Silence......breathing.......only the sounds of the birds singing, the clock ticking and the overhead fan whirling.  It is in the silence surrounding me that I am able to feel the presence of God, hear the voice of God taking me in the direction I need to go this day, hearing the whispers of God telling me I am loved, I am forgiven.  The grace takes hold of me and strengthens my soul and energizes my spirit telling me to go forth into the world today and feed my sheep, seek out the lost, and offer grace and love to your neighbor.  Praise be to God.

Today was a joyous day in worship as we welcomed 7 new members into our wonderful church family.  Some old friends and some new, but either way it is wonderful to see our Still Speaking God active in the life of the church!   We had 71 in worship this morning, the children went for a hike around the sanctuary listening and looking for lions and tigers and bears, Oh My!,  and we welcomed all to the table in the Sacrament of Holy Communion. 

We will begin our journey through Lent this Wednesday evening with a combined Ash Wednesday service with Trinity United Methodist Church in Republic.  The service will begin at 7 p.m. at Republic UCC.  Rev. Hicks and I have a special service planned.  A short service of reflection.  A service in which we will be able to reflect on several aspects of Lent, breathing in the breath of God, letting go of those things that get between you and the Lord, and what the journey to the cross means to you.  We hope to see you on Wednesday.

Sunday, February 26th we will join together in fellowship with a potluck following worship and I will be showing pictures and talking about my trip to India.  Bring your favorite dish and join us for some fun and fellowship!

As I sit here in my home office, or the "Pastor's Cave" as my husband lovingly refers to it, away from the noise of the TV and the arguing and discussion of politics, away from the noise of the running dishwasher and the barking dog...my mind has been given a time of silence.  And in the silence I enter my Sacred Space of reflection and my "me time" with God.  I encourage everyone to enter that Sacred Space and have some "me time", time with just you and the Lord.  It's a time when we are able to let God know how we really are today.  A time to share your feelings, let go of your concerns and welcome the presence of a loving God who loves us unconditionally.  As if Jesus is standing right beside us, it is a time to enter into a one-on-one conversation and say whatever is on our mind and in our hearts.

Find your Sacred Space......have some "me time" with God today.

 

I have returned on January 12th from a 17 day trip that has forever changed my life.  My trip to India was amazing, heart wrenching, exciting, enlightening, and spirit filled.  I worshiped our Lord and Savior together with the people of Tamil Nadu, fed wild monkeys, visited Buddhist temples and ancient ruins, discussed and compared the spiritual life of both the US and the villages of India with a dozen or so Pastors who individually serve anywhere from 5 to 18 villages each week, rode in an auto rickshaw, was brought to tears when I visited with amazing ladies who run a women's shelter for women who are victims of sexual or physical abuse, single mothers or widowed wives who have nowhere else to turn to, listened to lectures by professors of Tamil Nadu Seminary about the culture and Christian lives of the people of India, witnessed both the poverty stricken people and the wealthy of India, enjoyed the hospitality and kindness that was shown to us by the many people we encountered and who truly embrace the phrase "We Are The Church".  It will be weeks or months before I can unpack all of this in my mind and thoughts and as I do so, I would love nothing more than to share my experiences with you.  

I will be posting some pictures on the multimedia page of this website of my trip and will be putting together a program to discuss my trip with all of you in the next month or so.  Until then, know that I am forever grateful for this experience, I missed you all while I was gone, and am glad to be home to my family and church family.  May God bless you this day.

Pasto

In six hours I will be boarding a plane in Columbus and flying off to India for the next 17 days.  I must admit I am a bit nervous since I have not been on a plane since 1986 and have never travelled out of the country.  But my plan is to put my worries in my "God box", embrace every experience,and look to how God is speaking to me on every leg of the journey.  I will so miss you all and will keep you in my prayers as I do every day.  I love you and will have many exciting stories and pictures when I return on the 12th of January.  Take care of each other and may you have a happy and safe New Year.  In the meantime....the video below tells it all!

Pastor Darla

It has been awhile since I have posted a blog and I do apologize for that!  My schooling has finally come to an end this semester and it has been a hub of activity at the church this month! 

The Rebecca Circle decorated for the season with the Hanging of the Greens, families have been lighting the Advent candles each Sunday, the children put on a WONDERFUL Christmas pageant, we had a 90th birthday celebration this month and we blessed the hats, gloves, scarves, and socks everyone so lovingly donated for those in need. 

Saturday will be the candlelight Christmas Eve service with communion and Sunday we celebrate the birth of Christ at 10 a.m. in worship together. 

On December 26th at 12:20 p.m. I will be on board a plane heading for India for 17 days.  Where has the time gone.  It seems like just yesterday I began this wonderful journey at Republic UCC with all of you.

I would like to say a special heartfelt thank you for the wonderful Christmas gift the congregation presented to me last Sunday.  It with humble thanks and tremendous love for all of you that I say Thank You!  I will miss you all while I am gone but I know you will be well taken care of in my absence.  I will have lots of stories and pictures to share with everyone upon my return. 

May God bless each and everyone one of you.  Enjoy your Christmas and New Year.  I will be celebrating the New Year in India but will be thinking and praying for all of you as I do each day.

Peace and Blessings,
Pastor Darla

One of my favorite videos.  Something to think about as we go into the busy times of the holiday season.  Let me know your thoughts.

What a wonderful Community Thanksgiving service last night!  Pastor Luigi Perez from Bloomville Methodist Church delivered an inspiring message reminding us that every day is a day for Thanksgiving to God because every day the Lord is with us in both our times of joy and our times of sorrow.....the Lord is with us  How true those words are!  So in the spirit of living out Pastor Perez's message, I give thanks.  Today I am thankful for the call to Ministry the Lord has blessed me with and I am thankful for the opportunity to be the Pastor of such a wonderful community of faith at Republic UCC.  I am thankful I am able to be by my husband's side each day, I am thankful for my family and I am thankful for the blessings of food and shelter.  I am also thankful that, although it is never enough, I am able in some way to give to others. 

May you all have a very blessed Thanksgiving and may the peace and love of Christ be with you all.

Pastor Darla