The 23rd Psalm is palimpsest, trace of words and lines visible as new words and lines are written over, a kind of history or record, faintly visible, yet there, present, though past. God’s promises—are written over the layers of our lives, always present even when obscured by fear or doubt. God’s goodness and mercy do not merely follow us passively but actively pursue us, with Christ as both gate and shepherd—drawing us into healing and sending us back out into new life with assurance and abundance
Easter Shout: Easter Sunday April 5 2026 Mary Magdalene weeps outside the empty tomb, overwhelmed by grief and convinced that someone has taken Jesus’ body, leaving her feeling powerless and alone. When Jesus calls her by name, he breaks through her sorrow, revealing himself and transforming her despair into recognition and hope. He then sends her to tell the disciples, and she becomes the first to proclaim the resurrection: “I have seen the Lord.”
What is Truth? A Good Friday, March 27, 2026 Pilate’s question “What is truth?” reveals his focus on political power and self-preservation rather than any deeper moral or spiritual truth, as he ultimately chooses to crucify Jesus to maintain order and protect his position. The worldly “truth” of power, violence, and control contrasts with the deeper truth revealed on the cross—God’s presence, love, and solidarity with the suffering. Good Friday exposes the illusion of human authority and reveals that true power lies in Christ’s sacrifice and God’s saving work.
Something New: Maundy Thursday March 26, 2026 The task of foot-washing was reserved for the lowest and most overlooked people, revealing a radical redefinition of power and status. By serving even those who would betray or abandon him, Jesus shows that true leadership means lifting others up and treating all people with dignity. This act becomes the foundation of the “new commandment”—to use whatever power or position we have to love and serve others as he did.
Like those who sought out John the Baptist in the wilderness, we come to worship longing for renewal, courage, justice, and the assurance that we belong to God. He called us to repentance not as shame, but as transformation—an honest return to our shared story so we can step faithfully into the future God is preparing.
Second Sunday of Advent 2025: Why We Return to God
Advent is a season of wakefulness—an invitation to resist spiritual numbness and stay alert to God’s unfolding work in a weary world. It is time to rise, prepare, and live expectantly, trusting that God’s light and justice are drawing near even when the night feels long.
You may have learned from news reports that Morgan Geyser, one of the perpetrators of the 2014 Slender Man stabbing in Waukesha, attended services at Good Shepherd’s Madison campus the past few weeks. No one at the church, nor the Madison Police Department, knew she had been moved to a group home near the Madison campus. While visiting Good Shepherd, she became friends with another recent attendee, Chad “Charly” Mecca. Saturday night, police said Geyser, with Mecca’s help, cut off her ankle bracelet and tried to flee the state. Geyser and Mecca were found at a truck stop outside Chicago and now face charges.
Our leadership acknowledges this incident touched Good Shepherd and affirms our responsibility to address congregational concerns. Good Shepherd is cooperating fully with law enforcement and, at this time, has no indication anyone else in our church community was involved.
Good Shepherd is committed to welcoming all to love God by building inclusive, grace-filled communities where everyone belongs. At the same time, we understand the importance and challenge of creating and maintaining a safe worship environment for our members and visitors.
We will continue our ongoing review of Good Shepherd’s safety and security plans in the next few weeks as we seek to balance our mission to welcome all, while keeping our members and visitors safe.
Although our modern world feels chaotic, human time and its troubles don’t bind God, whose resurrection justice is rooted in mercy for all. Speaking of human distractions, Job’s struggle and the reality that the righteous suffer while the wicked prosper, show us that we should not be consumed by distractions but trust them to God, who is big enough to hold our confusion and vulnerability
This month will be my one-year anniversary of serving at Interim Lead Pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. It has been a whirlwind. I am just now beginning to reflect on how much we have accomplished together, setting the table for the Lead Pastor GSLC calls to serve.
I have begun updating my sermons page, not knowing when it will be time to serve another church as an Interim Pastor. I am in no rush, I hasten to add, glad for the time I am given to serve GSLC.
God bless you all my friends. I will be in touch again soon.
First sermon at Good Shepherd Lutheran church, on the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost, as we begin the longest season of the church year–our growing season.
On the final Wednesday of our Lenten Re:Confirmation program, we talked about church history, how the UCC formed in 1957 bringing together several Reformation churches, including Congregationalist churches like ours.
I brought one of the many dinner plates in our kitchen with the name “Union Congregational Church of Windsor” embossed in gold leaf.
“Union of what?” I asked.
The answer didn’t spring to mind, and neither could we say when the Union Congregational Church of Windsor became Windsor United Church of Christ–how and why the church decided to join the UCC, how it managed such a momentous decision.
The next day, Susan Norby sent some photos of a church directory with a black-and-white picture of the inside of the “blue church,” which is now our Narthex. We enter and exit to and from our current sanctuary by way of its still-standing brick wall.
Along with the photo of the blue church was this brief history:
In 1845, a group of settlers started holding services with a Congregational minister as their leader. In 1847, the first church was organized and had a Baptist affiliation. In 1851, the Congregational Church of Windsor was formed. In 1858, people of the Baptist, Methodist and Congregational faiths united and formed the Union Congregational Church of Windsor.
The first church building was erected in 1862 and some 40 years later was moved to its present site. In 1956, the present parsonage was built; and in 1967, the present church was built and the old church was remodeled for use in church related activities.
Our church has grown from a small group of seven people who met in a one-room schoolhouse to a congregation of 300 active members who worship and work in a modern well-kept facility.
This history is telling. The churches united in 1858 were not of different faiths but denominations of the same Christian faith. And then there is the question of what species of Baptist were part of the union, Baptists being as diverse as Lutherans. It would be good to know more.
From Congregational United Church of Christ, to Windsor Union Congregational Church, to Windsor United Church of Christ in 1991, this brief history reveals that the spirit of uniting diverse people from different worshiping communities is in the DNA of our congregation.
With a heart full of love and heavy with the weight of this decision, I write to resign as your Pastor. I have accepted a call to serve as Interim Lead Pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Madison and Verona. My last day serving as your Pastor will be Sunday, April 21.
Thanks to the leadership of our Church Council, our congregation has begun the work of transforming conflict into energy for growth and renewal. This work will make it possible for the congregation to agree to its mission and vision and, in time, unite to call a new Pastor.
Leaving you is a hard thing to do. I would dearly love to be with you through the next chapter in the story of the congregation. We have been through so much together. Though it is not the timing I would choose, now is a good time, the right time, for me to leave.
I struggle to put into words why this time feels right. There has been such a lovely outpouring of support for my ministry with you. I can see more clearly than ever the impact of my time serving as your Pastor. But I can also see the congregation is poised to set the course for the future. Now is a good time for us to move into the future on our separate paths.
On our last Sunday, April 21, we will celebrate a Service of Parting, led by Rev. Rachel Bauman. I do hope you will join me for this important time of thanking God for all we have learned, asking for forgiveness, and releasing one another from our mutual covenants.
I thank God for you and will hold you in my heart as we continue in the way of our Savior.
Suppose It Matters 