Church Building
Sabbath Day Thoughts — “Church Building” Matthew 16:13-20 Every church building has a story. Westminster Church in Wilmington, Delaware, where I served many years ago, is a big congregation with humble beginnings. It was launched in 1857 as a Mission Sunday School. Its sole purpose was to share the gospel through Christian Education. The school…
A Bigger Table
Sabbath Day Thoughts — “A Bigger Table” Matthew 15:10-28 Immigration is a fraught subject in our nation. Since January 2025, agents of ICE and Customs and Border Patrol have made 582,040 immigration arrests. Over the same period, we have deported 590,600 people, sending them to either their countries of origin or third-party countries willing to…
From Saranac Lake to Mzuzu — Stories in Celebration of Our 136th Anniversary
Sabbath Day Thoughts — “From Saranac Lake to Mzuzu” Matthew 14:22-33 On Friday evening, July 25, 1890, the First Presbyterian Church of Saranac Lake, New York celebrated an organizing service in a brand-new church building. It was so new, in fact, that there were no windows; and instead of pews, the worshippers were seated on…
Wounded and Blessed
Sabbath Day Thoughts — “Wounded and Blessed” Genesis 32:22-31 We are wounded. Olivia was married for three years when she learned that her husband was having an affair with her best friend. She remembered the joy and promise of her wedding day when she stood at the chancel with her maid of honor on one…
Learning Patience
Sabbath Day Thoughts — “Learning Patience” Genesis 29:15-28 We live in an increasingly impatient world. Researchers have found that we’ll wait four seconds for a website to load before irritation sets in. By ten seconds, we are clicking our way to the next site. 96% of Americans admit to knowingly consuming hot food or drinks…
The Lord Is in This Place
Sabbath Day Thoughts — “The Lord Is in This Place” Genesis 28:10-19a Author, artist, and playwright Carrie Jane Knowles tells the story of a family trip to Brittany in France. Looking for the perfect picnic spot, they headed to a local trailhead. There they encountered an unexpected sign, “You have entered a sacred Druid forest.…
Sibling Rivalry
Sabbath Day Thoughts — “Sibling Rivalry” Genesis 25:19-34 Sibling rivalry is a form of competition among brothers and sisters. It’s normal and healthy, as long as it doesn’t become destructive to the children involved or their families. Unless we are only children, we all experience it. The newborn infant comes home from the hospital and…
The Hidden Hand of God
Sabbath Day Thoughts — “The Hidden Hand of God” Genesis 24 “I see three.” It was Sheilah, the wife of a retired pastor. Sheilah attended the church where I was serving as an intern. She was a deeply spiritual person, who spearheaded the church’s prayer chain. Sheilah’s most noted and controversial gift was the ability…
The Binding
Sabbath Day Thoughts — “The Binding” Genesis 22:1-14 There were 532,228 documented cases of child abuse and neglect in the U.S. in 2024, the most recent year for which there is national data. Certainly, many more cases went undocumented. Child abuse encompasses physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, and neglect. Hitting, shaking, or other forms of…
God Who Hears
Sabbath Day Thoughts — “God Who Hears” Genesis 21:8-21 Children are crying. Children are crying in Malawi this morning. One of the least developed nations in the world, more than 70% of Malawi’s people live in poverty. 69% of Malawians have access to clean water, thanks to initiatives like the shallow well program, but the…
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Joann White 