Like many Christian pastors, ministers, bloggers, authors, podcasters, and congregants, I believe that the Church must be more courageous. Human rights and dignity are at stake. And the Church is not the building. The Church is the millions of Christians that make up the body of Christ. Yes, Christians are Republican, Democrat, and Independent in party affiliation. But the mark of a Christian is not a particular party platform. The mark of a Christian is the fruit of the Holy Spirit, the spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit, and most certainly love.

What might a courageous Christian look like?

• A person who values their personal faith convictions more than their allegiance to a political party.
• Men and women who will say that bigotry wrapped in religion is still bigotry.
• Christians, saying that Christianity was never supposed to be about power or America being first.
• A person who asserts that diversity, equity, and inclusion is at the heart of everything Jesus was doing when he was here and continues to do through his followers today.
• Men and women who will say, “No more,” to a Jesus-less Christianity.

I believe, along with other pastors, ministers, bloggers, authors, podcasters, and congregants that the American Church is at a turning point. That turning point is to shed irrelevance, uselessness, prejudice, selfishness, and moral bankruptcy and begin the rebirth of being the living, loving, and forgiving presence of Jesus.

Can we, the Christians of Grace Presbyterian Church, defend the millions of vulnerable people who are being sacrificed on the altar of hateful people’s phobias, privileged people’s convenience, or fearful people’s cowardice?

My thanks to John Pavlovitz, who in his February 12, 2025, blog informed my thinking, reflection, and convictions in this column.

On the journey of Christian discipleship and spiritual formation with you, I remain faithfully yours,

Steve

The Rev. Dr. Steven M. Marsh, Interim Pastor

Truth to Power-Part II

Timothy Snyder, the Richard C. Levin Professor of History and Global Affairs at Yale University, in a recent article titled, The Logic of Destruction writes, “What is a country? The way its people govern themselves. America exists because its people elect those who make and execute laws. The assumption of a democracy is that individuals have dignity and rights that they realize and protect by acting together.”

Our elected officials in Congress are not governing. Instead, they are allowing President Trump and individuals like Elon Musk, Stephen Miller, and the writers of Project 2025, not elected by the people, to run our country through hundreds of Executive Orders. Executive Orders have always been used by our Presidents. But what are our elected officials doing to provide checks and balances to the Executive Branch in such a time as this? Our government is in chaos.

Janet and I will contact Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall and House of Representatives member Ron Estes (4^th District). We will share our concern that the Executive Branch appears to be dismantling Democracy by reshaping the Federal Government after the priorities of the oligarchy. Those priorities advocate discrimination against women and gender, racial and religious minorities, rejection of immigrants, the imposition of religious laws to restore a white Christian patriarchy, and purging the Palestinians from Gaza in order for the USA to occupy and make it, according to President Trump, the Riviera of the Middle East.

Jesus taught and lived in a way that dispensed dignity and hope. Jesus exemplified the truth in these statements in Matthew 5: “Blessed are the merciful” and “Blessed are the peacemakers,”

and these statements in Matthew 25: “All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left” and “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’”

On the journey of Christian discipleship and spiritual formation with you, I remain faithfully yours,

Steve

The Rev. Dr. Steven M. Marsh

Interim Pastor

Truth to Power

Can we examine and assess the President’s Administration, members of Congress, and members of the Judicial Branch by using the Sermon on the Mount and Matthew 25?

It is President Trump’s prerogative to do the things he promised to do. But the question is “how”? Are members of Congress leading out of loyalty to the President or integrity? And are Justices leading by the Rule of Law and the Constitution?

Jesus, the Son of God took a different approach than wielding power in implementing what the Father mandated him to do. Jesus didn’t seize equality with God, but relinquished that equality and became human and yet remained God. Humility, kindness, and justice epitomized Jesus’ leadership. He loved and did not condemn.

Jesus taught and lived in a way that dispensed dignity and hope. Jesus exemplified the truth in these statements in Matthew 5:

• “Blessed are the merciful.”
• “Blessed are the peacemakers.”

Jesus taught and lived in a way that dispensed dignity and hope. Jesus exemplified the truth in these statements in Matthew 25:

• “All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left.”
• “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’”

On the journey of Christian discipleship and spiritual formation with you, I remain faithfully yours,

Steve

The Rev. Dr. Steven M. Marsh

Interim Pastor

MLK Holiday. Inauguration Day: the Second Day After

My thoughts continue: Both parties from the White House have issued Executive Orders. I do not know if any received unanimous or even majority bipartisan affirmation. I still am posing the question, “What is happening in America?” On the MLK Holiday, the Inauguration, and the days  following, Civil Rights took a big hit. Genders were defined only as male and female. The Justice Department has been tasked with investigating and enforcing particular Executive Orders. And don’t forget there was a seemingly authentic Hitlerian gesture by Elon Musk, a dismissal of the first female Admiral, a mass pardoning of criminals by our President, a convicted criminal himself, an apparent complete marginalization of “the other,” an Order for mass deportation of immigrants, and one ending constitutional birthright citizenship. I continue to pray that the Lord have mercy on the intended and unintended consequences of the November election, the inauguration, and the numerous Executive Orders. And Lord have mercy on me, us, and the American electorate! Lord have mercy on America!

Yes, 2025 is here and with a big entrance. There is nothing wrong with President Trump doing what he promised to do. Yes, he won the popular vote with 49.7% of the total votes cast. Now, the big question, can we examine any President’s Administration and see the fruit of the Sermon on the Mount and Matthew 25? I am not an advocate of Christian Nationalism. I am an advocate of how the four major world religions, Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all lift up facets of the aforementioned as demonstration of the common good, which I would hope any US Presidential Administration would work to accomplish through the Executive Branch, Congress, and the Judiciary.

For me, in this pursuit, I am particularly drawn to Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” The path that I am on with the Lord Jesus Christ is my journey of faith, and it is one for which I seek to be continually prepared. I want to make an impact for the common good, not just one or two demographic groups. That impact has spiritual and political implications. Yes, tough decisions have to be made, but with compassion, kindness, love, and justice. My journey of faith as an individual and the journey of faith I am on with you as a community are integrally entwined. We need each other.

I cannot forget that Jesus told his disciples to pick up their cross, give everything away to the poor, and make disciples of all peoples. What will doing the things above look like for you?

On the journey of Christian discipleship and spiritual formation with you, I remain faithfully yours,

Steve

The Rev. Dr. Steven M. Marsh

Interim Pastor

Happy New Year, everyone. And I hope each of you has had an opportunity to reflect on all that happened in our world, nation, state, county, city, and most importantly in your life. And, I must say that we responded well to the first snow in 2025. I’m sorry we couldn’t meet for worship last Sunday. But we all were safe and warm in our homes. 

Yes, 2024 has gone, and 2025 is here. Like many of you, I examine where I have been and where I want to go with my life when the calendar year changes. I do not make resolutions, but I do take a good look at the journey I have been on and where it is going.

As a Christian, I examine the journey in the light of God’s Word. I am particularly drawn to Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” The path that I am on with the Lord Jesus Christ is my journey of faith, and it is one for which I seek to be continually prepared. My journey of faith as an individual and the journey of faith I am on with you as a community are integrally entwined. We need each other.

Journeys require preparation and certain behaviors. Take airplane travel. That’s fun. Only one bag can be checked. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) requires all containers of gels and liquids not to exceed 3 ounces each and be placed in a 1-quart clear zip lock bag. As I walk through the screening machine, I must take off my shoes, make sure there are no metal objects on my person that will set off the alarm, and place my laptop in a container. I can only board the plane when my group number has been called. I must listen to the in-flight instructions and use the bathroom in my ticketed cabin. I cannot congregate near the galleys or cockpit door, and my seat belt must remain fastened at all times. Yes, a journey on a plane is complicated.

The same is true in our Christian journey. Jesus told his disciples many things, but three of the most significant were to pick up their cross, give everything away to the poor, and make disciples of all peoples. 

On Monday, December 16, the Session received the Nominating Committee’s report for the members of the Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC):

Mitzi Darmstetter,          Kevin East,                                        Bruce Gealy,                                        Adam Lancelot,

Janet Rhoads,               Carolyn Shaw,                             Ginny Vincent.

Sunday, January 12 is the Special Congregational meeting, immediately following the 11:00 am Worship Service, to elect the Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC) members and Paula Lancelot to the Deacon Class of 2027.

On the journey of Christian discipleship and spiritual formation with you, I remain faithfully yours,

Steve

The Rev. Dr. Steven M. Marsh

Interim Pastor