Rev. Dr. Carter Lester

These past two weeks, I have switched the lectionary and order of two passages in Luke 4 – for reasons that I think will be clearer later. Last week, we focused on the reactions to Jesus’ first sermon in his home-town synagogue. This week we will focus on the sermon itself. Perhaps, in the terminology […]

One of my favorite moments on any given Sunday is the chance to greet people at the end of the service: to literally “press flesh” and touch base with people in person with people.  Even that brief interaction always does my spirits good.  And, it was one of the things I missed most when we […]

As Christmas approaches, what are you dreaming of? I remember two young boys a few years ago in Pottstown. They were dreaming of having bikes. You can understand that can’t you? It is hard to be young and restless and full of energy and not have wheels. So much can happen on the seat of […]

This morning, as we turn our hearts and minds to Thanksgiving, we have two texts written under dramatically different circumstances.  The first text comes from Deuteronomy and is part of a sermon Moses delivered to the Israelites as they stand at the threshold of the Promised Land.  Earlier Moses reminded the people of their time […]

A young man was searching for the secret of wisdom, and heard that there was a guru high in the Himalayas who knew he secret. So, he set off to find the guru, going through much hardship and travail until finally, high in the mountains, he found the Master sitting in the lotus posture. “Tell […]

Kerry was having what she thought would be a routine premarital conversation with a young couple, when it took an unexpected turn, moving suddenly from logistics to theology and Presbyterian history.  Kerry was asking a series of questions in preparation for the service in the sanctuary.  Will there be bridesmaids and grooms?  If so, how […]

Today, we continue our Fall preaching series on the Fruits of the Spirit, the marks of being a Christian. Courage, Peace, Temperance and Self-control, Patience, and Justice lie behind us. Hospitality, Humility, Wisdom, and Gratitude lie ahead of us. During this election season, I have thought what if we were to take this list into […]