Peace Presbyterian

06/25/2026

Peace Presbyterian Garage Sale is still going strong! Looking for furniture, a fully functional organ, clothes, books, bikes, dishes, electronics, collectibles, holiday decor? Look no further! 333 S 204th ST has it all! Open today until 6:00 / Friday 8-4 / Saturday 8-12!

06/24/2026

Pastor Brian's Pieces
June 24, 2026

Good Morning Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Well, the big focus this week is the Garage Sale. And I do mean BIG focus. There are so many treasures! This is also an opportunity for everyone to help out. It’s going to be fun, crazy, and good for everyone.

We also have Christmas in July coming up on July 19th. We are collecting a wide range of things for kids. You can see the list in the weekly bulletin, or ask the office. Many organizations get a lot of stuff in December, but not so much the rest of the year. This is an opportunity to show that God’s love is not contained in one month.

Pastor in Action

It has been a busy week for me. Yesterday I had meetings with the Presbytery Commission of Care and the Pilgrimage Council. I also participated in a Presbytery level meeting last week. As an aside, I’ve been using my hands to help with the garage sale here and there. This all along with my weekly worship challenges.

Message

If you had told me that I would take up the study of theology, or God, 20 years ago, I would have laughed and walked away. Well, I was wrong. The funny things is, I’ve been studying it on some level all my life.

No, I have not been reading all of these books. I didn’t start reading avidly until about 20 years ago. However, theology permeates who we are, what we do, how we live, and everything. Let me work through this.

Regardless of your faith, or absence thereof, we live accordingly. We are raised with certain morals, certain codes of behavior that are ingrained in us at an early age. Where do those morals come from? Maybe church. Maybe your parents, or friends, or guardians. Maybe they come from television or books. Wherever they come from, those morals originate somewhere. We did not simply make them up.

I’m reading a book about John D. Rockefeller. He was one of those people who was beyond wealthy. In his early upbringing, he went to a Baptist church. Some of the things that became part of his makeup were not to drink, to work hard at whatever he was good at, and to give generously. At an early age he was giving away between 5% and 10% of his income. All of this would be with him throughout life.

The more I read, the more I look around, the more I see of God in everything. How we treat the person in front of us is one example. What we do with creation is another. How we spend our time, our money, and our resources shows our theology.

This all gets really fascinating when we pause to reflect with some questions. How does our behavior reflect what we say we believe? I knew a lady once who professed Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. She also noticed my cross on my neck. She said if I believed in Jesus, I would do what she wanted. Let that one sink in.

When I look around the world, or my office, it is really amazing to see how God is in everything. All I have to do is look. God is there. My wife has said I can turn anything into a sermon. I hope she’s right. I believe theology is actually more than the study of God. One might say it is the study of creation, life, and God. Just my opinion.

Friends, I know God is in your lives. I hope you can see that. I know Christ is in mine, as he has given you to me as friends. What a gift! I pray each of you has a great week, and I look forward to seeing you at the garage sale, without the garage.

Blessings and Peace
Brian Long

06/23/2026

If you are looking for housewares, furniture, clothing, decor, outdoor gear, tools, books, puzzles, games - clear your calendar for this TH (8-6)/ F (8-4)/ S (8-12).

Peace Presbyterian has something for everyone during our Garage Sale and each Sunday during 10:15 worship. All are welcome!

06/22/2026

06/08/2026

Mark your calendar & tell a friend; Peace Presbyterian Church’s garage sale is back a better than ever!

Housewares l Furniture l Books l Clothes l Luggage l + So Much More!

TH JUNE 25 8:00am - 6:00pm
F JUNE 26 8:00am - 4:00pm
S JUNE 27 8:00am - 12:00pm (fill a bag for $5)

333 S 204th - just south of Dodge ST

We can’t wait to see you!

05/15/2026

Pastor Brian's Pieces
May 14, 2026

Good Morning Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Last night Man Cave got together. I thought it was fun, and the food was great. The next gathering will be on July 14th at 5:30.

Our next session meeting is on Monday at 6:30.

Pastor in Action

This week has been very busy.

Last week was ordination exam reading week. I read several. I am pleased to say I was able to pass all the ones I read.

In the past week I have had 4 meeting with people in various locations and for widely different reasons. While much of this is confidential, let me ask this. Please throw up some general prayers. There are people who need them.

I got to sit in with the Man Cave group. It was one of my more relaxing moments. Of course, there was a quiz.

Message

There is a word we throw around a lot without really thinking about what it means. The word is “forgiveness.”

I have had the opportunity to throw this word out many times, and asking what it means. I usually get silence. We use the word, but we don’t really think about what it means, and entails.

Essentially, forgiveness means to restore a relationship to what it was before the sinful act occurred. Let that sink in for a moment.

First off, let’s talk legally. Courts, specifically civil, though at least in theory, it applies to criminal, are there to restore balance, to restore relationships to what they were before whatever happened. They are not, in theory, there to punish or to make someone rich. Again, in theory.

When we say we forgive someone, what we should be saying is that we are offering to have our relationship be what it was before the something happened. Now, don’t get me wrong. We don’t forget, sadly.

Forgiveness is not easy. There are several components. First, forgiveness must be offered by the offended party. Secondly, the offender must acknowledge the sin. Thirdly, the offender needs to repent, or change direction. That is, they must strive not to do it again. And finally, the offender must accept the forgiveness. When all of this occurs, in theory, the relationship is restored.

In reality, we do not forgive just one time for an action. It is an on going process that requires a lot of work. It would be easier if we could forget. We have to both offer, and accept forgiveness every hour, every day, and so on.

I often hear people say they forgive something or someone, and yet they still harbor resentment or refuse to be in relationship with that person. That is not forgiveness.

Let’s look at this from a Divine perspective. When God offers forgiveness, which is always, God is offering to draw us closer by restoring our relationship. God doesn’t hold a grudge. But, we still have to acknowledge our wrong doing, change direction, and accept that mercy. Again, this is an ongoing process.

Now, put yourself into that position. When someone wrongs you, are you prepared to still be friends with them. Are you still ready to interact, to go to lunch, to share a cup of coffee, to dialogue and disagree with that person the way you did yesterday, and the day before.

Forgiveness is hard, to both offer and to accept.

That being said, I want us all to seriously consider God’s mercy. It is not something to be taken for granted. It is something to be shared. True community cannot exist without it. After all, we all stumble. We all make mistakes. Sometimes, we know it, and other times, we don’t. Having the ability to forgive, to sincerely embrace that person who has wronged you, to engage with that person, is a gift. It makes our relationships, and thus our communities stronger.

Friends, know this, God has, and does forgive you. It’s a blessing we do not always see, recognize, or appreciate. The good news, we don’t have to worry about it either. However, we are called to forgive as we have been forgiven.

Friends, I thank God you are in my life. Each of you blesses me in different ways. I hope your days are blessed, bright, and numerous.

Blessings and Peace
Brian Long

04/02/2026

Good Afternoon Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
I’ve heard it’s cold outside, but I’ve been stuck in bed today.
It’s Holy Week. So there is a lot going on.

Tomorrow is Maundy Thursday, and service will be at 6:30. Communion will be served.

Our Good Friday Service will also be at 6:30.

Sunday’s Easter service will be at 10:15 a.m. It is my understanding that there will also be donuts. You know that will get me there!

Pastor in Action

It’s Holy Week, so I’ve been busy. Three services have been planned, as well as a couple of messages. I have also had a couple of in-office visits. So, I’ve been busy,

Message

It’s Holy Week. We began with Palm Sunday, celebrating Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem. Soon, we will gather in an upper room, and then we will stand back and watch as the nails are driven in, and the cross is raised. Ultimately, we will see the stone rolled away.

It’s Holy Week, and there is so much to reflect on, to think about, and to react to. During this time, there are tears, and laughter, joy and confusion, and so much to grasp. But above all, there is grace.

Perhaps, for me, one of the most powerful stories to come out of this time, is when Christ offers forgiveness from the cross. I can’t imagine what he was going through, nor do I want to. First there was the pain of the torture and crucifixion. That alone would be more pain than any person could or should endure. Then there was the abandonment. How many of his friends turned away from him. (Notice, I did not phrase that as a question.) While I’m sure they cried, where were the cries to save him? Where was were the yells to cut him down? Where were the public defendants to claim his innocence? Christ was crucified, and abandoned. And yet, in the midst of all of that, he offered to restore the relationships to what they were, to how they were meant to be. From his pain on the cross, he chose to draw those who put him there closer, in friendship, in love. And this is not April Fool’s joke.

“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

Easter mean so many things to so many different people. The Pope will speak, and pastors will preach. The eggs will be hidden, and then found, hopefully. Churches will be filled, for one of three times this year, and restaurants will have their reservation sheets also filled. And need we say anything about the chocolate? For many, it will be a time of family, and enjoying the company of the little children. For others, the food will be in abundance.

And yet, for many of us, there is still the mystery. What happened in that tomb? What happened on that cross? What happened between us, and God?

Whatever it was, or whatever it is, it is grace. We were, and continue to be given second, third, fourth, and more chances. God continues, through the ages, to call us closer. We don’t have to understand it all. Theologians for thousands of years have tried to put it all in a box. The reality is, God doesn’t fit in any box. Sometimes, we just have to accept God’s gifts of love and grace.

Friends, we, you, are forgiven. Not matter what you’ve done, or not done, Jesus has drawn you close. All you have to do is to let him. Put down the guilt. Let go of the greed. And surrender any preconceived notions of power. God’s got us. All we have to do is accept that gift.

Friends, I thank God for each of you, and your love and compassion. I pray that during this Easter season, you feel God’s grace, and then share it with someone.

Blessings and Peace
Brian Long

03/26/2026

Pastor Brian's Pieces - March 25, 2026

Good Morning Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

It’s a beautiful morning! My understanding is that it’s going to get warm today. It seems like a great day for the park.

This past Sunday we held our blood drive. As of this writing we had 17 units. So, Peace saved up to 51 lives, and we could get more units added to our count. I big thanks to all those who donated or even tried to donate. You made a difference in someone’s life.

Thanks to Dean Marshall for filling the pulpit this past Sunday. I really appreciate it.

We have Palm Sunday coming up as we move into Holy Week. There will be a Maundy Thursday service and a Good Friday service, both at 6:30 p.m. on their corresponding days.

Pastor in Action

This past week has been extremely busy for me. Last night I attended a Commission of Care meeting. Many things get covered in these meetings. Last night we worked on how to stay in touch with all the retired pastors in the area for a start. Along the way we discussed how churches who have shrunk over the years might merger with other like congregations. We also discussed certain congregations as they look for their next pastor, and procedures for commissioning ruling elders to ordered ministry. The CoC covers a lot of work.

I spent this past weekend, from Thursday through Sunday afternoon, at Camp Calvin Crest serving at Great Plains Pilgrimage #34. For those who are counting, I delivered 2 talks, served communion 3 times, participated in several other events, and was available the entire time for anyone who wanted to talk or pray. (This introvert is still recovering.) It’s a great weekend where new friendships are formed, and people have some wonderful experiences.

Message

So something happened this weekend that I can’t really share. What I can share is a thought process, and I think it’s important.

I know I’m supposed to preach that we should not worry. God tells us through the Bible many, many times, not to worry. And, rightfully so. Worrying lets our imagination go wild which in turn usually makes things out to be worse than they are. Furthermore, worrying drives up our blood pressure, reduces our sleep, and generally makes life miserable.

However, I know, you and I are both going to worry. We worry about money, that cancer diagnosis, are relatives, politics, the economy, and this list could go on for pages and pages. We all have something we fret about.

I think I stunned someone when I told them I wouldn’t tell them not to worry. This person in turn told me they knew worrying didn’t help. I also told them I wouldn’t ask them to stop breathing. When we have something weighing on our minds in life, it is very hard if not impossible not to focus on it. Medical issues are right at the top of the list. When we are waiting for that diagnosis, it’s hard. Frankly, it’s brutal. (I have some other words for it.)

So, if I’m not going to tell someone not to worry, what are my options. Well, I would encourage someone to focus on the moment. We only live in the moment, not in the past or future. We only have now. That is, love now. Pay attention to the person in front of you. Do something distracting like reading a book, playing a game, quilting, crocheting, or whatever can hold your attention. Yes, even binge watching your favorite television show can actually help occasionally.

When we keep ourselves in the moment, it does several things. One, it’s healthier. It keeps our blood pressure measured, and, hopefully, lets us sleep better. It also helps us to keep a clear head and work problems more objectively, and thus more efficiently. By being in the moment we are able to celebrate those moments with loved ones. We miss less, and rejoice more.

I think this person was surprised when I said I wasn’t going to tell them not to worry. Instead, I offered more healthy options. I am well aware when we have struggles, myself included, we wake up and go to sleep with those struggles. However, we can control our responses. The worries won’t leave, but they can be managed. Also, don’t hesitate to engage friends and family in this process. They really can help.

I know Scripture tells us not to worry, but I would also point to Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. He to struggled. And, he to focused on the moment as his journey progressed. In this season of Lent, and in life, let us all be mindful of where we are, and put a little faith in Christ for the future.

Friends, I know life is challenging, but I have found that with each of you, the journey is more joyful. I give thanks to God for you, and your love.

Blessings and Peace

Brian Long

03/12/2026

Considering the countless ways we treasure water and light as we move through this Lenten season.

Art, food, + fellowship = a fabulous She Shed Week 2.