron