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Thank you for subscribing! Last month I was once again a pastor on the road, and this time to officiate a wedding in the beautiful city of Como.
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The bride and groom are friends that I led through premarital counseling, and it was such a privilege to celebrate with them as they entered a new chapter of life. It was also a joy to see a long-held dream come pass, for on my last day in Como I got to attend a Waldensian Church service.
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The Waldensians are a spiritual moment that started before the Reformation, and overtime they became a part of the Reformed Protestant tradition. Since learning about them in college I have always wanted to worship with them. So, the service in Como was a dream come true, and it was very fitting for a Pentecost Sunday.
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During the sermon, the Rev. Anne Zell said that the Spirit's coming in Acts was more than a miraculous event. It was the fulfillment of dreams that went back for centuries for a new chapter in humanity's life with God and one another. A life of close communion without sacred and social barriers. A fellowship where God is in people and people are no longer in conflict.
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Before the benediction, Rev. Zell pointed out that Pentecost is not just a past event. It is a present reality that can be experienced in the here and now everyday. In addition to the Waldensian service, which had people from various nations, I encountered this powerful reality while officiating my friends' wedding. Guests had come from around the world to support them with love, and to celebrate together with feasting and dancing in a host of great differences.
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Both gatherings in Como were a continuation of what the first Christians experienced in Acts. The opening of a new chapter of life with God and other people. I pray that you would also know the joys of this new chapter, and that you would be encouraged by my latest articles which are included in this newsletter.
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Again, many thanks for subscribing, and I wish you a Happy Pentecost!
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Fit Pastors: Building A New Culture of Ministry
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Among Churches there is an unhealthy culture that leads pastors to walk away from ministry. In the wake of the Pandemic, where clergy are leaving in great numbers, a new culture of ministry is emerging that is focused on health and healing.
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Noumuso: Documentary Debut
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At the 2023 Afropfingsten Festival in Winterthur, a documentary film about the band I take part was debuted.
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Good Neighbor: A Tribute to Timothy Keller
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On May 19, 2023 the Rev. Dr. Timothy Keller went to be with the Lord. Here are some of my thoughts in light of his passing.
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Bittersweet - The Medicine of Ownership
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Like the Mary Poppins song, "A Spoonful of Sugar", ownership is a medicine that needs help to go down. There are challenges that often make it hard to swallow, and benefits for those who choose to take it anyway.
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