April 02, 2021
All Things
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 Really? All things? I can’t do all things. I can’t do a gymnastics routine or fly a helicopter or cure cancer or COVID-19...
March 26, 2021
Holy Week
Sunday, March 28, is Palm and Passion Sunday, which is the start of Holy Week. We’ll be blessed with a recorded worship service at 9:45 a.m. that includes lots of music – a cantata...
March 19, 2021
Ups and Downs
I’m going to begin today with a prayer and then write about “ups and downs.” Prayer: God of hope and healing, comfort those who mourn, especially those affected by the shootings in Atlanta this week....
March 12, 2021
A Year
Almost 525,600 minutes since March 15, 2020, when we closed our buildings for in-person worship and other gatherings. The song “Seasons of Love” from the stage musical Rent asks, “How do you measure a...
March 05, 2021
Almost Day Off – Friday, March 5
Today I am making chicken and vegetable soup. As I’m cutting up onions, garlic and celery I begin to pray for those in our congregation who are sick, in rehab and recovering. It is...
February 26, 2021
The Mind of Christ
Two opportunities for you this Sunday, Feb. 28: .Join me for “Coffee With the Pastor” at 11 a.m. on Zoom. This is a chance to converse with me, ask questions and see others. Lasts about...
February 19, 2021
Invitations
“Coffee With the Pastor” is simply a time of conversation with me over Zoom. You don’t have to drink coffee to come! In fact, I drink tea rather than coffee so I suppose I...
February 12, 2021
Blessings
Art and I are so happy to announce the arrival of our grandson, Harrison Linden Halla-Ragland, born to our son, David, and his wife, Michelle, and big brother, Helios, on Wednesday, Feb. 10 here...
February 05, 2021
Going My Own Way
Nearly every day I do things that I don’t want to do. From eating healthy foods (I’d rather have a stack of cookies) to making a difficult phone call to wearing a mask to staying...
January 29, 2021
Rain
After a memorable 2020, January 2021 has been memorable as well. Long-awaited rain fell in Tucson this past week, showing itself as snow on the mountains, creating beauty and relief to a very parched desert....