News

Dear Friends,

We see it on the news every night. Story after story of political leaders, institutions, organizations and even churches who are so set in their ways, they refuse to change their outlook or beliefs in any form whatsoever. While sticking to a core set of values may be important in some ways, never being open to change in any way (even minor change) might not be the best way to approach life. In fact, it has been said that if a person or an institution is unwilling to change in any way, shape or form then that means they either are dying or are already dead.

This week in worship, we will be looking at one of the most interesting and unsettling stories that Jesus offered to his disciples. In this story, we find that sometimes the hardest mindset or outlook to change is our own. We will also discover in this story that when we are not open to seeing and valuing other people, we are really proclaiming our own spiritual death sentence.

By the end of our time together, it is my hope that we will all be renewed in the belief that by seeing and caring for others, we will find the abundant life which Jesus has promised us.

Have a good weekend and I hope to see you on Sunday morning!

In Peace,

Luke

Dear Friends,

I want to begin by thanking all of those who supported our annual Back to Church and Sunday school kickoff bagel breakfast. This fun event took place last Sunday before worship and it was such a joy to see all of your smiling faces! Also, I want to extend special thanks to our Sunday school adult volunteers who give their time to teach, nurture and care for our young ones.

As we continue to move into the Fall season, there are a few items I would like to encourage you to add to your calendar:

This Sunday, September 18th – It is Sundae Sunday! Join us for fellowship time after worship where there will be a delicious ice cream sundae bar.

Thursday, September 22nd – He-Brews Bible Study kicks off! Men of the church are welcome to join the 9:30am session in Connell Lounge or the 7:45pm session at The Junction Beer and Pizza Garden in Mill Valley. Please email me at [email protected] to RSVP. This study is 6-weeks long and will conclude October 27th.

Sunday, October 2nd – Blessing of the Animals on the church lawn from 11:45-12:45pm. All friendly animals are welcome to come and receive a blessing with holy water from the pastor!

Sunday, October 9th – Prospective Church member class from 11:45am-1:00pm in the Connell Lounge. This class is for those who are interested in joining Mt. Tam UMC as professing members. The class will give a brief introduction to our church’s history as well as go over the vows of membership. After the class, folks can decide whether or not they are ready to take the next step in their faith. For those who are ready, we will then work on picking a Sunday when you can affirm these vows during worship.

Monday, November 14th at 7pm (via Zoom) – Our annual church conference will take place under the leadership of District Superintendent Staci Current. This meeting is where we take care of the “business of the church.” The agenda will include a Lay Nominations Report, voting on church officers, voting on pastor compensation and more! All are welcome to attend and the zoom link will be sent out closer to the date of the conference.

Have a great week and I hope to see you on Sunday!

In Peace and Joy,

Luke

Dear Friends,

I hope this message finds you well after this week’s intense heatwave!

One of the things I have been impressed by in my 15 months at Mt. Tam Church is the excellent programming in place for the women in our faith community. Particularly, it has been a joy to witness the fellowship, learning and spiritual growth that takes place in our AdelphES and United Women in Faith (formerly UMW) groups.

That being said, it has also become clear to me that we have the

opportunity to offer more groups and connection-points for the men.

Therefore, I am excited to announce that I will be leading two sessions

of a 6-week small group called “He-Brews.” The idea behind this group is for the gentlemen of the church to build relationships with one another while exploring the New Testament book of Hebrews.

These two 6-week group sessions will meet on Thursdays beginning on September 22nd. The AM group will meet over delicious artisan coffee and pastries at the church from 9:30am-11:00am. The PM group will meet at The Junction Restaurant and Beer Garden in Mill Valley from 7:45pm-9:00pm.

If you are interested in joining me for the AM or PM group or if you

have any questions, please email me at [email protected]

Have a great weekend and I hope to see you on Sunday!

In Peace and Joy,

Luke

Dear Friends,

Marin County is full of energy as families have returned from vacation and our young people head back to school. During this unofficial beginning of the fall season, I am always reminded of the importance of

celebrating a fresh start. Whether it is a young person headed to a new school or an adult starting a new job, there is something so life-giving about a new chapter of life in a new place.

This Sunday in worship, we will be looking at the book of Zephaniah

who dreamed about a fresh start for God’s people. As we gather together in the sanctuary, we will be reflecting on what it looks like in our own lives when we are experiencing a restored life centered on grace. It is my hope that by the end of our time together, you will celebrate that every single day is yet another opportunity to have a fresh start through God’s love.

Have a great weekend,

Luke

Dear Friends,

Have you ever had one of those days where nothing seems to go right? Perhaps the day started off with you sleeping through your alarm clock followed by a seemingly endless chain of mishaps? Have you ever had a day (or season) in life where you were dealing with so much turmoil that you got angry with God?

This Sunday in worship, we will be looking at a prophet in the Bible whose book opens with these words of lament for God: “How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?”

Together, we will be examining the context of this sacred text and will be reflecting on what scripture, theology and tradition tells us about crying out to God. It is my hope that the first words of the book of Habakkuk will have renewed meaning for us as we encounter them in 2022.

In Peace,

Luke

Dear Friends,

Over the past two weeks, a number of images from the James Webb telescope have been released to the public. These images have showcased countless other galaxies, with each galaxy containing BILLIONS of stars and planets. These images remind us that our planet is just one tiny speck of sand in relation to the grandeur of the universe.

Naturally, seeing pictures like this can humble us as humans and might even make us feel insignificant. However, I have been wondering if size is the right measurement for us to use when reflecting on our importance in the Universe.

Author and self-proclaimed science nerd Hank Green recently offered a perspective that reminded me that even though humanity may not be the biggest thing in the universe, we are definitely significant in it. Green states “in your head, there are roughly the same number of neurons as there are stars in our Milky Way galaxy. Those neurons are obviously much smaller than stars but they are in fact, more ordered. In fact, it could be argued that each neuron is more complex than a star.”

So, if the James Webb telescope has been reminding you how amazing galaxies are, don’t forget that YOU are just as amazing, complex and wonderful. Don’t forget that each friend, neighbor, and stranger you come across is also an amazing, complex and wonderful creation.

Through these discoveries and reminders, it is my hope that each of us will take a little bit more time to appreciate God’s amazing handiwork. It…..you….we…. are something special. Thanks be to God.

In Peace and Gratitude,

Luke