Last Saturday I officiated a memorial service and a burial for a person who was raised in our church. It was an odd situation for a number of reasons, but I shared with them a benediction you may have also heard me share at other memorials. “Do not hurry as you walk with grief. It…

The rootedness of God’s church Most of you have heard the news that Pastor Karen has accepted a new call, and will be finishing her ministry here on November 30th.  I (Pastor Nick) have very willingly agreed to stay on until an interim/transitional pastor is found or until the summer.  I know all of us…

What causes someone to start attending church A church vitality organization recently did a survey of people who started attending church after not being a church attender.  Here is the results: So what should be the take-away?  Most people who start attending church do so because they were invited and had a spiritual desire or…

Dear OCC, Happy Fall! Fall is one of my favorite seasons. I love wearing sweaters. I love that the kids are back at school. This is Jake’s first season playing soccer and he’s actually really good at it, so that has been a blast for me! This morning my devotions reminded me of one of…

Have you noticed the murals? Dear Church, I have a growing passion for murals. Every time I drive to church, I pass the mural near the bridge into Ludlow on Iglesias De Dios Nuevos Conienzos (New Beginnings Church of God).   And now, when I lead worship, I gaze upon the mural painted across the front…

A note about Worship and Worship changes for this fall OCC family and friends, As we look towards the fall and kicking it off with a series about establishing roots in Jesus – whether new to the faith or long-timer,  I (Pastor Nick) have been pondering the challenges we face as a diverse worshipping community. …

What is Labor Day and why is it celebrated in the U.S.? Labor Day was this past Monday.  According to the history channel website, “Labor Day [is] an annual celebration of workers and their achievements, originated during one of American labor history’s most dismal chapters. In the late 1800s, at the height of the Industrial Revolution in the…

Greetings Orchard! I hope this email finds you well! In just two weeks, we will launch again our program year here at Orchard Cov. There is much to do! But don’t worry, it will get sorted out! I have people and school on my heart today. Our boys, Ben and Sam head back to school…

Back to Church Sunday… Who’s coming? Mission friends,  as we have returned back from our last summer vacation hurrah before Fall comes,  it reminds me that September 15th is the official Back to Church Sunday,  it is also the start of Sunday School, and our return to 11am service time. It is a great time…

Greetings OCC! I hope the e-news finds you well and soaking in the last weeks of summer. Our summer has been amazing so far but also been a little too busy. It’s probably not a surprise, if you know me, to hear that when I get busy, I start losing things. It all started when…