On Politics and Our Christian Faith – by Pastor Noel Ilagan
When Paul wrote the following admonition to Timothy the Jewish people were under Roman rule. Rome allowed the Jews to pray for the Emperor’s health without praying and sacrificing to him.
Kids in Church?
I have recently come across a Christian blog post entitled, “Killing the Church with Sunday School”. “Oh no!”, I thought. How can Sunday School be bad for church? What could we be doing wrong? I had to read. Luckily, the point of the post is Read More …
Because He Lives
Devotional for April 2016 By Pastor Noel ILAGAN It was a late winter morning and I was riding on the 6-line subway train from the Bronx to Manhattan in New York. The passengers on the train were doing their own thing – either trying to Read More …
From the Pastor: Christmas means peace on Earth
I guess I love Christmas as much as anybody (with the possible exception of Edith Klose, who has more Christmas decorations than God). My love of Christmas is very resilient: it has survived not only my own massively dysfunctional family, but also the professional necessity Read More …
Here I Stand
I like the month of October. I like the crispness of leaves turning color and the smell of Apfel Kuchen baking in the oven. It also includes one of my favorite holidays – not Halloween, but Reformation. As a child, I was treated to an Read More …
From the Pastor: Shut off the Dimmer
As we considered a rather discouraging Treasurer’s Report last week, I told the Church Council very firmly that I am not going to preach about money. I don’t like to do it because I am personally not very interested in money, and also because I Read More …
Inclusive Leadership
This month I was given a course at my workplace called “Inclusive Leadership”. The general theme was to show how our biases towards people determine whether they are included or excluded. Among the “students” were several seasoned managers, myself included, who started the morning with Read More …
Ascension’s organ to be dedicated in its new home
As you certainly know by now, the fine pipe organ from Ascension was donated as a Gift of Legacy to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church (ELCA), Fairfield, Connecticut. After some renovations to the sanctuary, the organ was installed there by its builder, Mr. Jeremy Cooper. The Read More …
From the Pastor: ‘Blue Light’
It was a beautiful summer this year in New York: mild temperatures, low humidity, moderate rainfall, plenty of sunshine. People older than I am have been saying it was the most beautiful summer they can remember. As one who grew up in the withering heat Read More …
BOILER FUND COMPLETE!
As previously reported, our Parish House boiler is kaput as of June 1, and the congregation voted to replace it by accepting the lowest of three bids received, $25,000. We put out the word to our members and friends, hoping to complete our fundraising by Read More …