By the Rev. Joe Tagliaferre
April 29th of this year, I woke up early in the morning at my home in Jefferson City Missouri where I have been living for a couple years and have begun to take root. I was happily driving coach bus after having been a pastor for 40 years. Was I retired from ministry? Maybe? But God had other plans.

That morning at 7:33 CT I received the following message on Facebook messenger from Jill Fandrich at Westminster: “Hi Joe, I am reaching out to see if you are still doing any temporary/bridge/transitional pastor work in the summers when you are not driving teams around. And if so, would you be interested in talking to us about spending some time in Auburn as a temporary pastor while we continue to search for an installed pastor. I know that kind of comes out of the blue but I saw you were doing some temporary church work in previous summers in the Midwest.” 

Thanks Jill. So after I recovered this message from Jill a question came to mind. I asked, “Why me?” But not in the mindset of, “Woe is me, why me?”  Not “Why in the world would God send me to Auburn, NY?”  I actually lived in Auburn for a few years seventeen years ago.

It was more like, “God are you really going to do this good thing for me? Why me?What did I do to deserve something good?” You see, I planned on spending my summers in New York two years from now when I retire. My son and his family live in Rochester NY and I have grandchildren to spoil. And the added bonus is that I love bass fishing, and started tournament fishing when I was here seventeen years ago. So, bass fishing has been on the agenda as well. How did God know that?    

I ask that question tongue in cheek, because I believe God is all knowing. The older I get, the more I realize that I cannot predict Gods plan for my life. I try, and I whine when it does not go my way, but God’s plan always is the best plan!
For me, returning to Auburn, is like Groundhog Day! I’m reliving past experiences.  I’ve already tapped into some of my previous joys. Besides connecting with some old friends, I’ve been pleased to note that Reese’s Dairy is still open and still has my favorite cone, the Creansicle Twist.

I can still find fresh fruit at Morgan Half Acre Produce (and some really good Zucchini Bread). And I’ve also found some new things.  Heart and Hand Pie Shop and Bakery will be a new regular stop!
I have to admit returning to Auburn is like living a part of my life all over again, not unlike what happens in the movie, Groundhog Day.  The only difference is that it’s a much more pleasant experience for me! I am enjoying my return to Auburn, many things have not changed, and some have.

All in all, it’s a pleasant experience to be back and a blessing to join in the ministry of Westminster Presbyterian Church as their temporary pastor. Plus, being close to the family and good bass fishing are true bonuses! God’s plans often exceed our hopes and expectations! He knows! God is good! 

The Rev. Joe Tagliaferre is the Temporary Pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church, providing pastoral leadership while the church searches for a permanent pastor. Joe has a BS from Geneva College, an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh, and a M.Div from Pittsburgh Seminary. He has served 12 churches in an interim position as well as other churches in other capacities in his 40 year career as a pastor. In between churches, Joe drives coach buses for college sports teams in the midwest! 

by Jill Fandrich

​We’ve built a Prayground at Westminster!
 
No, that’s not a typo. We’ve added a new family-friendly space in our sanctuary where children and families can worship together comfortably. It has child-size seating and tables, with quiet activities that relate to the worship service.
 
The Prayground is located near the front of the sanctuary on the side aisle. It’s intentionally placed near the front so that children can see and hear what is happening on the chancel. There was a fair amount of discussion over where the Prayground should be built. We decided against the traditional notion that kids should sit in back where they’re less of a distraction. We wanted the kids up front so that they’d be part of the congregation, able to see and hear what’s going on.  
 
Although we’d love to take credit for the idea, Praygrounds have been popping up in churches for a few years now. They became especially popular post-Covid, when traditional Sunday School classes all but disappeared. Praygrounds recognize that children belong in worship and that they learn best by involving them in worship alongside their families and their church family.
 
Praygrounds also show that when we say “We welcome everyone” that we mean it! All churches say they are welcoming, but the worship hour (especially the sermon) can be a challenge for wiggly children and bored teens (and also for their parents). Rather than resort to bringing a book or tablet to distract children, Praygrounds help engage children in worship. Parents (or grandparents or caregivers) sit with their children rather than send them to another room. By worshiping together, children learn to follow the bulletin, find hymns in the hymnal, say the responses, and participate in the sacraments. The Prayground provides some additional resources to help, such as age-appropriate bibles and lectionary-related bulletins, which help children tune in and get more out of the service.
 
We built our Prayground by taking out some of the pews along the north wall of our sanctuary. It was a joint project by members of the Christian Education, Worship, and Property Committees. After installing new carpet, we brought in some adjustable height tables which we already had from our former nursery school. One is low enough for very young children and the other can be raised for bigger kids. We included some pews and chairs for adults to sit in, so that families can be together in the Prayground space.
 
Next step was the fun part—adding the resources! We already had a lot of the materials for children which we had kept on bookshelves in the back of sanctuary—Bible picture books for young children, Bibles for youth with larger print and study helps (there’s even a graphic novel format Bible!), large print hymnals, activity books of Bible stories, coloring sheets, crayons, colored pencils, manipulatives (pipe cleaners, finger labyrinths, prayer beads), and some quiet games and puzzles to learn books of the Bible and the Lord’s Prayer. We also subscribe to a series of children’s bulletins which correlate to the lectionary readings. We’re adding some new resources, like Tangrams, and water paint books, and sermon notes worksheets.
 
We were able to create the Prayground at minimal cost, using furniture and resources we had on hand. Most of the furnishings were from the former Westminster Nursery School which closed in 2018. It is good to see these items back in use with a new generation of kids! We also received a generous $2000 grant from the Presbytery of Cayuga-Syracuse to help with the costs of new carpet and resources.
 
We opened the Prayground on June 16, just in time for the summer months when we put some of our other educational programs on hold. We blessed the new Prayground on Baccalaureate and Christian Ed Celebration Sunday, and it was well received by kids, parents, and congregation members alike!
 
We continue to offer other options for children too, including the nursery, the Children’s Worship Center, and intergenerational activities, like a recent Lego build where kids interpreted the Exodus story with Legos. The Prayground is a new option for families who want to worship together with their children in the sanctuary, helping us answer Jesus’ call to “Let the children come!”

​by Shelley Pantoliano
            What comes to mind when you hear the word "ordinary"? Something routine? Something unimpressive? A day that passes without anything new or different happening?
            In the church liturgical year, we are currently in the season of Ordinary Time.  What does that mean? It's a different kind of season than the rest of the liturgical year.  During the season of Advent, we look forward to the celebration of Christ's birth and all the events that take place during that season: greening of the church, lighting of the Advent candles each week, singing beloved Christmas hymns, a candlelight service with lit candles in a darkened church.
            Lent is an important season that follows Advent and Epiphany, and is a time when we focus on our relationship with God. We eagerly prepare for the joy of the resurrection on Easter and the church is filled with fragrant spring flowers and joyful hymns celebrating the Risen Christ.
            But Ordinary Time is a season in the church when there are no celebrations like Christmas and Easter.
            So what is Ordinary Time? Rev. Kathleen Log Bostrom, a Presbyterian USA pastor, explains Ordinary Time in this way:  "Ordinary Time comprises all the days not marked by a specific season. It stretches on for 27 to 29 Sundays...or 33 to 34 partial weeks depending on how early or late Easter falls on the calendar and whether the year has 52 or 53 weeks. There is something about the word 'ordinary' that fits.  Not in the sense of dull or boring, but as an 'in-between' season."
            So the word "ordinary" actually fits this time of the liturgical year, but it is not a time that is routine or common. It's a time to step back and rest in a season that offers a glimpse of our faith when we are not caught up in the whirlwind of seasons like Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter.
            The scriptures used during this time point us to the theme of Ordinary Time. The readings describe Jesus' day to day life: his travels with his disciples, his times of teaching, his interacting with those on the fringes of society. Jesus' first miracle was performed (reluctantly on his part) at a wedding where he was enjoying the festivities with his mother and other guests.
            Ordinary Time is when we become aware of how our faith is woven into the very fabric of our everyday lives: time spent with family and good friends, enjoying the outdoors while gardening or taking walks, following daily routines that give us a sense of consistency and balance.
            As we go about our daily lives, we are given opportunities to live out our faith doing things as simple as helping your neighbor carry groceries into their house, offering a kind word to someone who looks as if they're struggling, calling a friend who is still grieving a loss.
            This spring, I had the opportunity to experience what could have been considered an "ordinary" moment, but instead has become a daily event that gladdens my spirit. We all become aware of the birds returning in the spring, but that may seem ordinary because it happens every year and it's not new or exciting.
            But one morning, I noticed a robin perched on the railing of our deck. Though we frequently have birds in our yard, I had never seen one on our deck. He started coming back every morning, perched on our deck, singing his sweet melody. A robin, an ordinary bird, has become a symbol of joy for me, a reminder of God's creation all around me.
            Are there ordinary things in your life that could take on deeper meaning? Maybe the conversation you have with your child as you drive them home from school could become a time of deeper listening and sharing. Washing dishes after a meal while the rest of your family is preoccupied with other activities becomes an opportunity to pray for the concerns on your heart.
            When I was growing up, there was plaque over the kitchen sink with a poem on it by Klara Munkres titled "The Kitchen Prayer".  This is part of that poem:
Lord of all pots and pans and things,
since I've not time to be
A saint by doing lovely things
or watching late with Thee
Or dreaming in the dawn light
or storming Heaven's gates
Make me a saint by getting meals
and washing up the plates.
 
I read this poem often as I washed the dishes (grudgingly at times). It speaks of how even the daily, ordinary events in our lives can be times to reflect on the presence of God in those things that we might consider ordinary.
            My friends, where in your daily lives can you find the presence of God? What small, seemingly ordinary things can open your heart and spirit to a God who walks with us every moment?  May every day bring you awareness of the holy, even in those things that may seem ordinary, but are truly far from ordinary.

by Jill Fandrich

Sunday, May 19, is Pentecost, the end of the season of Easter which began this year on March 31. Eastertide lasts 50 days, during which liturgical readings and music recall the stories of the risen Jesus. The season of Easter celebrates the promise of resurrection.
 
The season of Easter comes to an end on Pentecost, an end which is actually another beginning. The bible tells us that after appearing to his disciples in the weeks following his resurrection, the risen Jesus ascended directly to heaven, leaving the disciples once again facing the loss of their leader. They were afraid and unsure of what the future would bring. They gathered in locked rooms, awaiting the “helper” that Jesus promised them would come. Pentecost celebrates the arrival of that helper-- the Holy Spirit.
 
Pentecost is sometimes called the birthday of the Christian Church, because it marks the time when Jesus’ disciples went from being a ragtag group of followers to leaders in their own right who would bring God’s message to others.
 
The story of Pentecost is found in the second chapter of the New Testament Book of Acts. The apostles were gathered in a room in Jerusalem in the days following Jesus' ascension, confused and frightened about their future. The story says that as they were gathered, a great wind filled the room, flames rested above their heads, and they began speaking in other languages. But even though they spoke in many languages, everyone could understand each other. The wind and flames represented the coming of the Holy Spirit, and the speaking in “tongues” the power of God to be experienced and heard by all.
 
The mighty rush of wind, the flames, and the speaking in tongues drew a large crowd, many of whom were travelers in Jerusalem for a Jewish festival. The story says that people were amazed that they could all understand the apostles, no matter what language they were speaking. But some mocked the apostles, saying they were drunk, or as the King James Bible says, “full of new wine.” The Apostle Peter defends the apostles saying, in effect, “We’re not drunk. It’s only 9:00 in the morning!”
 
The story relates that 3000 people received the spirit and were baptized that day. The term “Christian” was not used at that time, but it was actually the beginning of the Christian church. The early church grew to include people from many cultures. They worked together to support each other, shared their belongings, took care of the poor and weak, and used their gifts and talents to be the body of Christ in a world in which Jesus no longer existed in bodily form. They were “filled with the Holy Spirit” so that God was still among them in a new way.
 
My church celebrates Pentecost every year, and it is a day of celebration. Red is the color of Pentecost, so worshipers wear red clothes and the sanctuary is decorated with red paraments, red flowers, and red streamers. Sometimes we hand out balloons or pinwheels to represent the wind, or children make red crowns to represent the flames that appeared over the apostles’ heads. Some churches have a big birthday cake to celebrate the “birthday of the church.”
 
This year on Pentecost, we will have a special guest in worship. Aliona Abramova, a citizen of Ukraine who has been living in Auburn for two years, will lead the Lord's Prayer in Ukrainian during the service, and after worship, will offer her perspective on life and traditions in Ukraine and the war which has been raging for over two years. She escaped from her home country but her husband remains there. Aliona’s presence at Westminster on Pentecost Sunday is a reminder that God is present in many lands and cultures and languages.
 
Pentecost is a favorite church holiday for me. Christians understand God in three different ways—God as Creator, Jesus as God incarnate, and the Holy Spirit as an unseeable, but real, presence. Our trinitarian understanding of God gives us three ways to express how God interacts with humankind. I resonate with all three, but the Holy Spirit is how I best understand God-- an unseen, mysterious, and powerful presence.
 
We invite you to celebrate Pentecost at Westminster on May 19 at 9:30am!

Jill Fandrich is a Ruling Elder at Westminster, who also coordinates the church's communications (website, social media, newsletter, etc). She is currently co-chairing the Pastor Nominating Committee, which is seeking a new installed pastor at the church. 
 

by the Rev. Dr. Pamela Masten

Look around. Spring is here! The daffodils are poking up their heads! The days are getting longer! Yes, we made it to spring, and with that came Easter. Though Christians celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ on March 31, Easter is not just a day, it’s a season. Your chocolate eggs may be gone, you’ve had enough ham sandwiches to last for another year, and you feel like you celebrated Easter, but Easter isn’t over!

In western Christianity, Eastertide, or the Easter season, begins on Easter Sunday and lasts seven weeks, ending with the coming of the 50th day, Pentecost Sunday (the celebration of the gift of the Spirit to the body of Christ — the church). In our church we celebrated Easter with lilies and tulips, a beautiful choir and special music, an Easter egg hunt for the children and, of course, the good news that Christ is risen, indeed! Though we reflected on what the earliest followers of Jesus saw that first Easter morning, a 20-minute message does not seem adequate in order to understand what it means for us and all of creation. Hence, an Easter season may be exactly what is needed to grapple with the meaning of the resurrection of Jesus.

I love Easter, and I love the traditions that go with it. I still remember my uncle bringing baby chicks to our kitchen for my siblings and me on Easter morning! The older I get, the more I want to wrestle with the idea that death has been swallowed up in victory, and how the Resurrection gives us new birth into a living hope; I’m grateful that the church gives us time to rejoice and experience what we mean when we say, "Christ is risen." It’s a season for focusing on what we believe and how we live out our faith, and for preparing for what’s next. My time in Auburn has provided me space to reflect on the goodness of life and also remembering the joy of life to come. Signs of spring will do that, as bright yellow daffodils pop up out of nowhere, after days of clouds and gray skies. And who doesn’t look forward to spotting a robin on their lawn as a welcome sign of spring?

On Monday, April 8, in Auburn, we were fortunate to be on the path of a total solar eclipse, the first one I have seen in my life, and for me, it is a reminder of the gift of life we have been given. Look at how families were planning to gather together to witness the handiwork of God, as we donned our eclipse glasses around town. Look how people were coming together as we encouraged wonder, celebrated community and educated people of all ages. Look how local businesses were working together, thereby strengthening community relationships. It's not coincidental that this year, the eclipse happened during Eastertide, as this year we weren’t able to miss seeing God at work on April 8!

Eastertide gives us a chance to grow deeper in our understanding of what the Resurrection means. What would happen if we become more aware of God’s goodness all around us, noticing the beautiful sunsets over Cayuga Lake, walking through a cemetery and thanking God for the saints gone before, hearing the sounds of children’s laughter, and sharing a homemade meal with old friends and new ones? What would happen if we ruminated on what’s really important in life? Do we need to make some changes in our life, work and relationships? Will you and I embrace the gift of life and pass it on to our neighbors in Cayuga County and beyond?

Happy Easter, friends! Eastertide is a time of new beginnings, new life and growth. I invite you to experience the richness of Eastertide by becoming present to the goodness and wonder of life abundant in and around our beautiful Cayuga County. How can these reminders help us to better live our lives to grow, learn and serve? 
​
The Rev. Dr. Pamela Masten, BCC, is temporary paster at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 17 William St., Auburn. For more information, visit westminsterauburn.org or call (315) 252-3331.

by Jill Fandrich
My church is in an “interim period” right now. Our last pastor left in June of 2023 for personal family reasons. Since he left, Westminster has been without consistent pastoral leadership while we conduct a search for a new pastor. Here’s how it’s going, in true Presbyterian manner.
 
In some denominations (Roman Catholic and Methodist, among others), clergy are assigned to churches by a bishop or some other ecclesiastical authority. Presbyterians, however, are not hierarchical, so they search for and hire their own pastors. But Presbyterians are connectional, meaning they are not stand-alone churches whose congregations make decisions independently. Presbyterians are sort of a middle ground.  They follow denominational process which guides how they do their work but not what decisions are made. Conducting a pastoral search is one those processes.
 
Here's how it works. Last summer, Westminster elected a Pastor Nominating Committee, which we refer to as the PNC. Our PNC is comprised of 9 members who reflect the congregation at large. A few of us are long-term members who were raised Presbyterian. Most are newer members who were raised in other denominations or perhaps none at all. We represent a wide age range, from 16 years old to 70-something. A few are young parents. Three of us are retired, but most work full time. We are a pretty accurate reflection of our membership. What we share is a love of Westminster, a willingness to listen for God’s voice, and a sincere desire to seek a pastoral leader who will walk with our congregation in the next few years of our lives together.
 
We meet weekly, which is a huge commitment, but everyone takes the responsibility seriously. We spent the first couple months studying our church’s Mission Study which lays out the priorities and vision of the church. We base our search on this study, not on our individual preferences. We used the Mission Study to prepare our Ministry Discernment Profile or “MDP.” The MDP is the equivalent of the church’s resume.
 
The Presbyterian denomination has a matching site called the Church Leadership Connection, which matches churches looking for pastors with pastors looking for churches. It’s like a big dating site, only for Presbyterian clergy and congregations. Our PNC reviews the matches made on the site, and invites applications from pastors who might be good matches with our congregation. As of the writing of this column, we’ve already looked at over 70 matches.
 
If the pastoral candidate accepts our invitation to apply, then we schedule an interview on Zoom. We listen to sample sermons and do other research on the candidates, which they do on us as well. Some candidates are invited for second interviews, and then eventually on-site visits.
 
All this work is done confidentially. The PNC can report to the congregation on what stage of the process we are in, but cannot reveal any details about who we are talking to or considering. The congregation must trust the PNC to do this important work for them.
 
When the PNC and a pastoral candidate feel called to a future together, conversations begin to work out the details of the pastoral relationship. When all is in order, the PNC recommends the candidate to the congregation. The candidate comes to Auburn to meet the congregation and lead worship, and a congregational meeting is held to vote on the candidate. The ultimate responsibility for calling a new pastor lies with the congregation.
 
If it sounds like this process takes a lot of time, it does! While we are without a called pastor, we have had excellent leadership from two gifted temporary pastors The Rev. Dr. Stacy Smith and the Rev. Dr. Pam Masten. We’ve also called on several local clergypersons and our own members for worship and pastoral leadership.
 
This is a challenging time to be looking for a new pastor—fewer pastors coming out of seminary, pastors leaving the ministry, churches closing, economic unrest, and high cost of housing. We are hopeful that the right person is out there for our church and that we are the right church for that person.
 
We learn a lot about ourselves as a church during an interim period. It’s a good reminder that the church is more than its pastor, and that its members are responsible for God’s work. Our church has moved forward through many changes over the years, and it will continue to do so.

Jill Fandrich is an Elder at Westminster, and is currently co-chairing the Pastor Nominating Committee during the Interim Period. 

by the Rev. Dr. Pam Masten

​On my first Sunday here in town (Jan. 7), I walked to the church through 8 inches of snow. You're already thinking: so what? For upstate New Yorkers, 8 inches is nothing to write home about, but for me, I took pictures, even a video, and sent it to family and friends in Florida, where I live.

The children of the church wanted to get to know me that first Sunday, and they asked me fun questions, like "What is your favorite food?" (soft ice cream) and, "What is your favorite team?" (Go Gators, sorry Syracuse Orange!). Then the children asked this innocent but timely question: "Pastor Pam, what is your favorite season?" and in that moment, I said "summer!"

But since we are in the middle of winter, I am doing my best to embrace it. Though I was born and raised in Cayuga County, living in Florida for most of my adult life has been quite different compared to my experience growing up here.

In upstate New York, there are many reasons to love all of the seasons. Oh, how I have missed leaf peeping season: the vivid yellows, oranges and reds that are but a memory. And I do miss the smell of spring. As a farmer's daughter, I recall the earthly scent that comes from the soil and has been turned for the first time in months — it revives us as we emerge from winter, even as golden daffodils announce the beginning of spring. And yes, summer is still my favorite season in the Finger Lakes region. The wet and muddy spring has dried up, leaving hiking trails ready for exploration. Summer is the perfect time to get out on the lakes, ride bikes and enjoy the beauty of nature (and eat some soft ice cream!).

During my time here, however, I must confess that I have enjoyed and embraced the beauty of nature, even in winter. There is something life-affirming about walking in the crisp winter air! Though it can be hard to place my feet on a cold floor as I emerge from the covers, in this season of winter, my soul has welcomed it, and on some level, even needed it.
Winter — not just a Florida winter (!) — affords us to rest, to listen, to eat warm things, to try something new, to care for the soul. It's a time to hunker down and listen to your heart, soul and spirit. Winter sets apart the time and invites all of us to do some much-needed soul work.
It's not coincidental that I will experience winter in upstate New York during Lent this year, something I have forgotten by living in the South. The season of Lent, in the Christian church, is a period of reflection and repentance in preparation for the celebration of the resurrection of the Lord at Easter. Lent (which is a period of 40 days) is a time for us to reflect on our lives, our behaviors, our strengths and our weaknesses (as painful as that can be). It's a time when we recall that we are mortal beings (cue "ashes to ashes, dust to dust"), and a reminder that we are all created in the image of God.
 
For sure, upstate New Yorkers know how to do winter, even in Lent. It's a gift to be able to listen, to reflect on what matters most, and to give thanks for our very many blessings. Walking through 8 inches of snow is no big deal, and I am grateful to be among my people. I am grateful to be serving a wonderful and welcoming congregation in Auburn during winter and the season of Lent. I am grateful to embrace winter with fresh eyes, and to learn and grow with others who take it all in stride. How wonderful it is to be back home again!

All are welcome to join us here at Westminster Presbyterian Church on the journey we call Lent, growing deeper in our relationship with God and others, and reaching wider as we serve the community and beyond.

The season of Lent began Feb. 14 with our Ash Wednesday worship service. Please also join us for a Lenten Soup and Study from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays, March 6, 13 and 20, and we will focus on "Reflections on the Psalms." Our Holy Week services are as follows:

• 9:30 a.m. Sunday, March 24: Palm Sunday worship and pancake social hour
• Noon Friday, March 29: Good Friday worship in chapel followed by light lunch
• 6:15 a.m. Sunday, March 31: Easter Sunday sunrise service at St. Joseph's Cemetery followed by worship at 9:30 a.m. at the church

Please come and bring a friend! In the meantime, let's embrace winter and Lent! And remember, spring is coming — friends, Easter is coming!

The Rev. Dr. Pamela Masten, BCC, is temporary paster at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 17 William St., Auburn. For more information, visit westminsterauburn.org or call (315) 252-3331.
 

By Jill Fandrich

A few short weeks ago, we celebrated the birth of Jesus.  Three weeks later in church we skip ahead about 30 years in Jesus’ life to the stories of his baptism and the beginning of his ministry and teachings. 
 
With the exception of one story in the Gospel of Luke about Jesus as a youth, there is very little in the bible about Jesus’ life between birth and adult. In the one story we have, Mary and Joseph go to the temple with Jesus and lose track of him for three days. When they finally find him, he is sitting with the priests, asking questions and learning about God.
 
So, Jesus goes from baby to man, with only reference to him as a precocious tween. But that one story gives us a picture of a youth with a voracious desire to learn about God and to ask questions about faith. In my experience working with youth at my church, it is a perfect illustration of faith development in children and youth. 
 
I’m old enough to have grown up attending a traditional Sunday School every Sunday morning. We memorized bible passages and catechisms and learned the stories in the Old and New Testaments. Our teachers were loving, faithful members of our church, usually older women who cared enough to share their faith with children and youth. 
 
When I joined Westminster Church in Auburn and became active in the church, I became one of those “older women” who taught Sunday School, especially when I had children of my own. I’ve taught all ages-- young children, middle school, teens, and adults. Unlike my childhood lessons, the classes I’ve taught were more about learning the foundational bible stories and applying them to our lives. Westminster is a church that “values questions as much as answers” and we try to nurture a culture which allows people to wrestle with faith within a supportive community. The most valuable aspects of Christian Education are building relationships rather than imparting knowledge.
 
Times have changed, and so has Christian Education. Regular church attendance has declined, and if it happens at all, it is intermittent rather than weekly. Covid shutdowns severely impacted Christian Education programs for many churches. While worship thrived online, children’s ministries struggled. Some families that were coming to church pre-Covid have not returned, while new families are discovering church to be important, providing a loving, supportive community during changing and turbulent times. 
 
As a result, our congregation has changed. Denominational loyalty is not as important as it once was. Most of the newer members to our church did not grow up attending church, or they grew up in denominations other than Presbyterian. It is wonderful to welcome new people to our faith community, but it can’t be assumed that people “know the basics” that were commonplace in years gone by. 
 
At Westminster, we are investing new energy into Christian Education and faith formation. We have a thriving Children’s Worship Center, which provides an age-appropriate worship experience for young children ages 3 years to 2nd grade. The Children’s Worship Center presents the Old and New Testament stories using wooden figures which help the children experience the stories in new ways. They learn to pray and to respond to the stories using art and sensory materials. Our Children’s Worship Center has been an important and cherished part of our ministry for over 20 years. 
 
This year we have also introduced a new class for children in grades 3-6. Called “Worship & Wonder,” it introduces the children to the Old and New Testament stories as well as to why and how we worship. We have an enthusiastic and animated group of kids who participate in this class under the direction of a team of teachers. 
 
Youth-- kids in grades 7-12-- gather for monthly Youth Nights with our new Children and Youth Ministry Director Noel Cregg. Noel is planning a variety of fun activities, which always have a faith component, on the third Sunday afternoon of each month. Youth are also regular participants in worship leadership, singing in choir, serving as liturgists, and sharing special music. 
 
And because faith formation is a life-long endeavor, adults also gather for forums, special series, bible studies, and discussions. 
 
Just as the boy Jesus sat with the priests to hear lessons and ask questions, so we do too. Our faith is formed through continual, active engagement to discern what we believe. 

by Shelley Pantoliano

It is that time of the year when the cold and snow keeps us inside, when the darkness closes in by the time we are sitting down to dinner.  It is the time of year that can be difficult for many because it seems as if, even when the sun is shining, we are in a season of little light.
 
We are also in the season of the church called Advent.  The word "Advent" (from the Latin "Adventus") can have three related meanings.  It can mean "arrival," it can mean "presence," and it can mean "coming, on the way." For Christians, the liturgical season of Advent means all three. We are preparing for the birth of Jesus who brought the light of hope and joy into our dark, struggling world.
 
It is also a good time to reflect on Mary, the mother of Jesus.  She was a young girl whose life path was already set before her.  She was engaged to marry Joseph.  She would be a wife and a mother.  Then one night, she experienced a vision of the angel Gabriel, who told her that her life would take a very different path, a path that, even as the mother of the Messiah, would be fraught with heartache.
 
 This message, which was one of joy, also brought difficulty into Mary's life: she was pregnant out of wedlock. At first, Joseph considering ending their engagement. She must have been ostracized by others because of her pregnancy. Mary endured a trip to Bethlehem well along in her pregnancy, and ended up giving birth in a dark cave among animals.  She must have been exhausted and scared.  She must have been thinking, "What now?"  Things must have seemed very dark indeed.
             
I'm sharing with you today a poem I wrote titled "What Now?"  I wrote it after reflecting on what Mary might have been feeling like after all these things had happened to her, and her future seemed confused and dim.
 
What Now?
It has come true.
The baby has come.
In the blur of traveling,
seeking a place to stay,
the pain of labor,
the child has come.
What now?
 
The noise in the streets seems distant.
the soft bleating of the sheep
soothes my anxiety and exhaustion.
The child sleeps peacefully but I cannot.
I struggle to remember the angel's words
of prophecy about the coming of the Son of God.
What now?
 
Joseph comforts me,
wraps a blanket around me,
and we are both silent
as we look upon the face of our son,
yet truly God's son.
The days ahead are uncertain.
What path will our son's life take?
How can we best guide him?
What now?
 
There is only one thing:
Trusting God to show us the way,
knowing that God's plan is the perfect plan.
What now?
Know with certainty that we are not alone
on the journey we will travel.
Emmanuel.  God with us.
The light of the world!
 
At Westminster Presbyterian Church, we light a candle in an Advent wreath each Sunday. The candles represent things such as hope, love, joy, and peace. Each time we light a candle, we add a little more brightness, a little more joy, a little more hope to our Advent journey. On Christmas Eve, when we pass the light from our lit candle to the unlit candle of the person next to us, we are offering each other the promise that we never walk alone in the darkness of our world.  We are walking with God and with one another.
 
Where can you find light in your world this season of Advent and throughout the year? In the love of family? Spending time chatting with friends over a cup of coffee? Walking through the park after a fresh snow fall?  In writing, music, art?  In serving others by volunteering? In a faith community that guides you on a journey of spiritual growth? God is present in all of these things.
            
Where will you find light this Advent and Christmas season, a season that celebrates a great love that entered our world through Jesus, the incarnation of God among us? 
            
Even the smallest of lights brings us the assurance that Emmanuel - God with us - is with us always.
 
Shelley Pantoliano, a retired pastor, is a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church. She is married and has 2 children and 3 grandchildren. She enjoys writing poetry, playing the piano, and reading. 

​By the Rev. Dr. Stacy Smith

If your family is anything like mine, and you’re still elbow-deep in
Thanksgiving leftovers right about now, you may be related to an
“overcooker.” This is my new word for people who habitually prepare
way too much food for any given meal, and Thanksgiving is when the
overcookers really get to shine. My father is a notorious
“overcooker;” one Thanksgiving he made eight pans of dressing, and
there were only three of us! My husband was similar as his rule at
Thanksgiving was always “everyone gets their own dessert.” You were
free to sample all the desserts, but according to Kevin if there were
eight people at dinner, you needed at least eight different desserts.
So if, like me, you are still putting together turkey-roll sandwiches
with a layer of cranberry sauce on the Saturday after Thanksgiving,
you too may be related to an overcooker – or be one yourself!

In preparation for Thanksgiving, we at Westminster Presbyterian Church
have been studying the when, how and with whom Jesus eats, and I’ve
come away with two realizations. First, Jesus loved to eat. He is
constantly at dinner parties and he doesn’t much seem to mind who’s
hosting – the rich Pharisees, the low-down tax collectors, or the
simple home of Mary and Martha are all good locations for a big meal.

And yet for all the meals Jesus shares, and all those he welcomes to
the table, I’ve realized something else: in all the Gospel stories,
Jesus never cooks! He doesn’t put out a big spread himself, or ever
throw a dinner party with the “least of these” as welcome guests.
Instead, Jesus seems to cook at about the same frequency that I do –
which is to say, NEVER.

There are two passages in scripture which might seem to contradict
this idea. The first is a passage in John which indicates that Jesus
might have cooked a little breakfast, but it’s not totally clear that
he did the actual preparation. Rather, he seems to have fed the
disciples a little fish and bread, probably with food he found in the
cupboard or prepared by someone else.

But the second passage where it seems that Jesus did do a LOT of
cooking is the famous story of the feeding of the five thousand – or
the four thousand, or the five thousand men plus women and children,
all of which are listed in the Gospel accounts of this story. It’s one
of the few tales that is retold in all four Gospels, and it’s so
impactful, it’s even mentioned twice in both Matthew and Mark! But in
the Gospel of Luke, this miracle sits center stage, because it’s this
miracle that convinces Peter and the other disciples that Jesus is the
Messiah. Even after witnessing multiple healings and raising someone
from the dead, it’s the feeding of thousands of people with only a few
loaves and fish that finally opens the disciples’ eyes to who Jesus
really is.

And yet again, Jesus doesn’t do the actual cooking at all! In each
version of this story, it is not Jesus who actually performs the
miracle, it’s the disciples. They come to Jesus at the end of the day
and advise that he should send this large group of people to town so
they can find food and lodging for the night. They smartly realize
that they don’t have enough food to feed all of them, and they
couldn’t afford to buy it even if they could find it. But Jesus’s
reply to them is striking; he says, “You give them something to eat.”
The disciples protest, but when they go to hand out food to the
people, they find themselves with more than enough. Jesus may have
blessed the food, but it’s the disciples’ actions that actually enact
the miracle.

In the last few months as the temporary pastor at Westminster, I have
witnessed the miraculous action of many of God’s disciples as this
church lives out our ministry in the community of Auburn. Even in the
midst of scarcity, the Westminster church family continues to live out
the calling of Christ to welcome all people to God’s table. I am so
grateful to have been given a seat, and will continue to enjoy the
bountiful blessings of this community.