Off the Wall - Thoughts from Pastor Alan Dorway
May 2013
I’ve grown up in the church. I was baptized when I was five years old and I have fond memories of Sunday School, my teachers, and the overall atmosphere of care and love I found in church. I was confirmed, sang in the choir, played handbells, and had amazing youth group formational friendships and faith development steps in my life...
April 2013
Every once and awhile, I need to be reminded of how small I am. I don’t know about you but my ego and my tendency to think that the world revolves around me can get out of control. Please hear me correctly, I do not like when this happens and I try to balance my life as best I can...
February 2013
This past week, Bailee (our dog and faithful companion for 10.5 years) died. I’d like to thank many people who have cared and loved me as I adjust to a quiet house and no morning walks. Yes, I complained about him, but as I've mentioned before and I’m sure I’ll mention again...
January 2013
It is difficult to think about the New Year when we have not yet celebrated Christmas. I have not written my sermon for the 23rd, let alone prepared my heart for the swelling of gratitude I feel when the lights of our candles remind us of the light of Christ...
December 2012
What is your go to memory of Christmas? What is the memory you automatically return to every time you hear a Christmas carol or song or see a tree lit up or smell the baking of holiday treats? Maybe we don’t just have one, but I’m sure we all can think of those moments, even as near as last year, that come to mind as we dream and think about Christmas this year. I’ve mentioned baking cookies with my mother...
November 2012
I walked the labyrinth. Yes, I took the time on my recent conference at the Mo Ranch Conference Center in Texas to walk the camp’s labyrinth. Now the function and purpose of a labyrinth is a spiritual practice where one walks along a path in a singular non-branching path that leads to the center and then back out again. This is a practice where...
October 2012
As we move into October, it is once again time to renew our individual and congregational practice of biblical financial stewardship. Our continued stewardship focus will be on growing in faith, listening to God’s call, living out our discipleship.
Session has affirmed the Consecration Sunday approach...
September 2012
September is that “get back in the swing of things” type of month. Bizarre really. I don’t know why it is, but every September I associate back to school, the changing of the seasons, and the beginning of football as a completely different time of the year. For me, every year, we look toward the warm weather of our summers. Here that warmth is about two...
August 2012
Thank you for understanding the computer and technical difficulties last month. I dropped a cup of coffee on the corner of my computer and through a series of twists, my computer died. So, I bought a new computer, was able to save my hard drive from the other one, and now...