On Palm Sunday, and like many other responsible Christian communities, PPC celebrated this tradition together (virtually) while each of us was isolated.

We even shared communion (virtually). I was delighted to see this picture.

Palm Sunday recalls what’s often titled Jesus’ “Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem.” The enormous crowds there for Passover waved palm branches in a royal welcome for Him; a welcome that would turn into shouts of “crucify Him!” by the end of the week.

Given our current social distancing needs; here’s something to ponder?

As Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem and this welcome, Luke’s account had Him stop at a village where He healed 10 lepers.

Leprosy was a fearful disease and isolation was the response.

One of the newly healed thanked Jesus to which He replied “go on your way, your faith has made you well.”

Might this person be among the thousands and thousands who lined the streets on that Palm Sunday?

Where once he had been isolated, now free to be around with whoever he wants, he and all the others wait together as one…

…recognizing Jesus is the One for whom they have been waiting.

And like him in our isolation, all of us together -- we wait as one as well, yet we don’t have to be alone.

If you’d like to be part our (virtual) community send us your email address to prinevillepc@gmail.com.

Together We Serve,                                                                                                          Pastor Mike

Perfect love casts out fear…

…but it does not vaccinate against COVID 19 coronavirus.

Midway through Lent this is where we find ourselves.

With many others, we use Lent to prepare ourselves for Easter as we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection.

As our religions’ big thinkers frame it: “To live for Christ, we must die with Him. New life requires a daily surrendering of the old life…to pry loose our fingers, one by one, from presumed securities and plunge us into unknown baptismal waters…”

However with the coronavirus dominating the our lives Lent is not so much about us taking the plunge as we’ve willingly stepped into these unknown baptismal waters…

…it’s more like an out of control pool party!!!

Screaming at the top of our lungs we’ve been grabbed by the arms and legs and picked up and thrown in -- clothes and all with our cell phones in the back pocket.

Climbing out of the pool our only thoughts are: this isn’t good.

But then picture Jesus there: the first one to help you out of the pool; a towel in one hand and a ziplock bag full of instant rice to dry out your phone in the other.

And if that doesn’t work, He’s got an extra phone you can use until you can get yours replaced.

Perfect love casts out fear…it may not be a vaccine…it is God’s perfect anti-dote.

May we all be alert to the very real ways we can all make our way through this time.

Join us for our “virtual” worship. Send an email to prinevillepc@gmail.com and we’ll gladly add you to our community.

Together We Serve,
Pastor Mike

^“31I die every day! That is as certain, brothers and sisters, as my boasting of you—a boast that I make in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ~ 1 Corinthians 15.31

We're at the start of the season of Lent. It’s a time of prayer, fasting and self-examination to prepare ourselves for the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection at Easter.

Lent is 40 days, just like other significant time periods in the Bible; the flood of Genesis, Moses’ time at Mount Sinai, Elijah’s journey to Mount Horeb, Jonah’s call to Ninevah to repent, and Jesus’ time in the wilderness. The number 40 refers to a time of testing that leads to new life and new growth. (The Sundays in Lent are not counted).

What we remind ourselves of, and listen for, during Lent is the power and possibility of the work God sent Jesus to do, and that the way of the cross to Easter is through death. As the Bible writer Paul references in the above Scripture quote the reality of Jesus’ resurrection then sets the stage for our own new life - to live for Christ, we must die with Him. New life requires a daily surrendering of the old life, letting go of the present order, so that we may embrace the new humanity.

The power of Easter and Jesus’ resurrection on the horizon ahead draws us into repentance and lifelong changes in our values and behavior become possible.

There are a lot of ways people observe Lent that are spiritually nourishing, and what works for one might miss the mark for another. We want to be cautious that we don’t get sucked into a to-do list just for the sake of having something to do over Lent. Theologian Karl Barth warns us against this by reminding us our lives are set apart not because of what we do, but because of what Godin-Christ does through us.

May we all use 40 days of Lent do some holy dreaming about Christ’s call for our lives.

Together We Serve and Dream,

Pastor Mike

"Always, everywhere God is present, and always He seeks to discover Himself to each one." ~ A.W. Tozer

One Sunday down with 51 more to go. 

As PPC moves along with its building plans, our talks about that space combined with the New Year has me thinking about ‘space’ in a few different ways.

On the surface ‘building space’ may seem pretty mundane; a handful of spaces sectioned off by walls with lights above and carpeting below…

…yet…

…I get to hear stories about the way our ‘space’ puts goodness into the lives of many who might not otherwise be touched by that goodness – let alone be touched by a church as it carries God’s goodness to others.

A few recent examples come quickly to mind:

The recent Breakfast with Santa hosted by an outside agency here and the ‘laughter’ from children that filled this space – children whose lives can use an extra dose of laughter.

A substance abuse recovery group is now meeting here; young adults and their sponsors talk and listen as ‘trust and healing’ fills this space.

PEO meets here; their fellowship fills this space as they create ‘educational opportunities’ for women that arise from this space.

Our local homeless shelters has its board meetings here, and the space here helps make sure there is ‘warm and safe space’ for the most vulnerable among us.

The space of 2020 stretches out in front of us…

…may we generously fill all of our space with the fullness of God’s goodness for all.

And we’ve got space for you – we meet Sundays at 10AM.

Together We Serve,

Pastor Mike

Between Thanksgiving just passed and the current Christmas season, with all the get together that punctuate this time of year…we’ve probably been welcomed into somebody else’s home…

Or we’ve welcomed somebody else into our home.

And more than likely both.

Have we ever thought much about how crucial a role a good welcome plays in knowing peace? As that reflects God’s righteousness?

It’s important enough that as Jesus was about to send dozens of His followers out into the mission field He tied welcome and peace together (Matthew 10:11-13).

This welcome that reaches out to the other by expanding the boundaries of welcome to all and all for the sake of Jesus Christ.

Because in the birth of Christ this is precisely what God has already done for us.

May the way we welcome and accept others be the righteous example of the peaceable Kingdom God intends.

Join us Sundays at 10AM as we seek the peace of Christ for our world. 

And we'd love to have you join us on Christmas Eve. Our service starts at 5PM and ends with signing Silent Night by candlelight about an hour later

Together We Serve,

Pastor Mike 

We took up the story of Zacchaeus recently. 

It’s a favorite for kids because as a short man (like kids are too) Zacchaeus had to climb a tree to get above the crowds in order to see Jesus as Jesus passed through Jericho.

Also, as a tax collector Zacchaeus had turned on his own people; working with the very powers that kept them overly burdened in their daily lives. He made tons of money doing this, yet he was shunned by his very own people.

Something about Jesus left Zacchaeus ...“out on a limb.”

It’s an expression we hear today. Generally understood to be when we’re in a dangerous or uncompromising position, we’re isolated or not supported by anyone else; it’s when we’re vulnerable...susceptible…exposed…open to.

With everything Zacchaeus has going for him, deep down inside he’s miserable.

Would Jesus have anything to offer him?

Zacchaeus hears about this Jesus-guy generously offering God’s loving welcome to all.

And when Jesus sees Zacchaeus out on that limb and says, “I’m coming over!” that generosity continued.

At that moment God’s love became the foundation for Zacchaeus to build his life upon.

If you’re feel like you’re “out on a limb,“ climb on down and come on in. We're  glad to help you set your life's foundation. We meet Sundays at 10AM.

Together We Serve,
Pastor Mike

We've just taken a big step forward in the future of Prineville Presbyterian Church as we've ‘commissioned’ our Future Facilities Committee. This came in response to the solid growth we’ve enjoyed over the past 5 years.



And as we took this step forward, we turned back into the history of God’s people.



We heard the words from the prophet Jeremiah who proclaimed in times of change the future still belongs to God and to God’s people. With that belief God’s people can look to the future with the “courage to be.”



This phrase comes from a man named Paul Tillich who wrote lots of rich and thought-provoking stuff about God.



Under “the courage to be” Tillich wrote: “All you need is the plan, the road map, and the courage to press on to your destination. I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. Have no fear of moving into the unknown.”



How we move ahead is going to require the courage to be faithful thinkers and do-ers of God’s future for us.



Join us Sundays at 10AM as ‘co-mission’ with God’s future we know in Jesus Christ.



Together We Serve,
Pastor Mike

“Now he [Jesus] was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years.” (Luke 13:10-11).


It seems that we spend a lot time talking about ‘rules.’ In our quieter admissions we're quick to acknowledge that the rules that work in our favor are the ones we like the best.


In the above Bible citation Jesus wound up healing that woman without giving it a 2^nd thought -- to the great annoyance of the synagogue leader who called Jesus out for ‘working’ on the Sabbath.


He could have played the religious-business-as-usual card and waited until the next day to heal this woman and no one would have criticized Him.


However, not willing to limit God’s compassion He took the whole of God’s law and by His actions and through God’s word showed people the compassionate character of God as Jesus gave them a glimpse of His identity and authority as the God we know today.


In that synagogue then…in our church today…we need to make sure that we don’t love routines and systems more than we love God, nor love customs and habits more than we love each other who are also known as God’s beloved.


Join us Sundays at 10AM as we let God’s compassion guide our rules.

Together We Serve,                                                                                                         Pastor Mike