gratitude – Dutilh Church

Appreciating the Little Things

My two dogs are total opposites. They are brothers from the same litter but act so differently. As I write this, Cody is barking blindly at the bathroom door while his brother Comet watches him silently, wondering why he is barking. Spoiler alert: no one is in or near the bathroom.

Do You Know About Merlin?

No, I’m not thinking of Merlin the Magician, but Merlin R. Carothers. He wrote the books Prison to Praise and Power in Praise, among others. I have only read the latter, but it is a book that I found incredibly helpful. It taught me to praise God in the hard moments and for the hard moments.

How the Time Flies

This is my final opportunity to write to you all as the Associate Pastor of Dutilh Church. In two weeks, I will finish my tenure here and join the ranks of the retirees.

It has been quite a journey for Joyce and me. In total, I have served five churches over 41.5 years: two years as a part-time student assistant pastor, and 39.5 years as a full-time pastor. I am finishing 13.5 years here at Dutilh Church.

Walking My Dogs

It is no secret that it has been a challenging year for me physically. I have spent the last year in pain, unable to move well, and just not living the way I used to. However, if you have seen me recently you probably have noticed a change in how I walk and, some have mentioned, my demeanor, and that is thanks to putting my faith in something despite being skeptical.

Remember to Be Thankful

By Rev. Tom Parkinson, Senior Pastor Prior to the pandemic, Pastor Jim and I led chapel services at the Mars Home for Youth, a place where teens who have experienced trauma can find hope and healing. I always ask the youth to share the best thing that happened to them during their week. Their responsesContinue reading “Remember to Be Thankful”

Cultivating Gratitude (Even in 2020)

By Sarah Hogue, Director of Children’s Ministry As Thanksgiving looms on the horizon, it may seem paradoxical to ask you to be thankful in 2020. A year that started with such hope has been overrun with disappointment after disappointment, heartbreak after heartbreak. From the tragedy of lives lost to the coronavirus, to the disruptions ofContinue reading “Cultivating Gratitude (Even in 2020)”

Cultivating an Attitude of Gratitude in Your Child

By Sarah Hogue, Director of Children’s Ministry at Dutilh Church At the risk of showing my age, flash back with me to the 80s and Madonna’s famous declaration that “we are living in a material world.” If that was true then, imagine how true it is now! Everything is faster, sleeker, more advanced, and moreContinue reading “Cultivating an Attitude of Gratitude in Your Child”