Category Archive

Jesus Was in Church on Sunday and I Took a Selfie with Her!

Her father introduced her after worship and casually mentioned that she had been the live Baby Jesus in the Christmas Eve pageant back in 1973.

Because my brain has been trained in biblical exegesis and I exegete everything, I immediately decided I needed to learn more about 1973. Here’s a few things I discovered about 1973: Ralph Bolin was mayor of Napa. Rev. Jerry Lowe was pastor of Napa First United Methodist Church.… Read the rest “Grace Note Vol. 1.5”

Two weeks ago, I shared my experiences of my new appointment at Napa Methodist Church with a group of United Methodist clergywomen. I told them about preparing for my first funeral in this new ministry setting. You see, Doris, who lived to be 103, had been a member of this congregation for 47 years. I was keenly aware that she had helped build this church and her fingerprints were on pretty much everything here. Doris died just 15 days before I arrived so I had not met her. Her… Read the rest “Grace Note Vol. 1.4”

Dear Members and Friends of Napa United Methodist Church,

United Methodist pastors are appointed on a year-to-year basis. That’s what clergy and churches sign up for. You would imagine both pastors and churches would be used to this system.  But none of us gets completely used to it.

I have been reflecting on the little heartbreaks nobody warns you about when you move.

Nobody tells you that you will miss the mailman who still remembers how, during the pandemic, you’d slipped him a $20 bill every now and then in gratitude.… Read the rest “Grace Note Vol. 1.3”

July 9, 2026

Dear Members and Friends of Napa Methodist Church,

My first Sunday as your pastor is now in the books, and I count it a great success! Because I am known to be both long-winded and a total klutz, my goals were simple: meet the children and learn their names, navigate the sanctuary steps without a public faceplant, avoid dropping any of the gifts of ministry entrusted to me, read the prayer cards without butchering anyone’s name beyond recognition, and finally end worship within the hour on a Communion Sunday with so many moving parts.… Read the rest “Grace Note Vol. 1.2”

Dear Members and Friends of Napa UMC,

I am here! I arrived in Sacramento on Tuesday, June 30, rented a car at the airport, spent the night at an Airbnb in Fairfield, and like many clergy in the denomination who were starting in their new appointments, I reported for my first day at the church on Wednesday, July 1.

What a wonderful welcome I received on my Day 1. I entered the parking lot about the same time as Loie and Dave Whitmer who had come to welcome me with most delicious peaches from their tree.… Read the rest “Grace Note Vol.1:1”