Weekly Letter, 12/15/2022
The Rev John Mark Wiggers • December 15, 2022

Dear Friends,


This past Sunday, Brian Austin preached a fine sermon in which he pointed out that on two occasions when Jesus quoted the prophet Isaiah, he highlighted the hope God brings, but left out the vengeance that Isaiah spoke of. We live in a world familiar with folks who see vengeance as the answer. Some even call that justice. God's justice shows up as God comes among us as one of us. Indeed Jesus calls us to change our minds and hearts, but not by threatening vengeance. Jesus comes declaring hope and calling us to love. 


Many of us enter the holidays anxious, grieving, and frantic. We want to get the right presents, a relative's Christmas letter makes us envious, and we miss that loved one who isn't with us this year. In those things too we know God with us. We bring all of those things with us as we light a candle, sing familiar songs, and hear the words of the prophets declaring a future of hope and healing. As we celebrate this season may we know the love of Christ and share it.


I am grateful to be part of a community that lights a candle in the darkness and offers hope. I am grateful for your gifts of time, talent, and treasure. I am full of hope as we look to a future of continuing to share the Good News of Christ in and from this place. Our Christmas Eve celebrations will hold all that hope and gratitude. Join us on December 24 at 4:00 PM for Eucharist with a child-friendly sermon and familiar carols. For a more formal celebration come for the 10:30 PM musical prelude followed by Eucharist at 11:00. Remember that we will have only one service on December 25 at 10:00 PM. 


God bless you in this holy season. 


Fr. John Mark

By John Mark Wiggers June 12, 2025
By John Mark Wiggers June 5, 2025
By John Mark Wiggers June 5, 2025
By John Mark Wiggers May 22, 2025
By John Mark Wiggers May 15, 2025
By John Mark Wiggers May 12, 2025
Friends and Neighbors, This Sunday is Mother's Day and also Good Shepherd Sunday. Both celebrations have been shaped and changed over the years. Good Shepherd Sunday got the name as we do read the passage from John 10 about Jesus the Good Shepherd, and Mother's Day has roots going back to Mothering Sunday in England. The establishment of Mother's Day in the United States was motivated by the recognition of the work of Ann Reeves Jarvis, Julia Ward Howe, and Anna M. Jarvis. These women worked for sanitary health care for soldiers and were advocates for peace during the Civil War. They imagined a union of mothers who would call for peace because mothers knew so deeply the loss of their children to war. Mothering and shepherding call for similar qualities of protection and care.
By John Mark Wiggers May 12, 2025
We continue celebrating Easter as we move into a month full of celebrations and transitions. I am looking forward to just hanging out with folks this Saturday night at our spaghetti dinner. You can find details about that in this email. Please mark your calendars for the annual Justice Knox Celebration on May 19 from 6:30 PM- 8:30 PM at First Presbyterian Church. We will have dinner and share stories about the next steps. You will also be asked to consider making an investment in the work of Justice Knox. I hope that you will consider giving to this important ministry.
By John Mark Wiggers April 24, 2025
Alleluia. Christ is risen. We celebrated the resurrection with so much joy this past Sunday. The Easter feast continues for 50 days. Thank you to everyone who made Holy Week and Easter Sunday so special. You helped people feel welcomed to this place where we proclaim the welcoming love of Christ in word, deed, song, Easter egg hunts, and something good to eat. We welcome others because we have known the love of Christ and want to share it.
By John Mark Wiggers April 17, 2025
Friends and Neighbors, As we journey through Holy Week, I encourage you to pause and consider those events that lead us to the joyful celebration of Easter. May that also be reflected in our lives. We walk through hard things and know that God is with us. We hold to the hope that nothing can separate us from the love of God.
By John Mark Wiggers April 17, 2025
Friends and Neighbors, As the weather teases us with warm days followed by chilly ones, we enter Holy Week. You have probably heard me encouraging folks to experience the journey to the cross and the grave so we might celebrate the resurrection with that insight. God has shared this human experience and is with us in the darkness and the light. Our liturgies of Holy Week take us on that journey with Jesus and remind us that God is indeed with us on our own journeys.
Show More