Our Pastor

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Hey folks,

I've been taking ukulele classes with encouragement from Glenn and Tina Quinton. In the future I think I  shall accompany all my sermons with ukulele.  Well, maybe not. One of the great things about our church and Langley  is the number of creative artists we have in our midst. There are song writers, poets, authors, painters, sculptors, quilters, and on and on.  Someone recently said in conversation that we are most like God when we are creative. I agree with that. Creating something for others to experience is a vulnerable and risky thing to do. Perhaps we should think of creation  as God's act of vulnerability and risk. Like all creators, God gets hurt by how people respond to their creations. I find this to be wonderfully consistent with a gospel that stands in solidarity with those who suffer. Buddhism begins with the acceptance that life is filled with suffering. Christianity owns up to this as well. There is something bittersweet about it all. I am glad to be here creating and suffering with you and with God. 

If you would like to have a conversation with me, email me at john@whidbey.com, and we’ll set up a time.