Ogden Presbyterian Church

01/27/2021

On Sunday this week, we will engage Psalm 42, a psalm that I believe “keeps it real.” I feel this psalm gives a voice to how many, including me, are feeling. Let’s explore that Sunday with an honest conversation.

Psalm 42
1 As a deer longs for flowing streams,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and behold
the face of God?
3 My tears have been my food
day and night,
while people say to me continually,
‘Where is your God?’

4 These things I remember,
as I pour out my soul:
how I went with the throng,
and led them in procession to the house of God,
with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving,
a multitude keeping festival.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my help 6and my God.

My soul is cast down within me;
therefore I remember you
from the land of Jordan and of Hermon,
from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep
at the thunder of your cataracts;
all your waves and your billows
have gone over me.
8 By day the Lord commands his steadfast love,
and at night his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.

9 I say to God, my rock,
‘Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I walk about mournfully
because the enemy oppresses me?’
10 As with a deadly wound in my body,
my adversaries taunt me,
while they say to me continually,
‘Where is your God?’

11 Why are you cast down, O my soul,
and why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my help and my God.

How are you holding up these days? Notice the back and forth of despair and hope – does this passage resonate with your soul? It does for me.

Let’s chat Sunday,

PT

01/13/2021

G’day mates, on Sunday the 17th, we will ordain and install our new leaders. Providing leadership, whether as an Elder, Deacon or Trustee, is a call – a call to serve. Accordingly, we will look at the following passage from Matthew, as Jesus begins his ministry and calls his disciples to assist:

Matthew 4:18-23
18 As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the lake—for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.’ 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. 23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

After Jesus calls his disciples, the next thing he does is go about “teaching, proclaiming and curing.” What does this tell us about what Jesus felt was his calling, his work in this world? What does this mean for those he calls?

More good stuff on Sunday,

PT

12/16/2020

Howdy pardners,

As it stands today, the Service of Hope Thursday night and worship Sunday Dec. 20th will both be completely on line – no in-person worship either of those days. If anything changes I will let you know.

On this 4th Sunday of Advent, we light the candle of Love and engage the “longing to know we are loved”. We will look at the following passage:

1 John 4:7-16,19
7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. 15 God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. 16 So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. 19 We love because he first loved us.

I find it stunning and informative how God is connected to Love. There is no separation. Anything that is not love, therefore, is not (of) God. Does that impact your life?

See you Sunday,

PT

11/18/2020

Greetings and salutations,

This Thursday we finish up our study of Ephesians (1:00 if you want to join us). The final chapter, 6, talks about the “armor of God” which we will discuss on Sunday (letters A-L this week):

Ephesians 6:10-20
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. 15 As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. 16 With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.

Can you use any of these pieces today? Which one do you feel is important to you? I am particularly interested in the shoes – and being strengthened to share the gospel of peace.

Grace and peace be yours,

PT

11/04/2020

Ogden Presbyterian folks, this Sunday in person worship is for last name letters A-L. Please call the office to verify (thanks).

Since we are studying the letter to the Ephesians in our Thursday bible study, I wanted to look at a couple of passages from the first two chapters. Here is one of them:

Ephesians 2:1-10
2 You were dead through the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once lived, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. 3 All of us once lived among them in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of flesh and senses, and we were by nature children of wrath, like everyone else. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us 5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— 9 not the result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.

(As always, feel free to reply to me with your answer to the questions I pose. I appreciate hearing what you are thinking.)
Paul speaks of being “dead” as we “follow the course of the world.” What do you think it means to not “follow the course of the world”? How do you do with that? I believe we must, as followers of Jesus, follow the course of Jesus by living lives of love, not hate. The end of this passage tells us we have been “saved by grace through faith and this is not our own doing” – then states that we are “created in Christ Jesus for good works”. What are the good works you have been created for this day?

Praying for love and peace this day; may we all be emboldened and strengthened to lead lives of love and peace this day,

PT

BTW, here is the other passage:

Ephesians 1:3-14
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. 5He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight 9he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, 10as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, 12so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory. 13In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit; 14this is the pledge of our inheritance towards redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.

10/21/2020

Howdy pardners,
This Sunday, October 25th, last names starting A-L attend this week – please call the office (3526802) to verify for us.
Also, this is our final Stewardship Sunday. If you have not turned in your pledge, please do so by Sunday so we can announce the tally. Since we cannot be all together in Fellowship Hall after worship to eat chili and soup as we wait for the pledge total, Session is asking everyone the following: Please have your own soup/chili/whatever ready after worship in your own homes. We will all sit together on Zoom as we wait for the total to be announced. We may not be able to be together in person, so we do the next best thing. We can still sit and chat as we wait. For those in worship Sunday, we will announce the total expeditiously and then you can hurry home and enjoy your meal.
The passage for Sunday comes from the Old Testament book of Esther – a unlikely young woman who rose to become Queen – but then had to make a hard and risky decision:

Esther 4:9-17
9 Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said. 10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach and gave him a message for Mordecai, saying, 11 ‘All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—all alike are to be put to death. Only if the king holds out the golden sceptre to someone, may that person live. I myself have not been called to come in to the king for thirty days.’ 12 When they told Mordecai what Esther had said, 13 Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, ‘Do not think that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you keep silence at such a time as this, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another quarter, but you and your father’s family will perish. Who knows? Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this.’ 15 Then Esther said in reply to Mordecai, 16 ‘Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will also fast as you do. After that I will go to the king, though it is against the law; and if I perish, I perish.’ 17 Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.

In order to save her people, Esther had to choose to risk her life – under what circumstances who you make that choice? She knew, however, that she had been called by God to take this action, to step out and act on behalf of others – For Such a Time as This.
See you Sunday,
PT

10/14/2020

On Sunday October 18th, as we consider and make our financial commitments to ministry here at Ogden Presbyterian Church for 2021, we will look at this brilliant, ancient story:

1 Samuel 17:3-11, 41-47
3 The Philistines stood on the mountain on one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. 4 And there came out from the camp of the Philistines a champion named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. 5 He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was armored with a coat of mail; the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of bronze. 6 He had greaves of bronze on his legs and a javelin of bronze slung between his shoulders. 7 The shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam, and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron; and his shield-bearer went before him. 8 He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, ‘Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves, and let him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us.’ 10 And the Philistine said, ‘Today I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man, that we may fight together.’ 11 When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
41 The Philistine came on and drew near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. 42 When the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was only a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. 43 The Philistine said to David, ‘Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?’ And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 The Philistine said to David, ‘Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the field.’ 45 But David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with sword and spear and javelin; but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This very day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head; and I will give the dead bodies of the Philistine army this very day to the birds of the air and to the wild animals of the earth, so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not save by sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and he will give you into our hand.’

What is the point of this story? Who won this battle? David calls God “The Living God” twice in this story – do you believe that? What does that mean to you? What carries you through each day, what do you rely on?

Lots more on Sunday,

PT

10/07/2020

Over the next three Sundays we will discuss our Stewardship thoughts as we plan for 2021. The theme is “For Such a Time as This”, knowing how we as a faith community respond in the midst of all that is going on matters deeply. The passage below from Jeremiah gets us started. The Israelites find themselves in a horrible situation, and they are crying for relief. Into that difficult situation, God has this word for them, a word I hope we too can hear today:

Jeremiah 29:1, 4-14
29 These are the words of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the remaining elders among the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 4 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. 7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. 8 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let the prophets and the diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream, 9 for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, says the Lord.
10 For thus says the Lord: Only when Babylon’s seventy years are completed will I visit you, and I will fulfil to you my promise and bring you back to this place. 11 For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. 12 Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you. 13 When you search for me, you will find me; if you seek me with all your heart, 14 I will let you find me, says the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.

What do you hear the God of all Creation telling his children as they weep over the difficult situation they find themselves in? How would you respond if you heard this in the midst of a troubling time? Would you trust God?

For Such a Time as This,

PT

09/23/2020

Top O’ the morn all,

On Sunday September 27th, we will having a Service of Lament. A Lament is a “passionate expression of sorrow or grief”, and in difficult times it is a biblically honored way to handle the pain and grief we are feeling. During our service we will explore the passage below from the book of Lamentations. As well, during the service we will have a time to “Gather our Tears”. In that gathering, we will have a moment to recall and remember those situations which we are grieving.

It may be a difficult service – I realize that. And I realize that we will not solve any issues of grief you may have. However, it is part of our faith to take moments where we bring our sorrow and grief and as a community lay it at God's feet. There can be some healing in doing this, and it can bring us deeper into communion with God. As well, myself and a Deacon will be available after the service if you would like to talk (even on Zoom – we can break off into confidential “rooms”).

Lamentations 3:1-6, 18-24
3 I am one who has seen affliction
under the rod of God’s wrath;
2 he has driven and brought me
into darkness without any light;
3 against me alone he turns his hand,
again and again, all day long.

4 He has made my flesh and my skin waste away,
and broken my bones;
5 he has besieged and enveloped me
with bitterness and tribulation;
6 he has made me sit in darkness
like the dead of long ago.
--------------------------------------
18 so I say, ‘Gone is my glory,
and all that I had hoped for from the Lord.’

19 The thought of my affliction and my homelessness
is wormwood and gall!
20 My soul continually thinks of it
and is bowed down within me.
21 But this I call to mind,
and therefore I have hope:

22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul,
‘therefore I will hope in him.’

Do you notice the progression? From pouring out grief and sorrow, to hope in God. Strange, isn’t it? But powerful. May you pour out your pain to God, and may you place your hope in God. May you find the heart of God in any grief and sorrow you are experiencing.

Together on Sunday,

PT

09/16/2020

Sisters and brothers, this Sunday, Sept. 20, is Native American Awareness Sunday in the Presbyterian Church. We will be using several scriptures that day as we honor our Native sisters and brothers. Feel free to dress colorfully, at home or in the sanctuary. This will also be the Sunday we will begin our worshipping together. We had a wonderful experience Sunday the 13th trying out our hybrid worship service (Zoom and in person). A couple of bumps, but it went well. As we resume worship this Sunday, here are a couple of things to remember:

Due to the mandated restrictions of distancing and capacity, only a limited number of folks can attend worship each Sunday. With the limited number of attendees, in an effort to be fair to all we are dividing the congregation up based upon those who indicated during the Deacon survey that they would be attending. Those with last names beginning with A-L will attend worship Sept. 20th. Those with last names beginning with M-Z will begin Sept. 27th. The rotation will follow from there (see schedule below).

Those who wish to attend the in-house worship service must call the church (585.352.6802) by noon on Friday so we can ensure proper seating. Seating will be assigned by the number attending in the same family; solo, husband and wife, children, etc. Please note as per state regulations, groups from the same household are able to be seated together. When you arrive on Sunday, a greeter will take your name and your temperature. Then an usher will lead you to your seat.

In the best interests of safety, at this time, we are requesting everyone continue to wear your face coverings the entire time you are in the building, and maintain social distancing. The service will continue as it has on Zoom. At this time, we will not be singing or having Fellowship Time, there will not be a “Time with Young Christians”, and there will not be Sunday School. We will, however, continue to be together, be healthy, and worship our Creator. That is what is vitally important.

Sunday Sept. 20 – A-L
Sunday Sept. 27 – M-Z
October 4 – Zoom worship only (Pastor Tedd will be away)
October 11 – A-L
October 18 – M-Z
October 25 – A-L

Any questions let us know – thank you for your patience and understanding

09/10/2020

The team here is so excited about our newest upcoming mission opportunity for the whole church with “Sleep in Heavenly Peace”! On Saturday October 10th, from 9:00-1:00, we will be building 20 beds in our parking lot for children who have no beds to sleep on. What a great way to give back and “be doers of the word” as James would say. We are looking for 25 folks to help with the build, so please join us, we need your help. Follow this link to register: https://www.shpbeds.org/chapter/ny-rochester. Looking forward to being there with everyone

Child bedlessness is a national problem, and as a national nonprofit with chapters spread across the country, SHP has provided the solution. We are a volunteer organization that builds beds for kids who are sleeping on the floor and there are multiple ways to get involved right here on our NY-Roches...

09/02/2020

Hi Team Ogden,

As we continue our walk with James, he continues to point the community to God – acknowledging that as believers we must make a choice: God or the world. This is from chapter 4 (FYI – “adulterers” refers to people who are committed to God but then, unfaithfully, look to other things for satisfaction):

James 4:4-10
4 Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5Or do you suppose that it is for nothing that the scripture says, ‘God yearns jealously for the spirit that he has made to dwell in us’ 6 But he gives all the more grace; therefore it says,
‘God opposes the proud,
but gives grace to the humble.’
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into dejection. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Where in your life is the struggle between “the world” and God? What do you do to stay faithful to God in those times of trial? How do you draw near to God?

Lots more on Sunday (including communion),

PT