Pastor Kerry has moved to my neck of the woods! MJ, Jonathon, and I are overjoyed! He is such a great person. As I entered the doors of First Presbyterian this morning I was greeted by Carlyn with a big wave…I immediately felt welcome and that I had arrived back home. I still feel like a bit of a visitor in that I have been attending church over Zoom since 2020 due to our Pandemic. Kerry and I chatted after service and I was reminded of how much I like him.

Kerry mentioned in his sermon this morning that our lives are a journey of doubt and then the resolving of doubt…only to have doubt return and the process begins anew. This a perfect description of my Christian Walk over the past 53 years. We had a fire in our neighborhood last evening. Fire is scary and when you see it close up…it is chilling. It is my understanding that the occupants of the dwelling got out safely…but it is a reminder that life can change in a moment…even at Christmas.

I visited with Bill Martens who is one of the nicest people that I know. He told me how his wife Jane is so appreciative of Jonathon working at Morris Library. Jane recently was awarded the Human Rights Defender Award 2022 by the United Nations Association (UNA-USA) Southern Illinois Chapter. Jane and Bill’s work to help others is like nothing that I have ever witnessed.

Home is where the heart is…First Presbyterian Church @ Carbondale is a Home that welcomes all who enter…