The Rev. Barbara Ballenger

Last week at this time I was making my way home from Boston to Philadelphia, after a really great week away. My husband Jess had to fly on to a conference in Buffalo, so I made the drive back by myself with the help of a long-recorded book and my GPS. Both served me pretty well until I hit New York City. That’s when several things went sour, and I came face to face with a feeling of vulnerability and helplessness that I’ve been thinking about all week. As I was trying to make my way onto...

Churches are not simply places of prayer and worship. On any given day at St. Peter’s you’ll find preschool parents bringing kids to or from Kid View, community members visiting the food pantry or Community Fridge, volunteers assembling meals in the kitchen, people attending recovery groups. Those are the places where the community and the church come together. We’re a neighbor, and part of being a neighbor is taking an interest in what is happening in your community. That’s another way of...

This Sunday our celebration of Pentecost coincides with Memorial Day weekend. Typically, on the Sunday before Memorial Day, we recall those who have died in service to our country, and we list our own beloved deceased in the worship leaflet. Dave Kipphut often sets up a visual “Missing Servicemember Table” recalling those fallen, missing or imprisoned in war. Finally, our sacred music often includes the hymn America the Beautiful. This year, given the primacy of Pentecost, a few of those...