Living Table United Church of Christ

Living Table United Church of Christ Living Table United Church of Christ is a compassionate community drawn together in Christ to embody Sunday Worship is 10:30 AM

08/20/2026

Pastoral Note - August 20, 2026
This summer's sermon series has been enjoyable for me, and I hope for you as well. I've enjoyed alternating between your theological questions and the biblical characters you have wanted to know more about. I am still thinking about Esther this week even as I prepare my sermon on the "I Am" Statements in John's Gospel.

As we know, Esther stopped hiding her identity to save her people. For Esther, it was easy to identify who her people were; she was a Jewish woman living in the Persian Empire. And, as always, there were powerful people who did not want her people to continue to exist. Esther did the right thing.

I keep wondering what might change if everyone who claimed to be followers of Jesus treated all people as their people, our people.

This is hard to ponder alongside John's super high Christology. The writer of John's Gospel wanted everyone to know, beyond doubt, that Jesus was and is the Christ, the Anointed One. This kind of thinking could lead us away from the idea that all people are our people.

The "I Am" Statements build throughout the Gospel of John. Most scholars count seven of them. I include an additional three because the author of the text was very careful with his words, and the use of "I Am" was intentional every time.

They begin with a more personal revelation and eventually culminate in a public revelation. This is an important pattern and, perhaps, means more than the insistence that Jesus is "fully God."

Our own faith should follow a similar pattern. We move from the personal to the public, from the individual to the community. And here's the link back to Esther. If we are guided by the teachings of Jesus, we become more concerned for the community than for the individual.

In other words, we realize how connected we are, and how much we need one another.

Who knew Esther and John's Gospel had anything in common?

08/13/2026

Pastoral Note - August 13, 2026
As many of you know, packing and sorting one's household goods isn't a lot of fun. Erika and I have been doing just this for a few weeks now. It often doesn't feel like we've made a lot of progress, however the increasing number of boxes in our storage unit tells a different story.

It's an interesting process to go through all of our possessions and decide what to keep, what to donate, what to sell, and what to discard. Stories and memories are evoked by so much of what we are packing up. Our years in Minnesota for sure, and the years before we came here.

"Do you remember when we got this?" "Do you remember who gave us that?" "Can you believe this was 17 years ago?"

This is the fun part of packing.

And there are harder parts. One of them is the magnolia tree in our backyard. As some of you may recall, we planted this tree as a memorial to my mother when we moved into this house. I have mixed feelings about leaving the tree.

This week a friend offered to move the tree to her yard, out of the blue. I was amazed by her thoughtfulness. I mean, who would think to offer a home to a memorial magnolia tree? This friend, that's who.

Unfortunately, the tree has magnolia scale and wouldn't survive moving. Fortunately, last year it produced multiple seed pods which I saved over the winter and now have tiny magnolia trees to take to Maine.

The offer from my friend, though. It has stayed with me. Her generosity, thoughtfulness, and kindness reminded me that there is still a lot of good in the world, in humanity.

Kindness goes a long way to close the gaps between and among us. Loving kindness is how we are called to move through the world. Imagine how different our lives would be if everyone brought more loving kindness into the world.

Are you willing to join with me in bringing more kindness into the world?

What has someone offered you that touched you deeply and moved you toward kinder, gentler living?

What have you done for others?

As always, please share your thoughts on the Living Table page or, if you aren't on facebook, please share your thoughts in our upcoming gatherings.

08/06/2026

Pastoral Note - August 6, 2026
Everyday the news has stories about politicians citing Christianity or referencing it as justification for their actions. It can be challenging, at the very least, when hateful actions are done in the name of Christ. And it's definitely a turnoff for many.

We know that faith community membership has been in decline for the last 60 years or so. This means that the more recent political scene isn't responsible for it. Yet, White Christian Nationalism is playing a part, maybe even a significant one.

As I've taken in the news of this week, I've been wondering what makes us different from some others who also claim to be Christian. Do our public and private actions indicate that we don't buy into Christian exceptionalism, White supremacy, and other destructive ideals?

I'd like to invite you into a brief thought experiment.

What if someone were to follow you everywhere (except the bathroom) for a whole week? Would your words and actions reveal anything about your faith at all? Would your observer notice love, welcome, and inclusion versus hate, fear and division?

Or how about this: Would the way you live your life on a daily basis make the one following you want to be more like you?

The only way the church survives decades of decline and the very public, very vocal minority capturing media attention now, is for us to live out our faith in ways that counteract popular messaging.

Are we living our faith out loud? Do we behave in a way that shows that we follow the teachings of Jesus? You know the ones - loving neighbor and self, welcoming those the world discards, feeding the hungry, dismantling oppressive systems - everything to bring the realm of God into the here and now.

I know it's a lot. However, it isn't just about us as individuals. We could ask the same questions of the Living Table community as a whole. How are we as a community making a difference in the world? What is made better by us being together?

Moreover, it isn't about our one community, either. It's about all kinds of faith communities who seek to mend that which is broken, to mend with loving kindness not empirical, oppressive power.

While I absolutely think it is important to evaluate our own faith and how it informs our daily choices, it is equally important to remember that we have many partners in the work of Love.

Feel free to share what you are doing to make the world a little better and to help us along the way to a healthier, more just world.

This pastoral note is also posted on the Living Table page. For those who do not use facebook, please share your thoughts in our upcoming gatherings.

07/30/2026

Pastoral Note - July 30, 2026
Some days are hard. The heat can zap energy and make us short tempered. And then things go wrong – seemingly one after another. A simple task becomes complicated and time consuming. Then, to make matters worse, there is the news – local, national and global.

I’ve been known to wonder if there is anything good left in the world or in humanity itself.

I remind myself that the heat will pass (maybe even too soon). Often household tasks take longer than we had anticipated and that's okay. And there are amazing things happening in the world (near and far) that don’t make the news. I can breathe a little deeper.

Last night, the full moon was beautiful – orange with a pale, red ring around it. The breeze was cooler than the day. Morgan and I enjoyed a short walk around the neighborhood.

Earlier, we had friends over to share the pool. Friends who also mask everywhere they go so there was minimal risk. Even still, Erika and I kept our masks on so our friends could enjoy the deep end of the pool. We shared kinship and laughter and it was good.

A quick browse through the Good News Network provided a good reminder that not everyone has succumbed to the chaos that has invaded so many governing bodies. Science continues. Generosity continues. Human kindness sometimes even prevails.

If you’ve had a hard day or week or month or year, take a moment to breathe as deeply as you can. Let your heart rate slow and your blood pressure come down a bit. Do something you enjoy just to give your bodymind a break.

We live in chaotic, stressful times. Worry can become our default. It doesn’t have to though. We are people of faith. We believe that God’s steadfast love really does endure forever.

Love can be found anywhere when we take time to search for it. Where have you found Love today, or in recent days? What can you do to keep your connection to Love at the forefront of your days?

We are in this together. If you can’t shake the hard days, reach out to a friend who can bring a bit of joy, love, and laughter, even for a few moments.

And remember to breathe deep, holy breaths and invite the Spirit to draw you close.

07/23/2026

Pastoral Note - July 23, 2026
I am having a hard time letting Hagar go. Up until last week, I'd always focused on her having received the same promise as Abraham. While this is remarkable for a woman 5000 years ago, it may not be the most important part of the story.

It's likely that the biblical story tellers want us to pay attention to Hagar's faith. Twice in the wilderness on her own, she cried out to God and God saved her. This isn't unimportant, either. However, I don't know how helpful this is in the modern world.

It's the different interpretation of the promise of Ishmael becoming "a great nation" that has followed me through the week. While we are long past the time of nations forming, the promise of community is embedded in the words spoken to Hagar.

Hagar and Ishmael survived and she found him a wife among her people.

Community. Relationship. How we connect with one another matters. Any "greatness" a nation possesses should depend on how well its people come together.

The strength in the story of Hagar is the need for one's people. Hagar didn't manage alone. Yes, God was with her and she returned to her own people. We need community. We need our people. This is where greatness comes from.

Alone, life is harder - picture Hagar in the desert crying out to God after she runs away from Sarah. Together with our people we can do hard things - picture Hagar and young Ishmael returning to Egypt and being surrounded by friends and relatives.

When we feel like we are on our own, the stresses of the world are overwhelming. We can't figure out where to turn or what to do. When we come together in community, it is more likely that we will withstand the challenges all around and within us.

I think of the traditional concept of the Triune God as God-in-community - many facets in dynamic relationship. This God constantly invites us into community; no one, not even God, is meant to be singular.

The promise given to Hagar is alive within us. God is at work in us and through us enabling us to do hard things and create great community.

07/16/2026

Pastoral Note - July 16
The smoky air and heat have many of us stuck inside. While it is frustrating to not be able to be out in the world enjoying the summer, I have had time to reflect on breath and breathing. And these thoughts led me to gratitude.

While breathing deeply right now is a bit of a challenge, I can't help but think of biblical references to breath. In the Hebrew Bible there is ruach and in the Newer Testament there is pneuma. Both words mean "breath," "wind," or "spirit." Both words reference the breath of God and the Spirit of God.

Breath, or breathing, is essential to life and it is intimately connected to the Holy. In the creation stories in Genesis, God breathes life into human beings. In the Pentecost story in John, Jesus breathes the Spirit into (onto?) the disciples and all who came after. Without breath, we have no life. Without breath, we have no spirit.

Breathing is sacred, even when it is difficult. I find myself grateful for air that is usually breathable and lungs that draw in breath. These thoughts lead me to gratitude for life itself - the ability to move through Creation and take in the beauty and wonders of this season.

Breathing is also automatic; we don't usually have think about it. Can you imagine a world in which gratitude is also automatic? What would change if gratitude were as natural as the intake and release of breath? What would change if we could exchange gratitude with the ease of sharing air?

Several years ago, I read an article about the air we breathe. I don't remember much of the details but the author posited that everyone alive today has breathed in some of the same molecules that Jesus breathed.

I don't know if this is truly possible or just a fantasy. Though even the possibility is a reminder of just how intimately past, present, and future generations are connected. Breath, Spirit, Wind connects us all. Maybe we can create a world in which we are also connected with gratitude.

We are connected to our neighbors and all of Creation with one holy breath. Maybe we can deepen that connection with gratitude.

What are you grateful for in this moment?

07/09/2026

Pastoral Note - July 9, 2026
Mike Coffman and Kelsey Pfendler are two extraordinary people you've probably not heard about. Or maybe their names ring a small bell but you can't place them. They are remarkable humans who were in the news this week.

Mike Coffman is the 71-year-old mayor of Aurora, CO. This isn't what makes him extraordinary. Since February, he has spent every Friday night sleeping on a cot in the local shelter. Then he helps to serve breakfast on Saturday morning. This isn't typical mayoral behavior.

Mr. Coffman does this to keep aware of what's happening, and to build relationships with the vulnerable folx who are part of his city. He isn't doing this for the fame or recognition. He sleeps at the shelter on a cot every Friday night so he can make sure city programs are helpful.

Mike Coffman is a man who genuinely cares and wants to be sure that local taxes are used effectively - to improve people's lives. Extraordinary!

On the other hand, Kelsey Pfendler is 32-year-old woman who rowed from California to Hawaii and broke all the records. She rowed 2400 miles solo and raised money for a mental health organization.

While I am sure that Kelsey set out on her row with the hopes of breaking records, I'm guessing she had other motivations. The fact that she chose a mental health organization to raise funds for indicates that she is a caring person.

While she is extraordinary for reasons that differ from Mike Coffman's, she is still worthy of notice. Imagine what kind of persistence and strength she needed to accomplish her goal!

These different stories remind me that everyone has the potential to be extraordinary. Maybe in a small way, like building relationships at a local shelter. Maybe in a bigger way, like rowing 2400 miles alone. There are as many ways to make the world a better place as there are people on the planet.

As I said on Sunday, we are called to live in such a way that someone, or lots of someones, experience us as extraordinary.

Being extraordinary isn't the goal. Rather, it is the outcome of living out God's call for us. Remember Deborah from last Sunday? She didn't set out to be extraordinary any more than Mike or Kelsey did. Yet, she truly was.

What are you doing today, tomorrow, this week, to make the world better for someone (or lots of someones) near or far? Remember, it doesn't have to be grand. It could be something small and quiet that might go unnoticed for months. It took 5 months for the media to notice that Mike spends every Friday night at the shelter, and it was days into her row to Hawaii before the international media really noticed Kelsey.

It's never too late to be extraordinary. And being extraordinary isn't likely to make the news. It will still matter to those who are on the receiving end of the goodness you bring into the world.

Thank you, Deborah, a woman who defied all the expectations of her time.

Thank you, Mike Coffman, a man who quietly brings good into the world.

Thank you, Kelsey Pfendler, a woman who reminds us that we can accomplish more than we think is possible.

May we all continue to find ways to be extraordinary.

07/02/2026

Pastoral Note - July 2, 2026
This summer our sermon series alternates between theological questions and people of the Bible. The questions are not simple ones. Last week was "What is salvation and who is saved?" Next week's is "Is there life after death and what does resurrection really mean?"

This week, though, is all about Deborah. And I've realized how little I knew about her. I knew she was a judge in ancient Israel and that's about it. What I didn't realize is that there are only two chapters in Judges that even mention her. So I asked my friend, Rabbi Amy, to point me toward more information about Deborah.

There's a lot! Deborah was the fourth judge in the mid-13 century BCE - 3200-3300 years ago. And she was/is pretty famous. She was a warrior, prophet, poet, and mediator. She's the only woman in the Bible with political power who is described positively.

Why didn't we all learn more about her in Sunday School?

Deborah was brilliant in a time when Israel needed that brilliance. The time of the Judges in Israel's history was between the wanderings in the wilderness and the reign of King Saul - about 300 years. And, as you might imagine, those years were tumultuous.

We know from the book of Judges, Israel was often facing oppressive neighboring rulers. As Deborah came to power, Israel had been afflicted for more than 20 years by the Canaanites. Deborah put an end to that, along with Jael, another formidable woman.

I look forward to sharing more with you about just how amazing Deborah was. It seems there is little she couldn't do. And she may have been even more impressive than has survived history, because the patriarchy, then and now, tends to suppress any information that is inconsistent with their teachings.

If you are interested, you could read Judges 4-5 before Sunday. These are the two chapters about Deborah. You'll get a hint of who Deborah was. She's awesome and my new favorite mighty woman of scripture. Maybe she'll be yours, too.

06/25/2026

Pastoral Note - June 25, 2026
Those of you who were in worship on Sunday already know that I will be leaving Living Table in October. My decision to leave was not an easy one and took months of discernment and conversations with both Erika and my spiritual director.

In some ways, there would never be a "right" time to leave Living Table. I have frequently described this community as unique and as having a special place/purpose in our ever-changing world. I will not be serving another congregation. In effect, I will be retiring from parish ministry.

Erika and I have decided that now is the time for us to make a move. You know we both have some significant health challenges. For now, we are both healthy enough to enjoy the next chapter of our lives.

We are moving to Boothbay, ME and our new home will be 1.5 miles from the famous footbridge over Boothbay Harbor. Erika is hoping her health will continue to improve so she can finish her dissertation and then do some consulting. Rachael plans to continue her spiritual direction practice, provide consulting for church on the judicatory (conference) level, and spend more time writing and painting.

We have the next four months to say our goodbyes well and prepare Living Table for an interim pastor. It's a good thing to have this time to process together the feelings of sadness, excitement, gratitude and more. I find myself struggling to find the words to express how much our ministry together has meant for me, and I'm not usually at a loss for words.

As we move through the coming days, remember what I said on Sunday: Pastors come and go. It is the congregation that is the church. And the world needs Living Table in it. Perhaps the next pastor will hold the key to breaking open the best kept secret in South Minneapolis!

On another note, on this coming Sunday we will celebrate Pride Sunday together. The sermon will focus on the meaning of salvation and who is saved, which I thought would be a great topic for Pride this year. So wear your rainbows or any color of the rainbow and join us for a joyful celebration this Sunday.

06/18/2026

Pastoral Note - June 18, 2026
Throughout this week, I've been thinking about a line from the UCC Statement of Faith referencing the "costs and joys of discipleship." While this isn't the language we use at Living Table, the meaning still applies.

We frequently benefit from the joys of following the way of Christ. We gather as community. We care for vulnerable folx in our midst. We share laughter and tears without fear of judgment. There is so much joy, even in these days.

Make no mistake, joy is good and important. The more we share, the more joy grows.

However, we know following Jesus isn't all sunshine and rainbows. This week we were vividly reminded that doing the right thing can be costly. Protesting anything that is dehumanizing for any of our neighbors is certainly in line with Christian teaching. These days, there is sometimes a high cost.

It can be uncomfortable. Many of us were taught (directly or indirectly) that being a Christian, following the teachings of Christ, would make life easier. I don't think it does. I think truly following as Jesus taught makes life more challenging.

If we are living as Jesus taught, then we cannot ignore the needs of any of our neighbors. We are obligated to work for good - for healing, wholeness, and inclusion. Strengthening the wider community is our responsibility.

Of course, we can't all take the risk of being arrested at a protest. Yet, there is something for each of us to do, always. Something that comes at a cost.

When was the last time your faith led you to do something that was not easy, that came with a cost? Why did you do it? Was joy also present?

It's easy for us to focus on the joys of being a follower of Jesus. It is so much harder to seek out the costly part.

The messaging of society is often everyone for themselves. The message of Jesus is that we are all interdependent. One person acting on their own self-interests can have deep and long-lasting, negative effects. This is a familiar experience.

If we were to ask Jesus, he'd tell us that one person acting for the greater good has even deeper and more lasting positive effects. And if a community were to commit to acting for the well being of others, imagine those effects.

May the costs and joys of discipleship come to us all in equal measure lest we forget that we are to be bringing about the realm of God, and that is no simple or easy task.

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5011 S 31st Avenue
Minneapolis, MN
55417

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