From Our Pastors                                                                                   

February is often a quieter month, both in the rhythm of the calendar and in the pace of our lives. The excitement of the holidays has faded, winter still holds its grip, and spring feels more like a promise than a reality. Yet this season—both in nature and in the life of the church—has its own wisdom to offer us. 

In the church year, February usually sits between celebration and preparation. We are still living in the light of Christmas and Epiphany, remembering the ways God has been revealed among us, even as we begin to sense Lent drawing near. This in-between space invites us to pause, reflect, and listen more carefully for where God is at work now. 

So much of our culture encourages constant motion—fixing, producing, achieving. February quietly resists that urge. It reminds us that growth does not always look dramatic. Sometimes renewal begins beneath the surface, in the slow and hidden work of God. Seeds rest in frozen ground. Days lengthen by minutes rather than hours. Faith, too, often deepens in ways we cannot immediately see. 

This is a good month to ask gentle but honest questions of ourselves. Where do we feel weary? Where do we feel hopeful? What have we been carrying that may be time to set down? These questions are not meant to judge or rush us. They are invitations—preparing our hearts for the deeper reflection of Lent, when we will once again walk with Jesus toward the cross and, ultimately, toward resurrection. 

February also reminds us that we do not make this journey alone. Faith is lived in community—in shared worship, in conversation, in prayer for one another, and in small acts of care that often go unseen. Even when winter feels isolating or heavy, God continues to knit us together, shaping us into a people of compassion, courage, and hope. 

As your pastors, we want to encourage you to be gentle with yourself in this season. Make space for rest. Make space for prayer. Make space for the questions that don’t yet have answers. Trust that God is present in the waiting, just as surely as God is present in moments of clarity and celebration. 

In the weeks ahead, our worship will begin to turn more intentionally toward themes of renewal, transformation, and hope. These are not abstract ideas; they are lived realities—experienced through forgiveness, healing, justice-seeking, and love practiced day by day. Lent will invite us not to become someone entirely different, but to become more fully who God has already called us to be. 

Wherever you find yourself this February—tired or energized, hopeful or uncertain—know that you are held in God’s grace. This congregation is a place where you belong, where your questions are welcome, and where hope continues to grow, even in the cold of winter. 

May this month be a time of quiet preparation, deep listening, and trust in the God who is always at work—bringing new life, even before we see the first signs of spring. 

Grace and peace, 

Pastor Phil and Pastor Leigh

February 2026 Worship: Preparing for Renewal, Transformation, and Hope

Worship is Sunday at 9 am

February Ruining Lunch – Thursday, February 12 at 11:45 a.m. at Plattsburgh UMC

Bring a Sandwich! Soup and refreshments will be provided. 

Sign up with Diane P. – luv2garden5@gmail.com 

Systemic Racism, Christian Nationalism & America’s Original Sin

What if faithfulness sometimes means being uncomfortable? 

On Thursday, February 12 at 11:45 a.m., we invite you to join us for a Ruining Lunch conversation—a gathering where we share a meal and engage in honest, courageous reflection on the intersections of faith, race, and public life. 

This month’s Ruining Lunch will explore Systemic Racism, Christian Nationalism, and what many theologians call America’s “original sin.” Drawing on Scripture and the work of scholars such as Ibram X. Kendi, Kelly Brown Douglas, Jim Wallis, and Robert P. Jones, we will examine how racism is not simply a matter of individual prejudice, but something woven into systems, institutions, and even religious narratives that continue to shape our lives today. 

We will also look closely at Christian Nationalism—the blending of Christian identity with political power and national identity—and ask hard questions about how faith has sometimes been used to protect privilege rather than promote justice, and how the gospel calls us to something deeper and more faithful. 

Ruining Lunch is not about arguing or assigning blame. It is about truth-telling, listening, and spiritual discernment. It is a space where questions are welcome, learning is ongoing, and faith is taken seriously enough to be challenged. 

Bring a sandwich. Soup, beverages, and dessert will be provided. Most importantly, bring your questions—and an open heart. 

Whether you’ve been thinking deeply about these issues for years, or are just beginning to wrestle with them, you are welcome at the table. Following Jesus has always involved difficult conversations, and this is one small way we practice faith that seeks justice, humility, and hope. Come join us—just don’t expect lunch to stay comfortable.

Rev. Phil Richards 

Ash Wednesday Fellowship Meal and Service - All are welcome—come as you are!

✨ New Zoom Study: “The Prophetic Imagination” by Walter Brueggemann ✨

Coffee with Pastor Phil - Sunday, MARCH 22nd after Worship 

(sign up in Fellowship Hall)

• Get to know the pastor in a casual setting 
• Learn more about the congregation and its values 
• Ask questions about faith, worship, and community life 
• Discern whether church membership is right for you