The Lenten Journey Begins Today

Miss Kathy burning palm crosses to make Ashes

(notice Gerard peeking around the corner!)

Ash Wednesday is the start of the 40 day journey we call Lent.  For centuries Christians have used this season to deepen their faith.  In the early centuries of the Christian era, Lent was a season of preparation for new members.  For 40 days they would fast, be taught the essentials of the faith in preparation for their baptism during the Easter vigil.  It was a gruelling schedule that made these potential new members think twice about what they were getting themselves into.

As 21st Century Presbyterian Christians, our schedule is not nearly as tough.  In fact, we can put very little effort into our faith journey if we choose.  But then Lent comes along and disrupts our busy lives with a call to pay attention--there is more to life than careers and entertainment.  The Lenten journey calls us to draw closer to God and to recognize there are other people on the planet besides ourselves.

The Lenten journey is different for everyone.  For some it may involve giving something up for 40 days, while others may choose to take on some personal discipline.  Whether or not you have followed some Lenten journey in the past, I invite you to join us on the journey beginning today at our Ash Wednesday service at 1 or 7:30 pm.  Then I invite you to join one of our Lenten small groups that will meet in PCMK members' homes.  Together we will explore the question, "What Jesus is This?"

There is really only one reason we should do anything different during Lent--Easter!  Easter is the  celebration of new life that is made all the more meaningful if we spend time on the Lenten journey.

So no matter where the Lenten journey takes you, I look forward to seeing you on the way.

See you in church,

Pastor Dale

Tragedy on the Train

I was just coming out of a Social Justice committee meeting when I heard the news of the terrible accident on the Metro North Train in Valhalla.  Several PCMK members were in the kitchen preparing food for our Emergency Shelter Program guests.  Several of them had spouses that normally take that train and they were understandably shaken.

As far as we know, no one from PCMK is among the injured or worse.  (Actually I have since learned that one of our members was in the second to last car and is okay).  But somewhere in our county 6 families have heard the terrible news.  Like the Governor said on TV, "Six people went about their business on a routine day, but they won't make it home tonight."  He also said how precious life is and how random it can be.

My thoughts are with those families, to be sure.  But I am also thinking of all our PCMK families who send a loved one to work in the City on the train everyday.  Besides the anxiety that will follow this accident, there is the grueling schedule that this lifestyle represents.  Moms and dads get up very early, stand on a cold platform, squeeze into a seat on the train and an hour later they join the crowds spreading out from Grand Central Station on subway or by foot.  At night they reverse their steps and head home to loved ones, often arriving too late to enjoy much of an evening at home.

For a few years I commuted from Oakland to San Franciso on BART trains or by driving the Bay Bridge, so I know how exhausting that lifestyle is.  Perhaps that was part of my desire to enter the ministry and to choose to live near the churches I've served.

I've always respected the sacrifices commuting parents make for the sake of their families.  This accident underscores the dedication and innocence of hard-working people who spend a good percentage of their adult lives on Metro North trains.  My prayers are with you and your families as you have to resume that lifestyle with the thought of what happened on a cold February night fresh on your minds.

See you in church,
Pastor Dale

An ICY MLK Weekend

Sunday morning we had to cancel church services for the first time since I have been here in Mount Kisco.  The icy conditions reminded me of Portland, Oregon which had freezing rain more often than snow.  We actually cancelled services more often there than we ever did in Pennsylvania or New York.

The big disappointment was the baptisms that were scheduled for the Ma family's two little girls.  They had family from Georgia (who may never return to New York in January) and New Jersey.  So Terry, a handful of PCMK members and the Ma family gathered in the evening and we held an abbreviated worship service and baptized those babies.  It was a Sunday we won't soon forget.

This is also Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in America and we had planned music and prayers that lifted up his legacy.  In preparation for the service I came across this prayer of Dr. King's that could not be more appropriate with what is going on in the world today.  I encourage you to read it, pray it, and live it.

See you in church (hopefully next Sunday's better),
Pastor Dale

A prayer for peace by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

O God, we thank you for the fact that you have inspired men and women in all nations and in all cultures.  We call you different names: some call you Allah, some call you Elohim, some call you Jehovah, some call you Brahma, some call you the Unnmoved Mover.  But we know that these are all names for one and the same God.  Grant that we follow you and become so committed to your way and your kingdom that we will be able to establish in our lives and in this world a brother and sisterhood, that we will be able to establish here a kingdom of understanding, where men and women will live together as brothers and sisters and respect the dignity and worth of every human being.  In the name and spirit of Jesus.  Amen.

Winter's Charm

The Christmas season is over and winter has finally settled in.  It is a bitter cold day, but the sun is shining and it is actually very beautiful.  I love watching the finches come in to our bird feeder.  They must keep themselves warm by flying back and forth.  They certainly get their exercise.

Exercise is something we are all supposed to get after eating too many goodies over the holidays.  I may not go to the gym, but I get a lot of exercise running up and down from the manse to the church and back.   Sometimes I feel like those finches zipping back and forth from meeting to meeting.  January is a very busy month in the life of the church.  In many ways it feels busier than December.  At least it is a different kind of busy.  There are committee and session meetings, planning for upcoming events, and preparing for the annual meeting.

Those finches are a good lesson in what we need to do when we are busy.  We need to keep coming back to the feeder.  Our feeder is the spiritual home we find in our church, in Scripture, in prayer and in nature.  Those are places where we encounter God's spirit and we can be renewed for our busy lives.

So stay warm, but bundle up and take a walk on a bright winter day, read a Psalm, or just be still for a moment.  You'll find your time at the feeder will get you through whatever you need to do today.

See you at the feeder (our church)

Pastor Dale

What a Swan Song!

From left, Rebecca, Linda, Sandra and Denise

Remember the song, the Twelve Days of Christmas?  It goes on so long, you usually try to hurry to get it over with.  But that was not the case last Sunday as our children once again put on the amazing PCMK Christmas Pageant.  The theme was the Twelve Days of Christmas and the morning was filled with pipers piping, drummers drumming and maids a milking.  This last group even included our neighbor, Sandra Lee, who graciously shared in the day with us.

There were so many wonderful moments in this pageant that it is hard to list them all.  I suggest you go to the pcmk.org website and watch the video as soon as it is posted.

They say all good things must come to an end, and sadly this is true for our pageant team led by the talented Denise Schutz.  She, along with Linda Carelli and Rebecca Wassem have put on at least 7 great pageants.  And what a way to go out!  Their swan song even featured a beautiful dancing swan.

It really feels like Christmas now, and the stress level has even come down a notch for us all.  Thank you leaders and children for this wonderful Christmas gift!

Pastor Dale

PCMK Hosts HRP

On Tuesday, December 9th, PCMK hosted the stated meeting of the Hudson River Presbytery, and we did it with style!  The weather threatened to undermine all our careful planning, but the Nor'easter just brought heavy rain to most of the region.  Snow and ice was a problem for folks from counties up north, so there were many cancellations.  Still, there were over 100 presbyters from churches both sides of the river who came to worship, fellowship and conduct the business of our corporate life together.

As host pastor I couldn't have been more proud.  I know that pride is one of the 7 deadly sins, but there are different kinds of pride.  I was not proud of myself--I was proud of our team.  Kelly Marlow is a saint!  She pulled together a team of volunteers who worked for days to make the event something worthy of the Royal family (who were in town at the same time).  The narthex Great Hall and Community Room were decorated in beautiful seasonal style.  There were friendly people to greet visitors at every turn.  There was coffee and snacks and even the information table looked elegant.

In addition to being proud of Kelly and her team, I was proud to help lead worship in our beautiful sanctuary.  Terry blew everyone away with his sensitive and flawless work on the organ.  Carmen Emery set up our beautiful communion service and Fred helped set up all the AV equipment and so much more.

If it is a sin to be so proud of our church, I am going to be sinning in a big way this Sunday as the children once again tell us the story of Christmas in our annual pageant.

Come to church this Sunday and sin along with me!

Pastor Dale

A Surprise Party

November 20, 1994

November 23, 1014

A few weeks ago I realized that I was approaching a significant milestone in ministry.  I was ordained as a Minister of Word and Sacrament on November 20, 1994, so this year marks 20 years in this crazy and amazing line of work.  Well, I should have known, but Elisabeth let some folks at PCMK know about this anniversary and next thing you know we had a party!  My colleague in ministry, the Rev. Charles Barton had very thoughtful remarks and the Fellowship Team put on a beautiful reception.  The most embarrassing part was the picture from 20 years ago!  What happened!

As I think back over 20 years it is as though God has had a plan all along.  I feel the experiences I have had in three different congregations have prepared me to be the pastor of this diverse, intelligent, gifted, motivated and compassionate place we call PCMK!  If I try to think of the highlights of the last two decades I remember close to 20 mission trips with youth and adults; dozens of baptisms, weddings and funerals; hundreds of sermons; countless session and committee meetings and many wonderful staff colleagues.  But the best part of all is the rhythm of starting my week in worship with my church family.  I usually have lots going on, but it is still worship and it is still a chance to greet good people over a cup of coffee and a cookie.

That reminds me what happened to the guy in the picture--thousands of cookies over 20 years!

As we move through this week of Thanksgiving we prepare to prepare; we are getting ready to get ready.  We once again begin Advent, the season of preparation for the greatest celebration of all--the birth of the savior.  Advent is a month-long party that starts and ends with worship (November 30th and December 24th).  In between are celebrations like the Christmas Fair, the Children's Pageant, and Lessons and Carols.  And, oh yes, lots of cookies.

See you in church,

Pastor Dale