Pastor's Life - Looking back

Why you should look at your old cringey sermons by Rev. Chris Dela Cruz Pastors, have you ever gone back and looked or listened to one of your old sermons? With the internet, thoughts that may have come out of a 4 a.m. sprint 10 years ago are forever preserved for anyone to hear. Go further back in your filing cabinet, and you may be able to pull up sermons from your first congregations, or even during seminary. What is that experience like? Does your face grimace at insights you thought were so profound but were actually short sighted? Does your heart sink looking at theological principles you have long abandoned? Did you say things out of reaction to particular dramas in your congregation that you wish you could take back now? Maybe it’s just me, but it is a little bit like looking at old photo albums and chuckling at the fashion choices made decades ago. Except wearing those weird-looking pants weren’t stamped with proximity to the Word of God.

Rev. Chris Dela Cruz is an ordained Presbyterian pastor and the Director of Youth Initiatives of Together Lab, organizing faith communities across Oregon for young people to thrive and support for the adults who care for them. His background includes newspaper journalism, youth and college ministry, congregational pastoral ministry, and community organizing.

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Homecoming, and Coming Home - Lectionary Preview　 At the beginning of July, many people travel back to their hometown. The lectionary for July speaks of Jesus returning to his hometown. "Our allegiance is ultimately to the kingdom of God, and our call is to engage in kingdom building work, not on behalf of one particular nation, but on behalf of all of God's precious children all around the world," writes Rev. Greg Allen-Pickett. Church Financial Literacy Grant Program The Presbyterian Foundation is accepting applications for matching grants to help pastors attend financial education events, including Stewardship Kaleidoscope. Visit our website for more information and to submit an application.