Dear Fellow Centralites, Last month marked the 50th anniversary of the Woodstock Music festival. Most of us remember that muddy mess of music and if not, the tunes made famous that weekend still get frequent radio play. I recently heard one those “Summer of ‘69” songs: “No Time,” by The Guess Who. It includes the… Read More »

YOUNG & STRONG & GOD-SEEKING Nothing we ever do to affirm a young person is ever wasted! I am fresh off of a week helping lead a kayak adventure camp for our UMC conference. There was plenty of fresh air, hikes over mountains, deep conversations around the campfire, and the beauty of Lake Superior. Our… Read More »

Dear Friends, I’ve been thinking about graphs lately. I’m not mathematically inclined, so I like mine with pictures, like the pizza pictograph here. My choice would have been veggie pizza, but I guess that choice doesn’t register enough votes to count. Oh well; pizza, no matter how you slice it, is good! Our recent church… Read More »

GOD SHOWS UP, INSIDE & OUT “God is in all things”   -Ignatius of Loyola This June marks a milestone for me. I’ve served as one of your pastors here at Central Church for a full decade. And while I’ve no interest in using this column to reminisce on  the past,  I do want to name… Read More »

Dear Friends, Spring has sprung and the church season of Easter is calling up resurrection life everywhere. Central Church was busting with this life on Easter Sunday as over 1100 people attended worship services. The Easter message reminds us that Christ is alive and on the move; empowering his people, the church, to be signs… Read More »

“I know I made some mistakes, but I just want to get out of here and work to support my family”. This was how the 30-something earnest man in orange began our conversation as we sat in the visitor room at the Grand Traverse County Jail last week. I have come to know the names… Read More »

Members and Friends of Central United Methodist, I know many of you listened closely as our denomination met in a special General Conference session earlier this week to discuss and decide a way forward for the UMC regarding our ministry to and with sisters and brothers who are gay. Whether you have been attentive or… Read More »

Changes Ahead for the Global UMC – But No Need to Panic Thoughts by Pastor Chris TC Central Church is part of the worldwide United Methodist Church. We are a huge denomination, but one that has been in transition since its original founder, John Wesley, broke away from London’s Fetter Lane Christian Society to start… Read More »

I turned 60 years old last Saturday. I wasn’t real excited about this milestone, but many of you assured me it will be all right. One of you said, “sixty is the new forty” and others, “the sixties are good years, live into them.” One 88-year-old told me, “you’re just a kid”. That was my… Read More »

I am troubled by today’s headlines, as you too may be. At our nation’s southern border, a caravan of persons from Central American countries are confronted by riot police and tear gas, in an effort to turn them away from attempting to enter our country. They wait in makeshift shelters in Tijuana, Mexico for word… Read More »