Rev. Dr. Carter Lester

Dear Friends in Christ: Election seasons can be hard for churches, especially for “purple” congregations such as FPCA.  While we always have different experiences, different perspectives, and different ideas, in election seasons, those differences can loom much larger.  We find it harder to navigate those differences when political consultants are doing their best to elevate our anxiety and anger, […]

Dear Friends in Christ: “What do you want to be when you grow up?”  How many times were we asked that question as children and how many times have we ourselves asked that question of other children – expecting an answer about professions like doctor, astronaut, dance, etc.?  But what a misleading question that is when you […]

Dear Friends in Christ: Have you discovered the Merlin app?  Developed by the Cornell Ornithology Lab, it takes birdwatching for inexperienced bird watchers like myself to a whole new level!  You can identify birds the traditional way (but enhanced by software) by taking a picture and having the app identify the bird.  But my favorite […]

Dear Friends in Christ: “O Lord, how manifold are your works!In wisdom you have made them all;the earth is full of your creatures…Bless the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord!–Psalm 104 Next Thursday, we will be doing that: praising God in our outdoor Caring for Creation service. The service will be simple but meaningful […]

Dear Friends in Christ: I hope your summer has been a good one as we enter August!  This week, I want to briefly highlight four aspects of church life unfolding this summer. First, as was shared in previous eblasts and at the “World Café” gathering on Saturday, June 1 at the church, a special Building and Grounds […]

Dear Friends in Christ: In last week’s eblast pastoral message, I wrote about the patriotism reflected in Kathryn Lee Bates’ poem, “O Beautiful for Spacious Skies,” which we sang this past Sunday.  This week, I want to write about another kind of patriotism, not beautiful but ugly, a dark and virulent strain of patriotism called Christian Nationalism.  It is […]

Dear Friends in Christ: O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain,for purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain!America! America! God shed his grace on thee,and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea. O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife,Who more than self their country loved, and mercy more […]