East Orrington Congregational Church

Pen of Power

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James 1:17
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

My dear church family,

Every now and then, I find myself stepping back and asking a simple question:  What a gift this life really is. Not the polished, everything-goes-right kind of life we sometimes imagine, but the real one—the one filled with early mornings, late night phone calls, unexpected turns, laughter that catches you off guard, and yes, moments that take your breath away for reasons you never would have chosen. And yet, through it all, we have been given something extraordinary. We have been given life, we have been given each other, and most importantly, we have been given the One who holds it all together. Scripture reminds us that every good and perfect gift comes from above, and over the years I have come to see more clearly that this includes even the moments we didn’t initially recognize as gifts—though I will admit, some of those “gifts” took a little longer to appreciate than others. At times these moments seemed impossible to think anything good can come from them. 

If I’m being honest—and the Lord knows I try to be—when I first stepped into this role over 20 years ago, I thought I had something to offer. I had plans,  ideas, business savvy, and maybe even a few “really good sermons” tucked away. And perhaps most humbling of all, you have taught me that love is  not something we talk about once a week—it is something we live, often quietly, often imperfectly, but faithfully. It is the base of every sermon I have preached and I can see it become reality. 

Now, let’s not pretend it has all been easy. We’ve had our moments—moments where we didn’t all agree (and for the record, some of you are still wrong—but we love you anyway), moments where the world outside these walls felt like it was spinning faster than we could keep up, and moments where the weight of life pressed in close. There have also been times within our own church family that tested us. But here is what I have seen over and over again: for the most part we did not walk away from one another. We leaned in, we prayed, we listened (sometimes after a little delay), and we remembered whose we are. In doing so, we didn’t just get through those seasons—we were strengthened by them, not because we are perfect, but because Christ has been faithful.

I would not be telling the whole truth if I didn’t also say this journey has come with its share of weight. There have been moments of deep joy, but also moments of deep pain—times when some we loved chose a different path and their absence was felt, times when disagreements became heavier than they should have and we saw, in ourselves and in one another, responses that didn’t always reflect the grace we believe in, and times when forgiveness wasn’t immediate and healing took longer than we expected. Times when forgiveness happened but reconciliation stayed at a distance. And yes, there have been moments where I have fallen short—moments where I could have listened more, spoken more carefully, or led differently. Those are not things you simply forget; they stay with you in quiet ways. This journey has not been without cost, some of which I will carry quietly with me. There have been seasons where I have felt the weight of it deeply, carrying conversations, decisions, and responsibilities that don’t always get seen from the outside. And yet, here is what I know: those moments did not define me or us—they shaped us. They brought us back again and again to the question that matters most: whose are we? And in that returning, something beautiful has taken place. We have learned, sometimes slowly and sometimes the hard way, that we belong first to Christ, and because of that, we have found our way back to one another. One body in Christ Jesus.

There is something quietly powerful about what God has built here. In a world that often feels divided, loud, and uncertain, this place—this church family—has become something different. It is a place where love is not just spoken, but practiced. Where people are seen, known, and cared for, and where, despite all the noise around us, we continue to center ourselves on Jesus. I truly believe this: love has not only grown here, it has guided us. 

As I reflect on these past 20+ years, I do so with a heart that is deeply grateful—grateful for the laughter we’ve shared, grateful for the tears we’ve walked through together, and grateful for the ways you have allowed me to walk alongside you in some of the most sacred moments of life: weddings, baptisms, hospital rooms, funerals, tragedies, and ordinary Sundays that turned out to be anything but ordinary. Somewhere along the way, without even realizing it, you became family.

I will say this plainly: you have taught me far more than I could ever have taught you. You have shown me what faith looks like when it is lived out in real life, not just spoken from a pulpit, and for that, thank you feels far too small. I have learned from situations where grace did not lead the moment and anger found footing. But through it all, love won out, peace proved stronger than emotions, and Jesus’ commend to love one another as I have loved you rose to victory. So today, I simply want to say thank you—for trusting me, for walking with me, and for loving one another in ways that reflect Christ more than you probably even realize. And most of all, thank you for being part of this beautiful, sometimes messy, always meaningful journey that God has given me. My sister gave me a pillow once that said, “we may not have it all together , but together we have it all.”

With each passing day, I come to realize time on this earth is short and Life is a gift—not because it is easy, but because it is held—held by the One who created us, redeemed us, and continues to walk with us, and held, in part, by each other.

With a deeply grateful heart, and still learning right alongside you, 

Pastor Carl

Love is the only answer, love is our cross to bear.

1 Thessalonians 5:24
"The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it."