First Presbyterian Church of Valparaiso

Those familiar with Shakespeare’s play Richard III will recognize that phrase as the opening lines of that play. It then became the title of a John Steinbeck novel in 1961. That same phrase is now used to refer to any difficult political situation that occurs during the months of winter. With less than two weeks to go until the mid-term elections are over, there is a lot of discontent being thrown at us in the multitude of messages from both political parties that are dominat

A little over the last month and a half ago, you have heard myself and a handful of us speak during Sunday service as to how being a part of First Presbyterian Church of Valparaiso has enriched our lives. I have loved the way the raw and real emotions our stories have made ourselves and others feel, and I hope that this could be the start of an ongoing “lead-in” to Sunday services. Right now, we are in the midst of our annual Stewardship Campaign and my first one ever as part

These days I experience change at the core of my life, noting the discomfort inherent in a lifetime of change. I changed career paths more than once and retired more than once. I love five children who now live in five states, east and west coasts – none of them in Indiana – and I miss them. My sons are 30 years older than my daughters, leaving me in the unique space of being a grandparent of young twenty-somethings, and the mother of twenty-somethings. Each birthday brings m

This month, our Faith Formation (“FF”) Team is sharing a unit on honoring God’s diversity from the Follow Me curriculum. This past Sunday, we gathered – children, youth, and adults – to share our own experiences and pray for God’s guidance as we seek to be more intentional about welcoming and celebrating all His creation. We drew portraits of our households and discussed what makes ours unique, and how we are the same. We talked about how different cultures use different brea

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his benefits – who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,” -Psalm 103: 1-3 I remember the incident as if it happened yesterday. Oh, wait, it did just happen yesterday! Yes, this Monday seemed like it would be as mundane as any other Monday. It is the day that I tend to exciting tasks like running the vacuum and cleaning bathrooms. I wok