​Hey friends!
 
Halleluiah, Christ is risen indeed! And with him, the earth is resurrecting once again, too. Much to the chagrin of those with allergies, but the joy and enlivening of many a soul.
 
What a blessing it is to get to witness resurrection all around us, and not just read about it in our Bible stories. Sure, the perennials and deciduous trees were not actually dead like Jesus and Lazarus were. Rather, they were dormant or hibernating or resting, still very much alive beneath the soil – however you want to put it. But late fall and winter still feel like death, and spring still feels like resurrection. (At least, to me.)
 
As the wilderness – flowering plants and trees, crops and insects, birds and critters – return to life and its busyness, I pray that your spirits feel renewed as well. I pray that you find delight in the joyful noises of kids playing outside and birds singing to one another. This life, even with resurrection hope, offers burdens and concerns abundant. Remember that blessings, even in small and mundane things, are abundant, too. May God open our eyes to see, ears to hear, noses to smell, palms to feel, and (with fresh, local produce on the horizon) tongues to taste all the goodness that God provides.
 
As we approach the summer months, our ministries prepare to shift. Power Pack will break for the summer (although donations will still be accepted to help start the 2025-26 school year well) and the community garden will burst with sustenance. We will begin to see the full fruits of our solar panels, which have already helped us avoid over 7,000 pounds of CO2 emissions!
 
Thank you all for your commitment to and support of our efforts. Together we are making a very real difference in our community and for God’s beloveds. Together we are living out Jesus’s invitation to feed his sheep and to love our neighbors. Together we are very much the body of the risen Christ – Jesus’s hands and feet in the world – offering hope and love to others.
 
See you in church,
Pastor Julia

​Hey friends!
 
I hope this Lenten season has been enriching for you and that you feel closer to God as a result. What a blessing it is to have an entire season dedicated to reflection, repentance, and reconciliation with our Creator! What a joy it is to know that, when it comes to God, reconciliation is always on the table. Forgiveness and mercy are always at hand. Grace and love are always freely given and ever abundant. How reassuring to be reminded every year that, despite our short comings and missteps, God is love, and we are called beloved. I hope that you, like me, can breathe a sigh of relief and assurance at that knowledge.
 
As we approach the last couple of weeks of Lent, our Holy Week schedule is included in this newsletter. All are welcome to join us for any and all parts of our observance and celebration!
 
In all honesty, I have been wrestling with the meaning of Easter for several years now. Substitutionary atonement no longer sits well with my understanding of and experiences with a loving God, and to say it means the forgiveness of sins just feels too shallow… Like there must be more to it.
 
Each year I come up with enough clarity to write and preach a sermon, and then I am right back to wondering. Which, I believe, is not a bad thing! I believe it is faithful to be curious about our Creator and what God’s story means for us and the world. I believe it is faithful to ponder God’s work and to accept that we will not have all the answers on this side of eternity. Last year, I wrote this:
 
Easter, to me, has become a mystery. I don’t understand Jesus’ resurrection, and I don’t fully know what it all means for us. But I am confident that it offers hope. I am confident it means God is still with us. I am sure it is a declaration of Divine love for all the world. And so, at Easter, I celebrate hope, Emmanuel II, and love, and I embrace the joy and delight that I am so privileged to experience, all while resolving to continue the justice work Jesus started.
 
However we celebrate, and however we understand Easter, may we continue Jesus’ ministry in the days that follow just as we are called to do. May we continue the work of healing, feeding, visiting, and liberating. May we continue to work toward flourishing and beloved community for all. As we follow Jesus, may we be formed more into his likeness.
 
See you in church,
Pastor Julia

Hey friends!

This year, March marks the beginning of the Lenten season. As Dr. Kate Bowler puts it, “[Lent is] the time when we get to stop pretending everything is fine and admit how hard life can be—and how God meets us right in the middle of it.”

On Ash Wednesday, even as we come to God’s table of grace and mercy via the sacrament of communion, we will also acknowledge our mortality. We will acknowledge that, without God’s breath of life, we are but dust (Gen. 2:7) and to dust we will return.

As we face the reality of our dustness, we face the reality that everything else we have comes from God. And yet, we have all too often turned away and strayed from what is right, just, and good according to God. That is when we get to stop pretending. That is when we get to tell it like it is, and admit how hard this life can be. God can handle our honesty. And God continues to extend grace.

The season of Lent is a time for prayer, maybe fasting, and repentance for all the ways we have strayed, whether knowingly or unknowingly. Even as the scriptures of this season call out our rebellions and urge us to repent, there is hope on the horizon.

In the words of Rev. Dr. Cheryl A. Lindsay, “repentance, from the heart, still leads to redemption. God’s grace waits in eager hope and expectation.”

We are human. We have fallen short of the glory of God. We will continue to fall short, to stray, and to rebel. But God is love. God extends to us additional chances to strive toward God. God will continue to offer grace.

In life’s hardship and our own shortcomings, may this season of Lent be a meaningful, honest, enriching, and transformative time of movement toward God. May the extension of divine grace form us evermore into the image of Jesus. May our repentance bring redemption. May our redemption bring transformation and betterment. May our known dustness encourage us to lean further into God’s breath of life.

See you in church,
​Pastor Julia

​Hey friends!
 
As we continue to venture into this new year together, I pray that the future holds goodness and flourishing for each of us and our wider community.
 
This is shaping up to be a year of discernment for us. The steering committee set up a three-year strategic plan, and this is year three. Have we met our own goals as a congregation? What new goals is God calling us to set? How can we refine our ministries and outreach efforts to better serve our neighbors and love God?
 
We remain committed to our callings to address food insecurity in our community and steward the environment with the resources we have. As we have leaned in to those callings, God has affirmed our efforts. I anticipate another fruitful (vegetable-ful? 😉) garden season. The power pack program continues to meet the needs of local students, even as demands change. Our blessing box is frequented, and has turned out to be a wonderful addition to our mission efforts. Our solar panels are producing energy, and we have already avoided nearly 2,000 pounds of Carbon Dioxide. Our native trees and plants are resting for the winter, preparing to put forth growth, sustenance, and shelter in the spring.
 
We have had several inquiries from churches around the country asking how we went about installing solar panels. Our efforts are inspiring others! Just recently, we were featured in a Rolling Stone article (linked on our website) and asked for an interview on the Yale Climate Connections radio spot. Again, God is affirming our efforts and working through our story to inspire others to care for God’s creation.
 
I am so proud of all we have accomplished for God’s kingdom in the past 2 years, and I am so excited to see what is to come! Let us continue to pursue God’s call. Let us continue to follow the teachings and example of Jesus. Let us continue working together for the good of our neighbors.
 
See you in church,
Pastor Julia

​Hey friends!
 
We have reached the season of Advent, and with that comes abundant preparation for Christmas celebrations. Here is my annual reminder to take time amid all of that prep to reflect, ponder, and prayerfully consider the gift of Jesus.
 
What does it mean to you that God came to be with us? To share our common lot? To experience what it is to be human?
 
What do the life and ministry of Jesus mean to you? How have Jesus’ parables, teachings, and sermons impacted the way you live and move through the world? How might your days, and your way of being, be different without the influence of our Savior?
 
In this season of giving – filled with lights, cookies, gifts, décor, and Santa Claus – what is it that you are celebrating? And where does Jesus fit into that? How might you carry that with you throughout the year?
 
May your Advent and Christmas seasons be filled with spiritual nourishment. May you know the gift of God’s presence with you. May we all see God’s promises fulfilled in miraculous ways.
 
See you in church,
Pastor Julia

Hey friends!
It’s fall, y’all! As much as I dislike the post-holiday winter that inevitably follows, I do love an autumnal setting.
 
We have BIG things happening this fall! Our solar panels will be installed on October 9th and 10th. They will be turned on several weeks later, so we are planning the ribbon cutting for December 8th following worship. Save the date!
 
This is a major step in our lived commitment to creation care and environmental stewardship. It is also a bold declaration of our faith and trust in God’s provision, and I am so proud of you all for leaning into this project.
​
RE-volv will be helping us with some PR and communications over the next few months, so word will spread quickly. God only knows how God plans to work through all of this, but I am confident these efforts will bear good fruit!
 
Additionally, this is not just about environmental stewardship. By eliminating our electric bill, we will have more room in our budget to support the missions of our church! These solar panels are an embodiment of our financial stewardship and our responsible use of resources. Again, I am so proud of you all for taking the time to discern, ask good questions, pray, and consider carefully the risks and benefits of this project. I am confident that the benefits out-weigh the risks and that, again, our efforts will bear good fruit!
 
As usual, our other fall plans include World Communion Sunday, our Harvest Homes food drive, the CROP Hunger Walk for Church World Service, All Saints Day, planting native trees/shrubs, a community Thanksgiving worship service on November 24th, and anticipation of the Advent season.
 
For a small church, we sure are busy! If you are looking for a way to give back to the community, we have no shortage of opportunities. If you are looking for a way to connect within our faith community, we have options there, too! Be sure to check out the dates for our fellowship lunch and our hiking group, and consider joining us for coffee hour at 9:45 each Sunday.
 
May your fall be cozy, abounding in vibrant colors and sweet spices, and full of delight.
 
See you in church,
Pastor Julia

​Hey friends!
It’s always sad to see the summer come to an end, but by this time of year I’m usually ready for hoodies, sweaters, and cute fall décor. There is a branch of our maple tree that always turns red at the end of August, sending us the sign that fall is on its way. It’s red now, and it is such a joy to see its vibrant color against the lush green of the other leaves.
 
It’s been an odd sort of summer… My asters still haven’t bloomed, my purple cone flowers struggled, my lake vacation was a different experience due to chilly temperatures, and we had quite the drought earlier! While signs (like the branch of my maple tree) can be exciting and joyful, they can also be worrisome (like drought, uncharacteristic heat, and struggling flowers). The earth is sending us her signs. Let us heed her warnings and responding according to our faith – as stewards and caretakers of God’s very good creation.
 
Keep bringing your plastic to the church. Keep planting native trees, shrubs, and flowers. Find ways to steward your water. Be gentle with what you put into the earth, such as cleaners and fertilizers. Remember that bugs are God’s beloved, good creation, too. ;)
 
Just as we must see and interpret the signs of the earth, we can also see and interpret the signs of the church. I’ve said this before, but there is a narrative of church decline. There are signs in some places that churches are struggling, closing, and coming to the end of their ministries. What are the signs you see and hear at Solomon’s? How do you interpret them?
 
Here the signs I see: Joyful fellowship. Kind community. Passion for our missions and outreach. Monarch caterpillars in our pollinator garden (which we only planted this summer)! A vegetable garden that did relatively well considering the drought and heat, thanks to the tending of committed caretakers. Grant applications that have been approved and helped grow our garden ministry! Neighbors visiting our pews.
 
Here is how I interpret those signs: We are doing what God has asked us to do. Not perfectly, I’m sure! But faithfully, boldly, and with delight. At the moment, at least, that’s enough.
 
This newsletter contains information on how we will continue that effort in September and October. May our ministries, fellowships, and community be a blessing!
See you in church,
Pastor Julia

​Hey friends!
I hope you have been able to stay cool in this heat wave. With diligent and faithful watering, our garden has stayed green and fruitful – but let this weather be a reminder of just how important it is to care for God’s creation! Weather extremes like this threaten our water supply and food systems, as well as our health. I am so proud of our church for taking a stand against the climate crisis and boldly proclaiming – through our gardens, plastic recycling, and solar panels – our desire to steward and tend God’s earth well!
 
I have not forgotten our consideration of becoming a “Creation Justice Church.” I will begin having conversations with the various ministry teams this summer. What does it mean to you to be Creation Justice minded? What does that look like in action? How do we put that into practice in all we do at home, at church, and in the world? What can we reduce? What can we reuse and how? Are there other ways to recycle? Are there simple switches we can make in the products we purchase? These are questions we can each prayerfully consider often.
 
I know I say often that prayer is a mystery and I don’t fully understand how it works. That’s true! But I do know – and I say this confidently having experienced it more than once – that prayer can open us. Through prayer, God has often helped me see what I previously could not or did not want to see. The details of past prayers are conversations (or sermons) for another time, but what I mean is this:
 
When we pray, “God, help me to be a better steward of your creation. What else can I do? How else can I care?” God will give us answers. The Spirit will reveal to us. Jesus will offer an encouraging nudge in the right direction. I believe that wholly.
 
We are doing great work to care for our little corner of the earth! Let’s keep going. 😊
 
We have some fun things planned for this summer! More baseball, a picnic, some hikes, Sunday school… There are lots of ways to participate in the life, ministry, and fellowship of Solomon’s UCC. Bring a friend! All are welcome in our community.
 
I look forward to seeing you in church! Stay hydrated!
 
Peace be with you,
– Pastor Julia

Hello friends!
In my last post, I was preparing for my professional development trip to Chicago. If you were with us in worship on May 5, you heard most of my reflections. If you were not with us in worship that day, you can participate retroactively in that service by visiting https://www.mysolomonsucc.org/livestream. 😉
 
The theme of my program was all about seeing congregational vitality despite a constant narrative of church decline. Yes, the church (nationally and locally) is not what it used to be. But that may just be where its new life will come from!
 
In short, our congregation has vitality. We are strong and active! We have energy! We are doing SO MUCH with the resources, time, and personpower we have. What a testament to God’s faithfulness, and to what God can do with and through a group of people willing to say, “Sure! Let’s try it!”
 
We are looking forward to a fun summer! Our garden is expanding and veggies are growing. Our butterfly garden is coming to fruition. Our solar panels are in the works. Weekends of Wonder continues to be a fun and vibrant ministry for our kids. I will be offering a summer Bible Study (with the help of a scholar I LOVE learning from!). We have a New Franklin area picnic on August 11 (mark your calendars!) and other neat outreaches in the pipeline. We’re opening our building and grounds to the community as a sweet little wedding venue. Friends, we are teeming with life at Solomon’s UCC!
 
If you’re not involved in one of our many ministries, I encourage you to get in touch. We’re doing some really cool things and I would love for you to be part of the one (or more!) that interests you most!
 
As school breaks for the summer, as vacations are planned, as grills are lit, pools are opened, and sunscreen abounds, I pray you see the vitality in your own life. I pray you notice how God has been, is, and will be at work in and around you. I pray for your awareness of the blessings that you have and that you will receive. I pray for joy, delight, contentment, and excitement. I pray for the encouragement of the Holy Spirit to be with you always.
 
When I was a kid, summer was always the time I felt most at peace with myself and with the world. (Actually, that’s still true…) Amid all the summer fun, may you find peace, too. God be with you!
– Pastor Julia

​Hello friends!
I hope you all had joyous and hope-filled Easter celebrations. I hope your gardens are green and resurrected. I hope you’re not too stressed about getting the lawn mowed. I hope the spring air is offering you delight and contemplation. I hope your summer calendars are filling with goodness and things that make you glad.
 
I am preparing for my trip to Chicago with the UCC’s Next Generation Leadership Initiative (NGLI). For those who have joined us recently, this is a continuing education leadership program for young(-ish) clergy in the UCC. I am honored and delighted to be a participant in the 14th cohort, and I am so grateful for your support and encouragement! (And your willingness to be my guinea pigs as I learn.)
 
This session is titled “Congregational Vitality Trek.” I am looking forward to rich discussions with colleagues, innovative ideas, and a fruitful four days. But, I am holding the topic in tension. There is a lot of talk in the wider church about congregational vitality and church innovation, especially as we see church membership decline across all mainline denominations and as churches across the country come to the end of their ministries.
 
No doubt I will learn lots and come back to New Franklin with great ideas! But we need to be careful not to bite off more than we can chew. I have been learning over the past couple of years to be patient, to let the process be the process, and to trust God with God’s timing. We have put a lot of work – just in the past two years – into our community garden and regenerative property, and God is working wonders with that effort! If we stay faithful to that work and to God’s calling, vitality will come. Truthfully, I think vitality is already here!
 
I see the way you all as a congregation care for one another. I see the way you are excited about what we’re doing! I hear the ways you offer support to one another and to the ministries of our church. Is there more to do? Yes. Could we do more? Yes. Are we doing enough now? Also yes!
 
We are a hardworking, passionate congregation with a steadfast commitment to feeding Jesus’ sheep and caring for our little corner of God’s creation. We have been faithful to the vision God planted in us, and we continuing to work toward that vision. The rest is up to God, and God will come through!
 
Vitality means, “the state of being strong and active; energy.” I think that describes Solomon’s UCC. I’ll let you know what I learn in Chicago, but I think we could teach the session. God is at work in and through us, and we’re not slowing down. Things are going well here at Solomon’s UCC. See you in church!
– Pastor Julia