Spring Training at PCMK

Spring training has opened for baseball, which is always an encouraging sign that spring is coming.  Over the weekend we held spring (or late winter) training camp for our newly elected church leaders.  In January the congregation elected new elders, deacons and trustees, and on Saturday morning we met to review some of the history, theology and organization of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the uniqueness of PCMK.  I was impressed with this group that represented long term members, new members and even two youth deacons (who got up early on a Saturday!).  I was also impressed once again with our church mission statement.  We reviewed it together and I think it describes who we are very well.  I'll share it here.  Read it over slowly and think about each line.
"Seeking light for the journey, we come together to worship God, nurture faith, pursue social justice and share love, in the name of Jesus Christ."
I had nothing to do with the writing of this statement, in fact it was part of what attracted us to PCMK.  The credit goes to the team that worked on this a few years ago, two of whom were at Saturday's meeting--Ron Pence and Ken Murakami.
After Saturday's training we held our ordination/installation and commissioning service in worship on Sunday.  It is always impressive when all the other ordained elders and deacons come forward to lay on hands as we pray for those being ordained for the first time.  It was quite a crowd.  As Charles Barton noted, "A sign of a healthy church."
But we could always get healthier, so let's all go to spring training together.  No, I don't mean Florida, I mean  let's focus on the remaining weeks of Lent.  After all, the work "lent" really means "spring."
See you in church (spring training camp).
Pastor Dale

One Year Ago...

One year ago the 16^th of February we came to town for our first interview with the PNC (Pastor Nominating Committee).  Wow.  In some ways it feels like a lot longer ago, and in other ways it feels like the time has flown by.

Elisabeth and I feel very at home with all of you and have a strong sense that God called us to be here.  We think back to that first meeting in what is now my office, dinner at a restaurant that is now closed, and then a tour of the area with Don Hopper who is now my friend.  We drove from here up to Vermont to retrieve a car and then drove home. We chatted the whole way about the possibilities.  Within a few weeks the PNC had made its decision and the rest is history.  We had a very nice "neutral pulpit" weekend in March and a great "candidate weekend" in April.  Then you fixed up the manse for us to move into and we arrived with our 80-foot truck in June.  The rummage sale was in full swing that week and then our first Sunday was 'Worship in the Park,' where I shared a story-time sermon.  We were off to a good start, and it has gotten better each week since, with the pinnacle probably being Christmas Eve services with over 400 worshipers in the two services.

Thanks again for your confidence in me (and Elisabeth—we are a team).  You have supported my leadership, had patience with the transition and invited us into your lives and homes.

I’m looking forward to Lent, Easter, and Pentecost to complete the church-year cycle with you. Then we can look forward to our second annual Rummage Sale, Worship in the Park, Fall Family Festival, Christmas Pageant and...

So many ways to "see you in church."

Pastor Dale

Hunkered Down

I am home on a Friday afternoon because Nemo the blizzard is dumping several inches of snow on Mt. Kisco.  If the weather people are right, this could be an impressive storm--rivaling the lake-effect snow storms we got in Erie, PA.  As long as everyone stays safe it is kind of fun.  A fire in the fireplace, my books and my computer, well, it's a mini-sabbatical.

Unfortunately we had to cancel Family Fun Night, but the weather should clear by Sunday.  Sunday will be a special day at PCMK.  It is Transfiguration Sunday, the gospel story where Jesus took the disciples to a mountaintop where they saw him with Elijah and Moses.  In the sermon we will reflect on the mountaintop experiences of life.  We all have them and sometimes we wish we could stay there, but we can't, can we?

In the evening we will have a concert with the Baroque Soloists, an excellent chamber music ensemble that includes our own Terry Flanagan.  I heard them rehearse on Wednesday and these people are good!  You won't want to miss this beautiful music, and bring a friend.  The concert is at 7:30 with a reception afterwards in the Great Hall.