by Andrew Beard | Nov 21, 2025 | Words from Pastor Andrew
I’ve only been pulled over by the police a handful of times, and almost all of them have been while traveling for Thanksgiving. I’ll spare you every detail…but once in college I got pulled over after I had already pulled over because there was no rest stop for many, many miles. Turns out you can’t use the side of the road as a “comfort station,” even in the middle of nowhere, Texas.
While they had us pulled over, they became suspicious that my brother and I had stolen our car…because we had driver’s licenses from one state and plates from another.
Listen, I’ve never stolen a car, but if I did, it definitely wouldn’t be a salmon-colored 1994 Ford Escort Station Wagon.
My friends called it the Salmon Wagon.
My dad called its color “Tucson Bronze.”
by Andrew Beard | Nov 21, 2024 | The Tower
In this month’s Tower you can read about some big building projects, learn about our budget, get all the info for Advent 24, and get some ideas for gift giving.
by Andrew Beard | Nov 20, 2024 | Words from Pastor Andrew
Last night I was laying down with my son Keating and we were both reading.
Keating said, “can you believe I am on page 400 in my book?”
First off, I don’t know if I have ever read a 400 page book…but heres to future goals.
So I asked back, “how much do you have left?”
He replied with a sound of sadness in his voice, “30 pages…but I don’t want it to end.”
I get it. There is something about reading an incredible book, or watching a great film, or TV series, or experiencing an unbelievable meal, or indescribable vacation…you don’t want it to end.
by Andrew Beard | Nov 14, 2024 | Words from Pastor Andrew
In our house, we experience “tension” this time of year. This tension arises because it’s early November. We’ve just had Halloween, All Saints’ Day, and Veterans Day. We still have pumpkins everywhere, cinnamon muffins, and lovely fall décor…and yet four-fifths of my family (including Brittany, our dog) are ready to barrel toward Christmas.
I am not in the majority here.
As a kid, we often went to Colorado for Thanksgiving, packing all our Christmas albums. On the way out, we’d listen to all sorts of different music. But on the way back? It was Christmas music all the way. It was so ingrained in me to wait—Santa passing by Macy’s on Thanksgiving morning was the official green light for Christmas. To skip over Thanksgiving feels like bypassing a rich tradition that deserves its moment.
by Andrew Beard | Nov 15, 2023 | Words from Pastor Andrew
On Friday nights we often play games with our family as a part of our Sabbath. It has become a thing in our neighborhood where the other kids show up as well to join in on the screen free fun.
Which I am regularly surprised by.
One game the kids love to play is Beat The Parents.
I’m pretty sure it’s a game that is designed to make kids cry…because the adults make a wager and the kids make a wager.
