Pastor's Page

Thought for the week...

~ Pentecost ~

Traditionally, Pentecost is considered to be the "Birthday of the Church."  The disciples of Jesus, who were in seclusion after the arrest and execution of their leader, suddenly became the bold, courageous leaders of that new movement called "the Church.

We can't imagine what it was like for those disciples suddenly to be empowered as they were.  After Pentecost, they were now to be called "Apostles" - meaning, "ones who were sent!"  They would go out from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth, spreading the Good News of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.

But perhaps the most amazing part of this was that it was not Jesus who was carrying on that ministry, it was them!  And through them, it is us!  And 2000 years later, the ministry of Jesus continues, and it is we who continue it!  That boggles the mind!

So ask yourself, what are you doing to continue the ministry of Jesus?  How are you living your life in a way that reflects God's great love to the world?  It's the job of all of us!

Pastor Brecht

...And here are some of my thoughts from previous weeks...

Nudges...

Sometimes the Holy Spirit "nudges" us and leads us in gentle ways.  At other times, the Spirit hits us over the head!  This past week I experienced that.  When I was out spending a wonderful week with my kids, I got a call from and old friend about a funeral for his mother - the day after I was to get back!  My first inclination was that it wouldn't work.  But then I felt that hit on the head, and realized it would not only work, it would be glorious!  As I look back, I'm glad I didn't "insist on my own way with God."  I would have missed out on that wonderful blessing!

So, how is God trying to lead you?  Are you standing in his way?  Are listening to his nudges?  Or does he need to hit you over the head?

In Christ, Pastor Brecht

~ Now What Happens? ~

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter celebration.  The Lord is indeed risen!

But what happens now?  The disciples wondered that at the end of John's Gospel.  They had been through much.  In the end, they lost everything, but then Easter dawned, and they found they had won - in ways they never imagined.  But then some said, "I'm going fishing."  In other words, "I guess now life goes back to normal."  But life would never be the same again!  Those disciples would go out into the world and find the ministry of Jesus had only just begun!

As we have now entered the "Season of Easter," let us learn the lesson they learned.  Let us know that Easter is only the beginning.  There is much work to do in God's kingdom.  There is a great message of hope and grace to tell the world.  Let us never think, "Ok it's time to get back to life as it was before."  Life will, in fact, never be the same again!

May God bless you this Easter Season

Pastor Brecht

~ Easter Weekend ~

We are now nearing the end of the season of Lent, the time of year the Church has set aside for introspection and repentence.  During this time, I have been encouraging us to look at our lives to see where we have fallen short in the faith, and to find ways to become more faithful followers of Jesus our Lord.  The season concludes after Holy week, in which we celebrate two special days.  Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday.

On Maundy Thursday we remember Jesus' last meal with his disciples, a Passover meal which he changed forever into our sacrament of communion, and in which he gave a "New Commandment" - Maundatum in Latin - "that you love one another as I have loved you."  (From which we get the word "Maundy")  Then we commemorate Good Friday, the day in which Jesus hung on the cross and died.

These are some of the most sacred and solemn moments in all of the church year, and I invite you to celebrate them together as God's people.  On Maundy Thursday, we will gather in Fellowship Hall and share our Agape meal, concluding with the Sacrament of Communion.  On Good Friday, it has been our tradition to have a Contemporary Service in the evening commemorating that solemn day.

We hope to see all of you there as we prepare for the celebration of Easter Day.

God Bless you all.    Pastor Brecht

~ Celebration Time ~

This evening is our long awaited Banquet!  We are thrilled that so many are coming.  We on the organizing committee are excited about it, and it looks like it's going to be a great time!  And we hope that the energy and enthusiasm it has generated will propel us into the new year with great joy!

So... Keep selling your chances, and get them in for the drawing.  Bring your checkbooks and bid on great prizes.  And have a great time!!!!

Pastor Brecht

~ Merry Christmas! ~

Patty and I would like to wish all of our beloved friends at Eddington Church a blessed Christmas season, and a New Year full of happiness and peace - no matter what the year holds!

Pastor Brecht

~ Promise, Preparation, Joy, and Love ~

Those are our themes for the four Sunday's of Advent this year.

Promise is the "hopeful expectation" felt by the world as the prophecies of the Messiah began to come to fruition.  It is about the promise we have in our lives because of the great gift of God at Christmas.

Preparation is about the ministry of John the Baptist as he came to "Prepare the way of the Lord."  It is about the way we prepare our hearts and our lives to receive again the child of Bethlehem.

Joy is the feeling of great happiness and wonder the shepherds fel,t having heard the angelic chorus that dark desert night.  It is about the joy we have in this season, no matter what the circumstances of our lives.

And Love is the motivation by which God sent his son into our world.  "For God so loved the world..."  It is about knowing that God's love is for us, and it is about the way we reflect that love to those around us!

Be part of Advent this year!  Come to church if you've been away.  Being in fellowship with each other isn't about doing so only when our lives are whole and everything is going well.  It's also about being present for one another and upholding each other when we feel broken and alone.  Christmas is about Jesus coming into a world of great need and bringing joy, hope, and love undeserved.

In Christ, Pastor Brecht

~ Advent is Here! ~

We are now officially in the advent season, which is the beginning of the Liturgical year.  As you know, the Liturgical year is the series of celebrations throughout the year commemorating the various events in the life of Jesus Christ on earth.  So it's natural to start with the events leading up to his birth.

As I always try to do, I encourage you to think about your faith throughout the upcoming season.  It's far too easy for all of us, myself included, to get so caught up in the preparation and the celebration, that we forget what it is we're really celebrating!

So I urge you to take some time each day and remember in some way the story of Jesus' birth.  Read a few passages from the birth narratives in Matthew and Luke, get a good advent devotional like the Upper Room, or go to one of the many on-line devotionals.

Keep thinking of the importance of the event we're celebrating.  You'll be glad you did come December 25th!!

In Christ, Pastor Brecht

~ What a Great Work Day! ~

Thank you all for your help on Work Day, this past Saturday!  You did a great job!  It's always a good thing when we get together on projects!  There's always such a great sence of dedication, accomplishment, and camraderie!  We always feel good about how we worked together for the greater good of our beautiful church building and grounds!

May we all remember that such feelings of dedication, accomplishment, and camaraderie happen when we join one another in our Stewardship efforts.  Together we support and uphold the ministry of our congregation as we serve one another and our community.  It is a great joy, knowing we are God's people here in this place!

Keep up the good work you are already doing!  Love, support, and encourage one another in God's work, and in Jesus' name!

In him, Pastor Brecht

~ Stewardship Dedication ~

Sunday, November 4th, is Stewardship Dedication Sunday.  (If you're reading this after that it was Stewardship Dedication Sunday!)  This is a crucial year for our church.  We need to close the deficit and live within our means!  And we can do it!

Your Stewardship Commitee will strive to design a budget for 2013 that will work - if we all do our best to support it!  So please pray carefully about your pledge for the coming year, and come and be part of the Dedication service on Sunday.  If you aren't/weren't able to be there, please add your pledge as soon as possible.

...And be sure to Keep Eddington Church in your prayers, this week and throughout the year!

In Christ, Pastor Brecht

~ Stewardship 2012/2013 ~

This year, Stewardship is as important as ever for our congregation!  As we look to the coming year, we have two options.  Either we close the deficit and continue our ministry as God's people here at Edington, or we face some difficult choices!

As I have often observed, (with great encouragement!) we are fairly close to making our budget, we just fall short by a little bit.  The problem is, we cannot handle even that little shortfall any more.  We must make up the difference!

The good news is, we are launching into some major fund-raising efforts.  The biggest project, our Febrary banquet, has great potential, not only as a fund-raising event, but also as a great fellowship event for our congregation.  It can also a great outreach event that will put Eddington on the map!  Kudos for those organizing and running this event!

In the meantime, we must continue our regular stewardship efforts.  I must tell we that we have been doing better in recent years and we need to "keep up the good work."  We must become successful in becoming self-sustaining, as we seek to serve the kingdom of God for the future!

Please join me in praying for our congregation and our futute ministry in this community.  May God continue to bless us as we seek to be his people!

In his name, Pastor Brecht

~ World Communion Sunday ~

This Sunday, October 7th is World Communion Sunday!  What a wonderful event this is!  Brothers and Sisters in Christ all over the world will be gathering - each in their own time zone - and celebrating the sacrament of the Lord's Supper - each in their own way!  The celebration will be sweeping across the globe from east to west, passing over our time zone between 9:00 and noon.  Then we will hand it off to the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones in this country.  (Alaska and Hawaii to follow!)

I hope you will get a sense of that global sweep!  And I hope you will get a sense of "The Body of Christ around the world" - Church Universal, or the Holy "catholic" Church.  ("catholic" with a small "c")

I hope you will all plan on being in Church that day, and that you will be inspired to be there regularly throughout the year!

Pastor Brecht

~ Doing Projects ~

I've always liked Church projects!  Ever since the beginning of my ministry, I've noticed that when people gather to do projects together they grow closer to one another, and get more excited about their Church.  They also take a higher level of pride in their church and are more motivated to tell others about their congregation.

There are a number of projects coming up at Eddington, and I encourage you to be involved!  There is a Blood Drive on October 13th.  There is a work day November 10th.  There is a Christmas Bazzar on November 17th.  And there is even a Fellowship Dinner and "Game Show Night" this Saturday!

One of the big projects for the year is our Fund Raising Banquet on February 9th.  This is a major effort for our congregation, and we hope everybody will be involved.  Not only will our ministry benefit from the financial support, but we'll be getting the word out to the community about our Church!

So please plan on being involved this coming year.  It's good for your faith!  It's good for the Church!

Pastor Brecht

~ A New Year ~

It always seems funny saying it, but we have started a new year for the church.  I guess we say that because it coincides with the school year - and the end of vacation season.  (Even though I am on the last bit of vacation this week with my family and my kids in from Kansas!!)

I hope that this will be a good start to our "year."  And I think we know that doing so always takes a certain "change of mind."  We have to switch from "Summer mode" to "Involvement mode."  We have to "gear up" for meetings, classes, organizations - whatever we're involved in over the course of the year.

I hope "Church involvement" is right there at the top of the list for all of us.  It can easily get buried under the myriad of details that hit us at this time of year, and sometimes we need to be intentional about choosing to put it there.  And I would encourage all of us to do so!  Besides regular worship together, there are lots of other "Church things" to put onto our calendars, we need also to put them into our "mental calendars!"

So please do so!  Let's all strive to make this a great church year - one of growth, one of joy, and one of growing closer to God and to each other!

In Christ,

Pastor Brecht

~ Ordination/Installation ~

This Sunday we ordained and installed our new church officers.  We've been doing this in recent years as a whole congregation.  That means we were all here together at 10:00.  During that service, we celebrated both of our worship styles, Traditional and Contemporary, and it was a great time of worship together!  I thank you for your grace and patience for those part of the service that were not your "prefence."

Kudos also to those who planned the wonderful picnic that was held afterwards!  There was plenty of good food, fellowship, and fun!  It was the perfect way to kick off the new church year

Please continue to pray for our congregation and its leaders in the days to come.  We face certain challenges for the future, yet we do so with hope.  Our leaders (including myself!) need the guidance and grace of God as we move toward the New Year.  May we continue to serve God with joy here in this place!

In Christ, Pastor Brecht

...More on Kirkwood.

Thank you all for your prayers and your support of Kirkwood Camp.  I want to update you on the status of the camp, since it will have a bearing on our church for the Summer.

In order to maintain the leadership for the camp, in the absense of a Camp Director, the Board of Directors has asked me to take on that role for part of the Summer.  I have discussed this with the Session and with the Congregation at our meeting on Sunday.  It will involve my being at camp (and home on the weekends to lead worship) for the weeks of July 15th, 22nd, 29th, and August 12th.  I will be available by phone and email those weeks, and will return if any emergencies arise.  I have arranged for other pastoral needs to be handled by Rev. Ken Wonderland at Bensalem Presbyterian Church.  In addition, the camp will be giving a donation to the Eddington Church to help pay about half of my salary for those weeks.  This will help with our Summer financial picture.  ...So this works out for all.

Since I usually spend one or two weeks at Kirkwood as Pastor-in-Residence, (and taking on this role constitutes 4 weeks) this is not all that unusual for me.  But I wanted to inform all of you, so that you may pray for me, the camp, the campers, the Kirkwood board of directors, and the whole program.

This is a way that Eddington can make a real difference in the ongoing ministry of Kirkwood camp!  Thank you for your support!  It is looking to be a great Summer so far...

Pastor Brecht

~ Send a Kid to Camp ~

Summer Camping season is fast approaching, and I never want to have a kid NOT go to camp because of financial reasons.  If you are able to make a donation to help a kid go to Kirkwood, please let me know!!!

And be in prayer for Kirkwood!  As many of you know, it is a special place!  It's an amazing ministry!  And right now it's going through a rough transition in leadership.  So pray for the continuation and growth of Kirkwood Camp!!!

Thank you!

Pastor Brecht

~ Trinity Sunday ~

This week is Trinity Sunday, which always falls on the Sunday after Pentecost.  This is the Sunday when we recogize God in "Three Persons" - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!

The Trinity is a difficult concept to understand, and no matter how much we think we know about it, there is still parts of it we can't comprehend!  Sometimes we try to make it easier and say those three persons - Father, Son, and Spirit - are the Creater, Reedemer, and Sustainer.  But again, it's not as simple as that.  For example, John tells us in the beginning of his Gospel that Jesus "was in the beginning and all things were created through him and without him was not anything was made that was made."  (So he's not just the Redeemer!)

The simplest explanation, I think, is simply that all three of those persons, Father, Son, and Spirit, are God.  They are not three separate Gods, but three expressions of the one God.  (I know, even that is confusing!)

Perhaps it's best to think of God as doing all three of those things - creating, redeeming, and sustaining.  He does that for each of us.  He gives us this earth and the things he created, and he continues to create in the new life we see around us.  He redeems us in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and he continues to redeem us, bringing us back to himself again and again.  And his strength sustains us in his Spirit living within us, reminding us over and over again of the promise Jesus gave to be with us "to the close of the age."  That is the God we worship, no matter how the Holy Trinity is understood!

May you know God's blessing in all of those ways!

Pastor Brecht

~ Pentecost! ~

This Sunday is Pentecost.  That's the day we celebrate the "Birthday of the Church."  But Pentecost was not a originally Christian Celebration.  It was a Jewish Celebration.  Pentecost was a Jewish festival, also referred to as "Shavout," which commemorates God giving the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai, fifty days after the Passover.  (The beginning of the "Exodus" from Egypt.)  The word "Pentecost" literally means "The 50th Day."

So when Acts 2 begins with the words, "When the day of Pentecost had come..." it meant "the day the Jews traditionally celebrated as Pentecost had come."  It did not mean, "the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles, and they were empowered to start the Christian Church, and so they called the day 'Pentecost.'"  The celebration already existed.  Does that clarify things?

But on that day when the Jews were about to celebrate Pentecost, something amazing happened.  The Holy Spirit did descend upon the Apostles, who were still waiting - hiding, actually - in Jerusalem after the Resurrection of Jesus.  And the lives of those Apostles was changed, and the world would never be the same again!

So the question on Pentecost - which, as in the days of Acts, already exists - how is your life changed?  Will you let it go on as any other celebration that already exists for "other people," but doesn't affect you?  Or will you seek the touch of the Holy Spirit, and be transformed to live the joyful life as God's people with his power within you?

Think about it...

Pastor Brecht

~ Time:  a precious commodity ~ 

One of the most important commodities in our lives and in our world is Time.  We only have a certain amount of it, and it's a precious thing.  In my sermon on Sunday (May 6th) I talked about how the "Dash between the Dates" on a tombstone represents a person's entire life.  And we who are still on earth are "living in that dash."  (You can read that sermon on my "This Week's Sermon" page.)  The time we have on this earth is indeed a precious thing, and we should use it well.

Here are a few thoughts on time:

We should always cherish the time we get to spend with others.  It is an important part of every relationship!  When we look back over our lives - our recent lives, or our entire lives - those times we spend with others become very important!

When someone gives us their time, we should appreciate that and honor it!  It is a gift not to be taken lightly.  We can waste our own time, but it is disrespectful to waste someone else's time.  Whenever I call a meeting, I endeavor to start on time.  If I don't, it is a waste of the time for the people who have arrived on time and are waiting to begin.  I am compelled to honor that time!

Lastly, time moves quickly.  And seemingly the older we get, the faster it goes!  When we were kids, the time until Christmas, seemed to creep by!  Now there doesn't seem to be enough time to prepare!  I lived in Kansas for 20 years.  That doesn't seem too long looking back, but it was equivilant to most of the years of my childhood and formal education!  That seem like a "trick of time" somehow.

We could go on and on!  But as we think about time, may we remember that time is precious.  So, use it well.  Don't waste it!  Honor the time of others.  Cherish the time with loved ones!  You won't regret it!

In Christ, Pastor Brecht

~ The Importance of Easter ~

As we now are in the season of Easter, let me suggest to you some things that Easter means.  I hope this will help you, in your understanding, and in your celebration of this great event.  These are the thoughts with which I ended my Easter sermon.  (You can read the entire sermon on our "This Week's Sermon" page.)

          First, the resurrection means that God has the power.  Sometimes we forget that.  We think he is powerless to do anything in our lives.  On Easter he brought Jesus Christ back from the dead.  He showed us that he has the power! 

          Second, it means that Jesus is who he says he is.  If you believe in his resurrection, which I hope you do, you have to know that Jesus is the Messiah, the son of God.  At the very least, the resurrection proves that. 

          Third, because Jesus is who he said he is, because God proved that by using his great power to raise him, we can know that our salvation is secure, that our sins are forgiven, and that God’s amazing grace is ours!  Sometimes that’s hard to believe.  Sometimes we think we are undeserving.  And the fact is that we are!  But the fact also is that God has given us grace – and that means we get something we don’t deserve! 

          Because of those three things, (and much more!) this event we celebrate today gives us hope and peace beyond imagination in this life – no matter what!  So, I urge you to believe that this Easter Day!  Believe that God loves you – each and every one of you, intimately and personally.  That’s why Easter happened!

The Lord is Risen! 

Pastor Brecht

~ Lenten Discipline ~

We are now in the season of Lent, and I'd like to remind you of the words we used as part of our Ash Wednesday Service that speak of the discipline of this time of year. 

Invitation to Observe a Lenten Discipline

Sisters and brothers in Christ, every year at Easter we celebrate with joy our redemption and renewal through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The season of Lent is a time to prepare for this celebration and to make room in our lives for the Spirit of God to renew us in this mystery.  We begin this holy season by acknowledging our need for repentance and our need for the love and forgiveness shown to us in Jesus Christ.  I invite you, therefore, in the name of Christ, to observe a Holy Lent, by self-examination and penitence, by prayer and fasting, by practicing works of love, and by reading and reflecting on God's Holy Word.  Let us begin our Lenten journey by together confessing our sins and seeking the forgiveness and new life that is promised to us in Christ Jesus.

May we all observe and follow these words as we procede through this Lenten Season 

Pastor Brecht

Lent - now it's serious!!

Wednesday of this week marks the beginning of Lent.  Lent is the 40 days preceding Easter, not counting the Sundays.  (Sundays are not part of Lent!)  Lent is a time of year set up centuries ago by the "Church Fathers" as a time of preparation for Holy Week and Easter.  It is a time when we "get serious."  It's a time when we think of the importance of our faith and it's also a time when we take a serious look at ourselves and try see where we may have failed.  It's time to think about becoming more dedicated, more spiritual, and more "holy."  It is a time we strive to grow closer to God

Yes, that's a lot to think about!  And I hope you will!  So take time each day to think and to pray, and make the choice to "get serious" about your life in God's kingdom.

Lenten Blessings to you all!

Pastor Brecht

~ Annual Congregational Meeting ~

This past Sunday was our Annual Congregational Meeting.  It was the 125th such meeting in our Church's history, and my 7th as your Pastor!  Thanks to all who helped set up, and provide for Lunch.  (If you feed them, they will come!)

I am encouraged as we begin a new year.  Financially, we are still in the red, but there are signs of closing the gap.  If we can remain diligent and generous, and if we can continue to increase our support of the Chruch, that day may yet come!  I'm hoping it will!

For my part, I continue to be blessed to be your Pastor.  This Church has so much going for it!  Just our distribution of ages alone puts us in a better place than many churches!  But I hope we realize that we have - in so many ways - what many, many churches wish they had!

So, I will continue to be your biggest "Cheerleader."  You are a great congregation - One of the best I've ever served!  I will continue to encourage you as you seek to be the people of God.  May God bless us in the year - and the years - ahead!

In his name, Pastor Brecht

~ Reading Scripture ~

As we approach the time of Lent, we will be looking at the earthly life and ministry of Jesus.  And I hope you will make it a point to read some of these stories.  But let me caution you.  Too often we read from the Bible and we read it in our "Bible Voice."  That is we read it in a way that's respectful and holy.  And that's fine.  But sometimes that takes away from the emotion and power of these stories.

I challenge you to re-read those old familiar stories and try to hear them in your mind in a way that protrays the emotions involved.  Experience the fear, the wonder, the astonishment, the anger, and all the other emotions that are found throughout the Gospels.  Try to imagine, not just what the characters were saying, but how they were feeling!  Let the scriptures come alive to you in that way,

We are part of a wonderful story!  It's a story of a time the world had never seen, before or since!  May God open up your eyes to the wonder of that time in history when he walked this earth.

Grace and Peace,  Pastor Brecht

~ Epiphany ~

Epiphany is the 12th day after Christmas.  ("12 Drummers Drumming")  It commemorates the visit of the Maji - the "Wise Men" - to the Christ Child.  The word "epiphany" means "a sudden realization."  You can have an epiphany about something you didn'r realize before, or something you finally understood that you never understood before.

In this case, the world realized that the "Good news of Great Joy" would indeed be "to all people."  The people of Israel were to be the "light to the nations."  But instead, they came to believe that they were the only people with God's favor.  Here this story of the Gentiles coming to the Messiah, was written by Matthew.  He was the Gospel writer who wanted to prove to the Jews that Jesus was their Messiah, foreseen by their prophets.  Ironically, it was he who told us of this amazing scene with these Gentiles worshipping the King of the Jews.

That's an amazing Epiphany!  May it inspire us to know that God loves all people and those who know and love him have the responsibility to tell that good news!

Happy New Year!!

Pastor Brecht

~ The Season of Christmas ~

In the Christian Tradition, December 25th is the beginning of the Season of Christmas.  I know that can sound strange because the stores all say the season of Christmas starts on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving!  (Actually they now just call it the "Holliday Shopping Season.")

To clarify, that season in the Christian Tradition is the "Advent Season."  It runs from the end of November through Christmas and it celebrates the anticipation of Christmas Day.  But the Season of Christmas starts December 25th, and it runs for 12 days until the day of Ephphany, which is January 6.  (That's the source of the Song, "The 12 Days of Christmas.")

I've known some pastors who refused to allow their congregations to sing any Christmas songs until December 25th.  They only allowed Advent Songs.  (Such as "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence".)  I don't agree with that, but I understand the sentiment.  It's not just that they are striving to be "liturgically correct,"  But they see a problem with the confusion of those words about the Month of December.  The other problem is that there is often so much hype, with Christmas music and TV "Specials" starting so early, that many people are tired of Christmas by the time December 25th rolls around!  I used to see people's trees out by the road at noon on Christmas Day!!

This is the time we should be playing the music, giving the gifts, sharing fellowship, and reveling in the Christmas spirit!  So I encourage you to do so.  At the very least, leave your tree and your decorations up for all 12 days of Christmas!  Continue to play the music and keep the Christmas spirit into the New Year.

And may the love of the Child of Bethlehem stay in your heart all year long!

Merry Christmas, Pastor Brecht 

~ Advent Has Begun! ~

My friends, we are now officially in the season of Advent!  (Though the malls started two months ago!)  As we begin this time, as we think about all the things we need to be doing to prepare for Christmas, I'd like us to continue thinking about the new year as well.  Pledges are still being tabulated, and budgets are being crafted.  Please be in prayer for our Church.  And if you have yet to make a pledge, please do so!  The results of our Stewardship Campaign were good, but we still need all of our people to make a commitment to 2011!  You are being good stewards, and that's exciting!  Be part of this good work!

Please take a moment to read my thoughts below, and lets continue in a good direction!

In the joy of the Advent Season,

Pastor Brecht

~ Stewardship Results! ~

A couple of weeks ago, we dedicateed our Stewardship Pledges for 2011.  And I'm plcased to tell you the results.  This has been the most successful Stewardship Campaign during my term as pastor!  Our Church has had needs and challenges at this difficult time, and you have responded!  You are being good Stewards of what God has given us in this place, to his glory!

Now, having said that, are we "out of the woods" yet?  No, we still have a way to go.  But it does appear that we are on that road to recovery.  We have even made up some lost ground on the year in the month of October.  Our overall deficit for the year has been cut!

I am encouraged by that.  And so should you be too!  But do not take this as a time when your support is not needed!  It is needed more than ever!  Our heating oil has gone up a dollar a gallon!  So we may be asking for special contributions to help with that expense.  But as I said, when there has been a special need this year, you have responded!  So, let's be excited about the possibilities for the coming year, and give joyously and generously!

I'm proud of you!

Pastor Brecht

~ Stewardship is Discipleship ~

October is Stewardshp time at Eddington Church.  And as I wrote last week, our theme for this year - and our challenge - is  "Stewardship is Discipleship."  In other words, everything we do in our lives of faith, how we follow our Lord Jesus Christ, how we love and serve God, is our Stewardship.

This week you will be receiving your annual Stewardship letter.  And your Stewardship committee prays that you would read it and think carefully about how important it is to you that our Church be strong and grow in the spirit of Jesus Christ in the coming year.  That is the heart of the message, "Stewardship is Discipleship."

As you think about making a pledge for 2012, know that the leadership of your church is challenging you, just as they have been challenged, to make a pledge, and to be committed as a whole to the ministry of Eddington Church.  Almost the entire board of elders is behind the stewardship effort and is committed to making pledges for the coming year.  It would be great if our whole congregation would respond in kind!

So, start now to think now about all God has done for you!  Think about your life of faith and how important it is to you - or should be to you.  And think about how you will support the ministry of God at Eddington Church in the coming year, as you seek to be Christ's disciples.  We will dedicate our pledges together on Stewarship Sunday, which is November 6th.

In his love, Pastor Brecht

~ 30 Years of Ministry ~

As you may know, the 30th anniversary of my ordination to the ministry came on the 13th of September.  It goes without saying that it's hard for me to imagine that so much time has passed!  Just to give you a hint of the changes that have taken place since that time, let me name just a few.

30 years ago, September 1981, there were no personal computers to speak of.  There were no cell phones.  There were no video games, except for Atari's "Pong."  The internet was unheard of.  The Phillies were still basking in the glow of winning their first ever World Series!  The Flyers hadn't won a Stanly Cup in over 4 years!  In churches, things like computers, VCR's, and Web sites were considered "luxuries."  And when ministers sent their resumes to churches seeking pastors, it took careful typing, special paper, large envelopes, extra postage, and several days transit.  Now it's 3 or four clicks on websites and email attachments!

We've seen a lot of changes!  And many things have become far easier than they ever were!  Even when I became computer literate and word processor oriented, I had several fairly powerful Bible search programs that I used.  Now I find the best tool to use is Google, and I can often do much of my research on my cell phone!  All I need is an internet signal!

I'm grateful for all these things.  But mostly, I'm grateful that God has given me this opportunity to serve him over these years, that he is still teaching me things, and that he has allowed me to reach this milestone!  And I'm glad he has allowed me to be with all of you - Eddington Church as part of his plan.

Let's rejoice in what God is doing in our church.  Let's rejoice in being together and being part of a history of ministry, and for our place in it at this time!  ...and I thank all of you for giving me this opportunity!  I love you all!

In his service, Pastor Brecht

~The Equinox ~

...is passed!  From now until December 21st there will be more darkness each day than light.

That means Fall is officially here!  The Summer flew by!  But this is a wonderful time of the year!  The sights and smells of Autumn are both vivid and unique.  There's a hint in the air of the changing of the leaves.  There's a crispness, a chill, and a clarity around us that spells the end of Summer head and humidity.

There are also many Church programs starting up that coincide with return to school and work.  Sunday School is under way, youth groups are going.  Bible Study is beginning again.  Boards and Committees are meeting.  And this year some special events are happening to mark the 125th anniversary of our congregation.  I hope you have all gotten in your banquet reservations for October 22nd.  It should be a great event!

As we draw closer to that date, may we feel the anticipation grow within us!  May we be more proud of our heritage and our legacy.  May we be glad we are God's people here in this place, part of a long succession of believers carying the torch of Jesus Christ from the time he walked on this earth!

Enjoy these days, my friends!  And speaking of "anticipation,"  It won't be long until the anticipation of the Advent season!

God's blessings on us as a congregation!

Pastor Brecht

~ Thoughts on 9/12 ~

A very difficult day has passed.  I don't know about you, but I was worried.  It has hard enough reliving the images and emotions of that terrible day 10 years ago, but it would have been much worse if something else had happened on that anniversary!  I for one have been praying for those whose job it is to protect us and to prevent anything like that from ever happening again!

But those who would do evil things are often very determined to do them.  And when we live in a free society, it is all too easy for them to succeed, unless we are vigilant.  And so my prayers go out for those who seek to deter those efforts.

In the meantime, may all of us seek to rise above such acts.  May we resist the temptation to sink to the level of those who would do them.  May we set aside the feelings of hatred and revenge that so naturally come at such times, and strive to uphold what is good and noble and beneficial to all humankind.

That is the test of character that our nation has always kept at the forfront of our society.  Let us keep to that course!  And, as Paul told the Romans, may we "not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

God Bless you all, and God Bless America!

Pastor Brecht

~ Financial Update ~

On Sunday, we had a congregational meeting between services to receive an update on our church's financial picture.  (You asked for this meeting at our regular meeting just after the first of the year.)  Thanks to all of you who attended!  The result of adding all the numbers is that we are doing better than this time last year.  Granted, it's not tons better, but there is an improvement and that's important.

Let me say first that I'm very proud of all of you!  These are tough economic times - especially for churches - and when special financial needs were put before you, you responded.  I told our treasurer, Donna, in June that it was time to begin to live as though we do not have reserve funds, in order to preserve those funds for real emergencies in the future!  So we have been attempting to do so.  And so far so good!

My word to you is, keep up the good work!  There are good things happening in our congregation!  Here are some of them:  This year's Vacation Bible School was one of the best ever.  We sent more kids to Kirkwood than any year since I've been here.  (And many of them are talking about going for two weeks next year!!)  Our Sunday School and Youth Groups are gaining in strength and enthusiasm.  Our Bible Study is set to begin again soon.  And of course this is our 125th anniversary year!  There's a big celebration coming!!  These are exciting things!  So I am very encouraged, and I will continue to encourage you!  (Just think of me as your "cheerleader!")

But there is also a challenge.  Making up that shortfall we've been experiencing will not be easy, and it will take the ongoing generosity of everyone in our congregation.  I would encourage you with the words I used when I first came to this church.  "Let's strive to get beyone the money worries and get on to the glory God has for us!"

So be encouraged, and challenged, my friends!

In Christ, Pastor Brecht

~ Kirkwood!! ~

We have a wonderful camp called Kirkwood!  It was my priveledge to be Pastor-in-Residence two weeks ago, and this past week I went up for a couple of days to help out however they needed it.  That ended up consisting of replacing light fixtures, and doing a lot of mowing!  But I was glad to do it!  Kirkwood is one of the most important ministries in our Presbytery!

So I ask you please, support Kirkwood!  Pray for Kirkwood!  Make plans to send your kids, grandkids, neices, nephews, grandkids, etc... to Kirkwood!  If you have any questions about Kirkwood, or just want to hear me tell my fun and experiences over the years, just let me know!

In the meantime, please pray for and support our Church here at Eddington.  It's a great place, with great people, and I am priviledged to be your pastor!

God's blessings on all of us!

Pastor Brecht

We hold these truths...

On Monday, I continued my "New Tradition" of reading the Declaration of Independence each July 4th.  It is an interesting document.  I think the thing that stood out the most this week was this statement.

"Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."

What that means is that they knew they shouldn't take the major action they took for light or minor reasons.  And they recognised the tendency of human beings to keep the status quo, and even suffer hardships, rather than change the things with which they have grown comfortable.

Doesn't that describe us in the church?  "Change" is a difficult word for us to deal with sometimes.  We tend to be resistent to it.  Even when change is inevitable or even beneficial, we tend to hold on to that which we have been comfortable.

Can we even imagine what it was like for those men in Philadelphia to decide that the "long train of abuses and usurpations" had grown too much for them?  Can we imagine the huge step they were taking in deciding to "throw off such government, and provide new guards for their future security?"

What changes do we need to consider in our lives of faith, even though such change might make us uncomfortable?  That is always a hard question.  And like the founding Fathers, we should never make major changes for minor reasons.

As I quoted from the Apostle Paul on Sunday, "The law of the spirit of the life in Christ has set us free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:2)  May we know the major step God took to provide that safeguard for our future security!  As he told the Galatians, "For freedom Christ has set us free.  Stand fast, therefore, and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1)

May we know that Christ changes our lives.  He sets us free.  May we know that, and may we never again submit to that yoke of slavery.  Because some of the "yokes of slavery" are very comfortable to us, aren't they?

Remember your freedom in this country and in Christ.

In his name, Pastor Brecht

~ Summer IS Here!! ~

Well, now the Summer season is upon us.  Now I know many people think Summer begins on Memorial Day Weekend, but even the news and weather people are accurate in pointing out that that weekend is the "unofficial beginning of Summer."  Astronomically, (and I'm a stickler for such things!) Summer begins around June 21st which is the longest day of the year.  And now it's here!  But strangely enough, that means all the days are now getting shorter!  (the earth lags behind the length of daylight in building up the summer heat!)

As I did last week, let me remind you not to forget your church!  Be sure to attend worship throughout the Summer months - where ever you happen to be!  Always be ready to worship with your fellow belivers.

And don't forget your stewardship support.  The obligations for your church continue and need to be paid throughout those months.  If you are away, please make arrangements to continue your support of the church and it's programs.

...And have a great Summer!

In Christ, Pastor Brecht

~ Pentecost! ~

This Sunday is Pentecost.  That's the day we celebrate the "Birthday of the Church."  But Pentecost was not a originally Christian Celebration.  It was a Jewish Celebration.  Pentecost was a Jewish festival, also referred to as "Shavout," which commemorates God giving the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai, fifty days after the Passover.  (The beginning of the "Exodus" from Egypt.)  The word "Pentecost" literally means "The 50th Day."

So when Acts 2 begins with the words, "When the day of Pentecost had come..." it meant "the day the Jews traditionally celebrated as Pentecost had come."  It did not mean, "the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles, and they were empowered to start the Christian Church, and so they called the day 'Pentecost.'"  The celebration already existed.  Does that clarify things?

But on that day when the Jews were about to celebrate Pentecost, something amazing happened.  The Holy Spirit did descend upon the Apostles, who were still waiting - hiding, actually - in Jerusalem after the Resurrection of Jesus.  And the lives of those Apostles was changed, and the world would never be the same again!

So the question on Pentecost - which, as in the days of Acts, already exists - how is your life changed?  Will you let it go on as any other celebration that already exists for "other people," but doesn't affect you?  Or will you seek the touch of the Holy Spirit, and be transformed to live the joyful life as God's people with his power within you?

Think about it...

Pastor Brecht

~ A Thief in the Night ~

By now you've heard all the buzz about the prediction that the end of the world was to have come this past Saturday.  Permit me to make a few comments.

First, what Harold Camping predicted would happen on Saturday was what Christians call "the Rapture."  That word is NOT to be found in the Bible at all, but he event is described by Paul in his first letter to the Thessalonians.  "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven... and the dead will rise in Christ first.  Then we who are alive, who are left, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air."  (I Thessalonians 4:16-17)  Some time later, Christians started to use the word "Rapture" to describe this event.  This mysterious and supernatural "removal" of the Christians from the earth, has been described by many people over the years, the most recent of which was Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins in their series of books entitled "Left Behind."

Second, these passages in which Mr. Camping has claimed to have found the keys to the date of this event are very cryptic in nature.  Books like Revelation, and the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 24 have baffled Christians and Bible scholars for centuries.  Some of the things we find there were written to the church under the Roman persecution in order to give them hope in desperate times.  Some were written as a description of what would happen at the end of time.  But it's often very hard to tell which is which.  The language is cryptic and symbolic, and it's very difficult to figure out what is history and what is intended to be future.  Because of that, many of the people who have tried to figure all this out over the years have mistaken one for the other.

Third, it is interesting that a man, who is so obviously immersed in the scriptures and the passages about the end times, seems to have ignored the passage from Matthew that so many people have pointed out in recent days.  That passage states, "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the son, but the Father only."  (Matthew 24:6)  In light of that, it's also interesting that Harold Camping predicted not only the day but also the hour as well!

Now, let me ask this.  Is it good to think about these things?  Of course it is!  In fact, the church is too often silent about such things.  And we should be considering them!  Jesus said, "From the fig tree learn its lesson.  When its branch becomes tender and it puts forth its leaves, you know that Summer is near.  So also when you see all these things, you know that the Lord is near..."  (Matthew 24:32-33)  We should be considering the "signs of the times."  They show us that we are drawing closer to that day.  But we should also consider that Jesus said the day would come "like a thief in the night."  It would catch many people by surprise.  So, it's our job to live as though every day is the day the Lord will return.

The other thing about all this is that there was certainly a buzz created this past week!  I think we have Mr. Camping to thank for that.  More discussions of Eschatology" (the study of the end times) have taken place amoung believers and non-believers than we have seen in a long time.  I think that's a good thing.

So, I say we should keep up the discussion.  Be thinking about that event that we believe is coming some day.  And always be ready!

In Christ, Pastor Brecht

~ Work Day Thoughts... ~

This past Saturday was our annual Spring Work Day, organized and let by our Trustees.  And I want to say "Thank You" to all who participated!  It was a great day!  Something like 35 people came out, and much needed work got done - just before the rain!  But more than that, we shared good fellowship over some good projects.  And it's been my experience that there's something very special that goes on in the life of a church when people do that.  There's something about working together that's hard to put into words!

So perhaps you remember the old song, "One in the Spirit.  The song has two "verses."  (Besides the first one, depending on how you sing it...)  The first is, "We shall walk with each other, we shall walk hand in hand..."  That's important in the church, being together and sharing the Good News.  "...and together we'll spread the news that God isn in our land."  But the second is also important!  "We shall work with each other, we shall work side by side..."  There's that idea of work and fellowship we shared at Work Day.

So, keep up the "good work," and keep up the fellowship!  I'm very proud of you all!

Pastor Brecht

Kirkwood!

On Saturday, (while many of you were at the Flea Market) I was up at a Kirkwood "Work Day" with several of your youth, starting to get the camp ready for the Summer.  It's time now to be thinking of that Summer camping season!  (There's another Work Day, June 4th!  If anyone wants to go, let me know!)

As you may know, I am on the Kirkwood Board of Directors.  And we see this as a big year for Kirkwood!  It's the 50th anniversary of the camp.  And it's a year we are trying to "turn the corner" on increasing the participation of all of our churches, on making improvements in the facilities, and on making Kirkwood the successful, beautiful place that many of us know it is!

If you are able to help the camp financially, that would be great!  Just let me know, and I will see to it that your gift goes to the right place.  Right now, camp scholarships are needed, both for the youth of our church, and for the camp's scholarship fund which helps all the campers who need it.  We don't want anyone to miss going to camp because of finances!!!

There is a link to Kirkwood's web page on our Home page.  Click on that link, and you can see pictures, and get lots of information.  Check it out!  Enjoy, reminisce, and remember! 

Pastor Brecht

The Season of Easter!

Starting with Easter Sunday, we celebrate the liturgical season of Easter.  I don't know how you celebrated that, but I celebrated it by completely forgetting to update my web site!!!!  Silly me!  So, I'll put both of the past two weeks' sermons on my "This Week's Sermon" page.

Well, I am grateful for this time of year, and the wonderful stories we read, celebrating the fact that Jesus is alive, and nothing can separate us from his love!  And what I want you to remember is that the people in those stories did not have our perspective!  They didn't know what we have come to know about Jesus.  I'd likeyou to try to imagine the fear, the amazement, the disbelief, and all the other reactions they had that first Easter morning, and for all those days afterwards as Jesus continued to appear to them again and again.

It's hard for us to understand that.  But of course, the other side of that coin is that it's hard for us to imagine the joy and glory they experienced!  Too often our celebration of Easter has lost that, and we read these stories in our "bible voice" without any excitement or realization of what we're saying.

Let me encourage you to go back and read again the resurrection stories and the post-resurrection stories from the Gospels and from Acts.  And as you do, try to capture the feeling and the wonder!!

May glory of Easter grow in you and fill you with joy!

In Christ,  Pastor Brecht

~ Holy Week! ~

This week is the most sacred time of the Christian year!  Holy Week begins with the time Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the day we know as Palm Sunday, and it ends on the celebration of his Resurrection - Easter Sunday.

All throughout the season of Lent (of which Holy Week is, of course, the last week!) we have been preparing ourselves - our hearts and our lives - for the events of this week.  And I hope you know that doesn't mean just the services and commemorations.  Yes, I hope you will be part of our Maundy Thursday Agape Feast, which commemorates the Last Supper Jesus shared with his disciples.  Yes, I hope you will be present for the Tenebrae Service - the service of darkness - in which we remember the Passion of our Lord.  I hope you will be part of our Good Friday Service.  And even though that service is contemporary in format, it nonetheless commemorates the solemn and tragic time when Jesus died on the cross and was laid in the tomb.

But besides those "official" events, I hope you will be thinking all week about the events of 2,000 years ago.  I hope you will remember this week as being the last days of Jesus on earth.  It was a time he was in and around the city of Jerusalem.  He was drawing huge crowds where ever he went.  He was preaching, and teaching, and healing, and he was being confronted by those who had become his adversaries.

Perhaps read part of that story each day.  I would suggest the end of Matthew's Gospel, starting at chapter 21.  Or, if you want more of the dialogue and emotion - particularly that of his arrest and trial - you might read the story from John's Gospel, starting at chapter 13.  (or maybe read both!)

I encourage all of you to keep this Holy Week holy!  It is a solemn and sacred time.  Don't let Easter day "sneak up on you."  Don't wake up that morning and think, "Oh, it's Easter!  I wish I had thought about it before now!"  Easter certainly took the world by surprise!  But it was not without a solemn and dramatic build up!!!

Let Holy Week be that for you.

Pastor Brecht

Reminders...

As I've mentioned before, we sometimes think of the idea of "giving something up for Lent."  And I know that's not something we Presbyterians always do, but I've been thinking a lot about it this year.  Because when we make such "sacrifices," I think they help us to remember that it's Lent, and they help us to remember to think about God and our relationship with him.

So I hope you'll consider doing that.  Make a sacrifice for the remainder of the Lenten season.  And let whatever it is you give up remind you of those things.  Whenever you think of that thing, or see whatever it is, let it remind you to think about your relationship with God.

And if you forget, don't worry!  We're not going for "perfection" here, we're going for "devotion."  We want these things to help us to grow closer to God.  That's the idea.

So good luck with those Lenten "reminders."

In Christ, Pastor Brecht

~ Thanks to All ~

My Thanks to all who helped make our Community Lenten Service so successful!  We did a great job hosting the other churches for worship and for fellowship afterwards!  And I want to remind you of the two comments Patty and I always hear from the people we greet after the service.  They say, "I may not make all of these services, but I never miss yours."  And they say, "We wish we had what you have here!"

Be proud of what we have at Eddington!  This is a wonderful congregation with many gifts!

In Christ, Pastor Brecht

~ The Season of Lent ~

This is the season of Lent.  Lent consists of the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter, not including the Sundays.  It is the time of year which the church fathers set aside centuries ago, for taking a good, honest look at ourselves, and for attempting to see where we stand in relationship to God and his kingdom.  It's a time to see where we have fallen short, and where we need to be more faithful.

I hope you have stopped to make such assesments of your life.  Too many people let this time go by without giving it much of a thought.  They arrive at the celebration of Holy Week and Easter, and they look back wishing they had paid more attention!  Whether or not you have chosen to make Lenten "sacrifices" - to "give something up for Lent" - this is still a time when all of us should take extra time to seek to know God better, and to draw closer to him.

So, think about Lent, now!!  Make physical, mental, and spiritual preparations for the celebration which is to come.  Know that you are loved by God, and that you are a new creation in Jesus Christ, our Lord!

In his name, Pastor Brecht

~ March ~

It comes in like a lion, and goes out like a lamb... or so they say.  I don't know about that, but it does come in as Winter, and goes out as Spring - at least according to the astronomical calendar!

I do find it interesting that both of those images are used for Jesus.  He is the "Lion of Judah" and the "Lamb of God."  So perhaps it is good to think in those terms this month!!  Because March is also the season of Lent - depending on when Easter falls.  And during Lent, we think about the ministry and the Passion of Christ.  In his ministry, his power is portrayed in the image of the Lion (Borrowed by C. S. Lewis in the great lion Aslan, the Christ figure in his "Chronicles of Narnia" series.)  And of course his sacrifice is symbolized in being the Passover Lamb.

March is full of rich and wonderful imagery, is it not!  So, enjoy the change of seasons.  Enjoy the new life around you.  And know through the "Lion" and the "Lamb" we too are changed, and we too have new life!!

In him,  Pastor Brecht

~ Get Excited! ~

My friends, sometimes I feel like my job is to be the head cheerleader of Eddington Church!  Think about what cheerleaders do.  They get people excited about the game they're watching!  I want to do that for this congregation.  Because we have a lot to be excited about if only we will see it.  And because people rarely move toward prosperity by concentrating on what's bad.  Things only get better when we look at the good we have and celebrate that!

And I will say again (and again and again...) that we have so much good going for us!!!  We have a great mix of ages in this Church.  We have lots of children.  We have worship experiences for everyone.  Other churches wish they had what we have!!  And though we have been operating at a deficit, (as have many congregations in this economy!!)  we are showing good signs of coming out of that deficit.

So I say, "Good show!"  (Rah, Rah, Rah!!)  I want you to see those good things, and celebrate, and be determined to keep up the good work!!  And yes, I certainly want you to look at your situation realistically!  I want you to to make good plans, and to look at solid numbers so that we can make it all work to the very best of our ability.  But I want you to concentrate on the good we have and the good we do!

I believe in all of you!  I know you have what it takes!  And believe me, I've been around people who didn't!  I've known people for whom the glass is always "half empty" and they have no motivation to "fill it up."  So I ask you to get excited!  Know that you are God's people here in this place at this time!

Let's pray for God's blessings and prosperity in our Church

In Christ, Reverend Brecht

~ 40 years! ~

We are celebrating our 125th anniversary, and on Sunday we had a luncheon during which we honored those who have been members of Eddington Church for more than 40 years.  During that luncheon, Adrienne shared with us some trivia about life over the years of the lives of those honorees.

I got to thinking about that and I looked up some facts of my own.  I took the year 1971, 40 years ago.  I'll leave these up for a couple of weeks just in case you didn't get to read them yet.  For example:

How Much things cost in 1971:

• Yearly Inflation Rate USA 4.3%
• Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average 890
• Average Cost of new house $25,250.00
• Average Income per year $10,600.00
• Average Monthly Rent $150.00
• Cost of a gallon of Gas 40 cents
• Datsun 1200 Sports Coupe $1,866.00
• United States postage Stamp 8 cents
• Ladies 2 piece knit suites $9.98
• Movie Ticket $1.50

Events in the world: