Category: Ponderings

Waiting in Hope: A Pastoral Reflection for Advent Advent is a season unlike any other. While the world rushes toward Christmas with lights, shopping, and celebrations, the Church invites us into something countercultural: waiting. Waiting is not passive—it is a spiritual discipline. In Advent, we learn to wait with hope, patience, and expectation, just as… Continue reading Pastoral Ponderings December 2025

I was reading a heartwarming story about a woman’s first experience with a church that was hosting a pet blessing service. The idea of attending a worship service was foreign to her, but she did practice spiritual meditation and other forms of acknowledging God, as well as living the best part of herself. I imagine… Continue reading Pastoral Ponderings October 2025

September not only marks the return to our regular schedule of events but also heralds the arrival of cooler temperatures. In addition, we enter the Season of Creation on September 1st. The Season of Creation is a liturgical season where the children of God unite in spirit for a worldwide celebration of prayer and action… Continue reading Pastoral Ponderings September 2025

We have journeyed through the desert on our way to Jerusalem and pondered some difficult questions concerning anger at God and anger at those who permit evil to flourish and fail to speak out even in the smallest way. We have celebrated Easter and remembered that we are People of the Resurrection with a faith… Continue reading Pastoral Ponderings May 2025

As we move into the month of April and the depth of spring, we will witness nature coming back to full life following a peaceful rest during fall and winter. We can also experience this same rebirth or resurrection as we experience more light from the sun, warmer temperatures, the bloom of colors in our… Continue reading Pastoral Ponderings April 2025

Please note: This pondering concerns some of the members of Encanto Community Church UCC and not others. If you are not experiencing these stresses, I pray that you continue to find peace and comfort in your lives. I am not choosing one group of congregants over the others but am concerned about all of you… Continue reading Pastoral Ponderings February 2025

“May the New Year bring you blessings of love, joy, health, peace and prosperity.” We are off and running at the start of a new year. Welcome 2025!Some have started to put away the decorations from Christmas and others will start in the next couple of days. Bowl games and playoffs are underway and regular… Continue reading Pastoral Ponderings January 2025

As you read this pondering, we are headed into Advent and Christmas season. The stores have been ready for Christmas for over a month. Christmas carols have played for 3 weeks. Television ads have featured a Christmas theme since the election. Hallmark hasbeen showing Christmas movies since the end of October. Now, in the next… Continue reading Pastoral Ponderings December 2024

This past week I read an interesting article about religion and the Fortune 500. If you are not familiar with the Fortune 500, it is a list of the 500 more profitable corporations in the United States. Traditionally, the Fortune 500 has never spoken of religion and operated as if religion and individual affiliation was… Continue reading Pastoral Ponderings – June 2024

Ponderings! A message from Rev Gloria January 2024 I offer you this prayer as we begin the New Year. Blessings, Rev. Gloria