Pastoral Blog

Search, filter, or browse through the latest posts

The Next Chapter | January 15 Devotion

By Rev. Donna Gaither | 2026-01-15 | 3 min read

The Book of Exodus devotes several chapters to the construction and funding of the tabernacle, all its appointments, implements, decorations, and various altars. The tabernacle was to be the place where God’s presence was experienced, and strength gained for the people’s journey. You shall make bars of acacia wood, five for the frames of the one side of the tabernacle, and...

Tidings of Discomfort & Joy

By Bill Cannon | 2025-12-18 | 2 min read

Christmas is a joyful time. We sing and hear beautiful music, spend time with our families, exchange gifts, and ignore the calories while we sample delicious food. We smile while seeing children in Christmas programs and exchanging “Merry Christmas” with others. Christmas is also a time when we see larger crowds at church, so many churches have multiple services to accommodate...

We Need A Warm Hearth

By Rev. Keith Turman | 2025-12-04 | 3 min read

When the fall air made its sharp turn and began calling for the snow, my dad would pick up the phone and call Virgil. The need for a warm hearth brought us together. Virgil had the chainsaw and pickup truck. My dad had an ax and sons who wore boots and red flannel shirts. We’d get up early on a...

Friendship House Support Needed

By The Friendship House | 2025-11-20 | 2 min read

As we enter the holiday season, The Friendship House Food Pantry is experiencing unprecedented demand. What once served as a supplemental resource has now become the primary source of food for many of our neighbors. With significant cuts to key programs—such as SNAP and the Healthy Opportunities Program (HOP)—families from all economic backgrounds are turning to us for help. This December,...

Give Them Something to Eat

By Rev. Keith Turman | 2025-11-06 | 4 min read

John Christy was a beloved minister who served United Methodist churches across Western North Carolina from 1953 until his death in 2005. On June 11, 2000, Bishop Charlene Kammerer appointed Reverend Christy to First United Methodist Church in Waynesville. I asked Barbara Iversen about him. Barbara told me that John Christy loved the people in our community so much, that...