Father, we praise the awesome power of your love and grace poured out to us in the gift of your Son. You sent the Lord Jesus to share the weakness of our worldly existence and yet bring the saving power of your Kingdom to bear on our sufferings, troubles, and misguided lives. Every year in…

Last week I was in New York City. It’s pretty much an annual trip in early December for Anne and me. Since two of our three adult kids reside there, it gives us a great excuse to go. We get to see the kids, run a race in Central Park together, soak in a little…

In this month’s episode of Life in Fellowship, TFC  Board President Mike McClenahan talks with TFC Board member James Cubie, pastor at Mattituck Presbyterian Church in Long Island, New York, about the TFC value of Jesus-Shaped Identity and how it shapes discipleshipin their ministries. Watch the conversation on YouTube:

Father, we praise you and give thanks for the bounty of your gifts; especially the gift of life, which we receive by your grace, and the new life you give in Jesus Christ. The world surrounds us with images and ideas trying to convince us that we don’t have enough material wealth, popularity, beauty, or…

Our church has been in the Gospel of Luke for an entire year.  We started in Advent of 2020 and just kept going. We did skip ahead during Lent and Easter 2021 to synch with the cross and resurrection, then went right back to where we were.  Now we’ve nearly finished, having completed roughly 50…

Father, we raise our prayers to you for our human family. May your love and grace abound in our homes in whatever form those homes may take. We ask that you give all a place to live where there is love, affection, nurturing, the sharing of burdens, and security. Keep away bitterness, anger, strife, and,…

In this month’s episode of Life in Fellowship, TFC  Board President Mike McClenahan talks with TFC Board member John Joseph, associate pastor at Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church, about the TFC value of Biblical Integrity and how it shapes John’s ministry with students. Watch the conversation on YouTube:

Father, you have made each of us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son. We pray that you look with compassion on the whole human family. Extend your grace, love, and strength to those who are struggling with losses endured resulting from natural disasters. Continue to provide wisdom and good judgment…

Harold…is a character. He’s 62 years old, a large and tall man who is part of our church family and recognizably needy in a number of ways. He lives in a subsidized apartment half an hour from the church and is on disability.  Harold shows up for volunteer landscape duty every Wednesday at the church,…

In this month’s episode of Life in Fellowship, TFC Board Secretary Dan Baumgartner talks with Board President Mike McClenahan, pastor at Solana Presbyterian Church, about his recent experience on the camino in Spain and how it relates to TFC’s value of Jesus-Shaped Identity. Watch the conversation on YouTube:

Father, as we continue to struggle to find our way through the difficulties of this pandemic amid all the other complications and difficulties of life we ask that you make us always remember your generosity and that nothing is more important than faithfully doing your will. Guide us as we anticipate sending our children back…

In this month’s episode of Life in Fellowship, TFC Board Chair Mike McClenahan talks with Board member Mark Perry, commissioned ruling elder serving at First Presbyterian Church of Peru, Indiana, about our value of Leadership Velocity. Watch the conversation on YouTube:

“I’m feeling lost. I felt so sure about my calling to be a pastor, but right now I’m uncertain.  I’m busy, maybe too busy, doing tasks but it’s not what I imagined doing as a pastor.”  I’ve overlaid five different comments from five different pastor friends to come up with the above quote. All of…

In this month’s episode of Life in Fellowship, TFC Board Chair Mike McClenahan talks with Board member Jerry Andrews, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of San Diego, about the TFC value of Thoughtful Theology. Watch the conversation on YouTube:

Father, you made each of us in your own image and redeemed us through your Son, Jesus Christ. We ask that you look with compassion on all of us. Take away the arrogance and hatred that infect too many of the hearts of those who cling to ideas, knowledge, and truths of human origin and…

I was honored to worship with the congregation of the Chestnut Level Presbyterian Church on May 16 while Rev. John Hartman led worship with my congregation at the Elkins Park Presbyterian Church as we engaged in a pulpit swap. I had worshipped with Chestnut Level before, but from the pews not the pulpit. My family…

Twenty-five years ago, I was just starting ordained ministry in Minneapolis. I was the poster child of an eager young pastor, heading on the Crosstown freeway for my first hospital visit to see a 90-year old woman named Agnes, whom I had never met.  She had earned her three-day stay at the hospital by coming…

Father of all hope and promise, we come to you as a people who are weary of lives that can be difficult enough without the added worries and seemingly endless precautions and restrictions caused by this pandemic. We see a world divided in so many ways filled with anger, mistrust, and misinformation and see little…

A Word to Friends in Ministry                                               April 30, 2021 revTFC Dan Baumgartner     Come to my help, O God; Lord, hurry to my rescue.  Those words drifted up into the sky with a hushed holiness, almost a reverence.  The Session of our small church in Santa Rosa, CA was holding its monthly…

In this month’s episode of Life in Fellowship, TFC Board Chair Mike McClenahan talks with Jim Witherow, TFC Board treasurer, about accountable community and his experience with his Mission Affinity Group (MAG) in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Watch the conversation on YouTube: