Word from Wiese

Let’s Go to the Holy Land

*Photos courtesy of Kevin and Laura Hawkins Let’s Go to the Holy Land 13 July 2022 “On the road again.” We love singing with Willie Nelson about hitting the highway with our friends, sometimes to places “where we’ve never been.” Even though we’re smack dab in the middle of school break this summer, I invite you to mark your calendars …

Word from Wiese

Faith and Freedom

Faith & Freedom 6 July 2022 July 4 is a big day! It’s date of my first smooch with LuAnne!    35 years ago.   I’m glad we’re still smooching. Additionally, of course, July 4 marks the birth of our wonderful country and a key launch of a democratic dream and experiment that would change the world.  Definitely worthy of a few …

Word from Wiese

Puns

Puns 29 June 2022 Watching the news today takes guts.   Heat waves, war in Ukraine, controversial court rulings, gun violence, and record inflation. I hope Jesus’ Good News music and message each Sunday at Christ Our Shepherd provides joy and hope as you face a sometimes super sober world.  I also hope these weekly WFWs offer encouragement of different kinds. …

Word from Wiese

I Just Heard the News!

I Just Heard the News! 22 June 2022 Were you ever one of the LAST in a group to hear some juicy news? Oftentimes, the news is joyous.  New pregnancies, job offers, or engagements.  Sometimes, the news is disheartening.   The doctor calls with bad news or we hear of a dear friend’s hidden struggles.   There is no award for hearing …

Word from Wiese

Lobster

Lobster 15 June 2022 Jesus said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”  So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.  Mark 6.31-32 Jesus modeled a human rhythm of life that included quiet times for rest.   As a Jesus FOLLOWER, I join many of you in trying to …

Word from Wiese

World Wide Pentecost Friends

World-Wide Pentecost Friends 8 June 2022 Shin-dig. Gala. Party. Festival. Big to-do. What colorful term would you choose to describe our wonderful Pentecost Sunday at COS this past weekend? We chose to call it “Homecoming: A Service of Return.” Indeed, how awesome it was to have so many faith friends who had been disconnected because of Covid craziness come to …

Word from Wiese

Homecoming

Homecoming 25 May 2022 Have you ever left anyone behind? Years ago, on a civil rights faith pilgrimage in Alabama, our intergenerational church group spilled out of the restaurant after a tasty meal.  We piled into our two vans and hit the road for our next stop.   Upon arrival we realized one of our teens was missing!  Furthermore, it wasn’t …

Word from Wiese

Blackboard

Blackboard 18 May 2022 I agree with the argument, “Youth are not only the future of the church, they are the church today!”   We didn’t call this past Sunday “Youth Sunday.” But it was in a dynamic way.   At our 11 AM service, our elementary students and preschoolers led worship in their magnificent presentation of “A Sailor’s Bible,” the empowering …

Word from Wiese

Striking It Rich

Striking It Rich 11 May 2022 The craziest upset in the last CENTURY! 80 to 1 chance of winning! If you haven’t yet watched a replay of last Saturday’s Kentucky Derby, treat yourself!     A horse named Rich Strike wasn’t even slated to run as of 30 seconds before the Friday morning entry deadline. But when Ethereal Road’s scratch …

Word from Wiese

Winning Bloodlines

Winning Bloodlines 4 May 2022 I never tiring from hearing the interesting backgrounds and talents of our dynamic Christ Our Shepherd disciples.  You folks are amazing. This past week I learned about two royal bloodlines . . . sort of. First is the story of Andrea Fisher, whom many of you remember as a new 26-year old COS member who …