Pastor's Page

(updated 10-30-24)  “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.”  John 14:1-3 NRSV 
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I am blessed to have wonderful church families and a wife and children and grandchildren who love me and share their lives with me. Even though I cherish these precious gifts, I often find myself wandering back in my mind during this season to my family of origin.
I grew up in Westernville, a small town near Delta Lake, north of Rome, New York. My family’s home was in the middle of Main Street, and it was, in many ways, a Norman Rockwell painting come to life – with a pinch of Mayberry R.F.D. thrown in for flavoring. My father worked as a guard at a factory in Rome, my mother was a stay-at-home mom, literally a “home maker” in the best sense of the word. My sisters and brother and I never questioned our parents’ love for us and perhaps more importantly their love for each other. Wonderful memories flood my mind as I remember family traditions around the holiday season. I remember special food and church services and the promise and mystery of it all.
I have the privilege of talking with many people each week and this feeling of nostalgia mixed with melancholy seems to be a fairly common condition as we enter November and December, All Saints Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Perhaps this common longing for home can be seen in the Gospel writers and theologians as we stretch and speak of heaven as going home. Home.  Amazing how that simple word conjures tears and a smile and a warm sensation in my soul.
I wonder if you might accept my invitation this holy day season to come home and join this church family in some familiar and some new traditions. Come and here the scriptures read and proclaimed. Sing the old songs and some new ones too. Rest in the presence of the God who created, redeemed and sustains us all – the Lover of your soul. Come and join us for worship at 9:00am Sunday morning for our Heritage worship service featuring our choir and familiar hymns. If you are unable to join us in person, we are livestreaming our worship services on Facebook. There are several fellowship opportunities and Bible Studies and Book Clubs that you can read about in the attached Newsletter – you will be welcomed home at all of these fellowship opportunities. Plan to come and join us – we’ll save you a seat! Serving Christ with You, Pastor Bill Mudge