New Beginnings Church, it is so good to be here with you!  Thank you for your time, prayers and patience, for Andrea and I to arrive!You have been most gracious to us both.  Thank you for the gift of the stoles and flowers - this was most kind! I really appreciate the gift of the stoles because they remind me of our shared ministry and covenant with one another and a reaffirmation of God's call on my life to ordained ministry, again thank you!As we are on the subject of new beginnings I am reminded of the importance of them each...

Marilyn’s MomentPlease allow me to correct information I shared ‘off the cuff’ on Sunday, July 3rd.  Though the following statistics are still alarming, they are not quite as ominous as I declared them to be.Here is the correction:  Research shows that 95 percent of Christians have never led another person to Christ. Only 2 percent of churchgoers have invited an un-churched person to church in the past year, and 59 percent of Christians say they seldom or never share their faith with others.The reality is:  most of us don’t follow Jesus’ command to, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel...

Marilyn’s MomentLast October I shared the truth that “I have an expiration date.”  Now, I do NOT know what that date is in God’s mind and eyes (the date I will exit earth).  But I DO know that the date will soon arrive for me to ‘expire’ from the time I have spent serving God at FCC Moore.Thus, I become ‘the Lame Duck’ with less influence then may have been mine in months already shared.  I will slowly watch attitudes and opinions change regarding plans to come.  There will be times when we refuse to do something because the new pastor...

Marilyn’s Moment:It is Mother’s Day, and my thoughts turn to what was always my definition of ‘home.’ Momma encompasses ‘home’ in my brain.  Yes…she worked various part time jobs after we ‘little ones’ grew old enough to take care of our needs and be responsible for chores around the house.  But when proverbial ‘push came to shove’ there was never a time when she was not there:  cooking, cleaning, planning a family gathering, helping us practice vocally or on the piano/organ, singing, or sharing a shoulder to cry on (just let a ‘boy’ break one of our hearts and Momma Lion would...

Marilyn’s Moment:I forego my ‘spot’ in the Newsletter this week to share a real story from my sister.  In her church in Colorado a family has been trying to adopt two Ukrainian orphans for several months … then the war began.  Here is their story, edited only slightly for brevity.  I am sure it is only one heart-wrenching story of the children in this war-torn area.  Keep praying, Family of God!  Blessings, Marilyn Vera and Margarita’s orphanage was in Berdyansk, 35 miles from Mariupol which has been under complete Russian control since the war’s beginning. There was a narrow window of time, about...

Marilyn’s Moment:Yes…I am opinionated (and I come by it honestly). This should be a part of the character of a Pastor-Leader (without becoming dictatorial). Such a person should not be afraid to speak up and share ideas, thoughts, and opinions. Hopefully, all are based on God’s heart. This was a part of my call to serve and lead. Yet, in every ministry there comes a time when the “Pastor-Leader” must make a statement or share something that might not be acceptable to all. These comments tend to be ‘things’ that might ‘stir the pot’ and cause moments of angst. And the reality...

Marilyn’s Moment:Why do you come to worship?  Hopefully, it is out of a deep need to honor the God who made you and provided everything for you.  Though different people have different provision we know this stems from our uniqueness!  God’s created children are all one-of-a-kind with needs, desires, and requirements belonging solely to each one. The reason we worship also includes our longing to fulfill the command to fully learn and practice worshipping God in spirit and in truth.  I admit, some services of worship are better at this than others, plus the unique need of every individual discovers distinctive ways...

Marilyn’s Moment:It was a touch ironic that after writing about how much I like to write in our October 25th newsletter that I missed the deadline for the first of November’s editions!  The challenge to be onboard with the many activities and new friends being made at Moore must have confused my deadline-oriented brain.  So, let’s try once again! Was your Thanksgiving all you hoped it would be?  (If not, give thanks now!)  Did you find time to truly give thanks without immediately immersing yourself in Black Friday deals that started long before Friday?  (If you didn’t, what’s wrong with right now? ...

Marilyn's Moment:Writing is an enjoyment of my life.  Ever since a High School teacher inspired confidence in me whenever he assigned a ‘Minute to Muse’ ad lib surprise topic to the class with five additional minutes allowed to write.  I remember the first time my composition was selected to be read to the class and ‘pride’ became one of my middle names!  Yet, it wasn’t a pride that I flaunted (because it took several other attempts before another composition was selected), it was a pride that encouraged, built up, lifted me to keep-on-keeping-on! Looking back, I think that creative writing teacher has...

Marilyn's Moment: By way of introduction:  I am a Rocky Mountain girl! Now you can laugh because though born and raised in Colorado, I haven't lived there since 1988 when John and I were transplanted to Ponca City, OK. You push the numbers and discover that if you take out six years spent in Texas for school/work I have been an Okie longer than a Coloradan! Yet, roots are roots for all of us. The next ‘root’ comes with the confession: “I am a sinner just like everyone else!”  This is not a laughable matter, yet it is a thing to...