Uphill idealist

 Changing seasons and Change of Pastoral Call… For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven Ecclesiastes 3:1  It is with great joy that I share exciting news of a vocational change. On Sunday, September 15th, the members of First Presbyterian Church of Warren, Pennsylvania called me to become their called and installed minister through a formula of agreement between the PCUSA (Presbyterian Church of the USA) and ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America). My first Sunday leading worship with Warren First Presbyterian will be October 27th, 2024 at 10 am. Details for the formal installation service will be shared at a later date.  Gratitude to First Presbyterian Church of Jamestown, NY, for the last 18 months of transitional ministry together and for your kind farewell last week. Gratitude to my family, friends, colleagues and church members from the Presbytery of Western New York and the Upstate New York Synod (ELCA) for your partnership, s...

 Holy Shenanigans Podcast Episode #162 Selah Season Tara continues sane spiritual practices with an opportunity to practice, "Selah". This week's Scripture focus:  Psalm 62. Questions for Discussion: 1. What Spiritual Practices do you enjoy? 2. Are your Spiritual Practices Active or more Contemplative?  3. Do you "Selah", before you Serve? 4. Do you think pause (Selah) should come before Service? Why or why not? 5.  If you could give advice to a friend about the value of pause, what would say? 6. Where can you find a pocket for Selah/pause in your day?

 What is your Star Word for 2024? Episode #161 Holy Shenanigans Podcast Join Rev. Tara Eastman, as she shares the spiritual practice of choosing an annual “Star Word” and gentle options for spiritual renewal with special guest, author: Rev. Katy Stenza.  Katy Stenta is a PCUSA pastor, writer, workshop leader and community builder. She is currently vice moderator for Albany Presbytery, regular contributor to Sermonsuite and leads workshops on writing, particularly prayer and liturgy. Her conversational prayers and psalms are used by people and churches all over the world from  KatyandtheWord.com  and she is all but dissertation for completing her Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing as a public theologian at Mr Roger' alma mater  Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

In preparation for St. Brigid’s day, I consider the blessings that are with us on the threshold.  What are the blessings, neither at the beginning or end, but in the middle.  In transitional spaces that take up most of our days? I think that the threshold can be a space of healing. An opportunity to see things in a new way. A river that takes us to new places of grace. May you feel the presence of love in your thresholds. May it flow from all our beginnings through to each end. May the space of threshold be a balm like lavender, healing our battle wounds. May we find healing in the inbetween. Healing lives on the threshold. #blessings #stbrigid #taralamontart