Lent is a season of reflection, preparation, and renewal. The very word “Lent” comes from the Latin meaning “to lengthen,” symbolizing the lengthening of days as we journey from the darkness of winter into the light of Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday and leads us to the celebration of the resurrection on Easter Sunday. During this time, we are invited to prepare our hearts and minds, contemplating what the resurrection of Jesus Christ means for our lives and the calling it places upon us. Many of us associate Lent with sacrifice—giving up chocolate, alcohol, or abstaining from meat on Fridays. But this season is about more than what we give up. It’s also about what we take on. Reflecting on the Transfiguration in Luke’s Gospel, we see Jesus in his glory on the mountain, only to descend and engage in the world’s brokenness, healing and restoring those in need. Perhaps this Lenten season, we can follow his example by taking on new opportunities to serve, walking alongside those who are hurting or disenfranchised. Taking On Acts of Service Instead of focusing solely on personal sacrifice, what if we use this season to embrace acts of service in our communities? There are countless ways we can live out our faith through action: Serving at a Local Mission: Whether it’s pouring coffee at Hope Missions, serving at the Lot Project, or offering a listening ear, showing up for those in need can be a tangible way to embody Christ’s love. Supporting Meals on Wheels: Adding a meal delivery to your weekly routine could provide not only nourishment but also companionship to someone who may be feeling isolated. Engaging in Church Ministry: Consider helping with a Wednesday night meal, volunteering in children’s or youth ministry, or even attending a Sunday school class if you’re not already involved. Increasing Generosity: As we reflect on God’s abundant grace, perhaps we can respond with increased generosity—knowing that our giving sustains the church’s mission, ministries, and outreach. A Call to Transformation Lent isn’t just about personal discipline; it’s about transformation. It’s about becoming more like Christ—not only in our thoughts but in our actions. As we move from the ashes of repentance to the joy of resurrection, let’s take on the challenge of serving others with intentionality. This Lent let’s not only give something up but also take something on—acts of love, service, and generosity that reflect the heart of Jesus. In doing so, we may find that as we seek to bless others, we, too, are transformed.   How will you take on the call to serve this Lent? Peace, Pastor Michael

Sermon on Luke 4:14-30 (Edited for Readability) This passage from the Gospel of Luke is a powerful text. Jesus has spent time in Capernaum—a town near Nazareth—preaching, teaching, healing, and doing amazing things. Now He returns to Nazareth, His hometown, and everyone is excited because they have heard about what He did in Capernaum. They wonder what He might do for them. Jesus goes to the synagogue in Nazareth. Often, when we think of a synagogue in biblical times, we imagine something like a modern church—possibly large. But Nazareth was a very small town. The synagogue there likely served around twenty families. By way of comparison, our own church has around 718 families. So, it was quite small. It was customary for Jesus, as a faithful Jew, to attend synagogue and participate in worship. In a small synagogue like this, there wasn’t always a single rabbi who taught every week. Instead, the men might take turns reading Scripture and offering an interpretation. That day, it fell to Jesus to read and interpret. In a typical Sabbath service, there would be readings from the Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament) and the recitation of the Shema from Deuteronomy: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.” After this, a passage from the Prophets would be read. Our text tells us that Jesus was handed the scroll of Isaiah. He unrolled it and chose a specific passage (Isaiah 61) to read: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then Jesus rolled up the scroll, gave it back, and sat down. Every eye in the synagogue was on Him, because after reading, He was expected to interpret the passage. His interpretation was astonishing. He said, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”  By saying this, Jesus was revealing His mission—His very purpose—and the rest of the Gospel of Luke unfolds in ways that demonstrate what He declared. Luke’s Gospel is often called “the Gospel to the least, the last, and the lost.” It emphasizes that Jesus came to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim release to captives, sight to the blind, and freedom for the oppressed. A church historian, Justo González, points out that Jesus does all of this in the power of the Holy Spirit. Luke, who also wrote Acts (often called the Acts of the Apostles or the Acts of the Holy Spirit), centers both books on the movement of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’s ministry and in the early church. At first, the people of Nazareth were thrilled Jesus was among them. They liked His miracles and teaching—so long as they could keep Him in their own box, expecting Him to do what they  wanted. But when He spoke of bringing good news to the poor and release to the captives, challenging them to see that God’s salvation includes outsiders as well, they became uncomfortable—even hostile. They wanted quiet, comfortable lives, and they resisted when Jesus began to “color outside the lines.” Jesus reminded them that the prophets Elijah and Elisha, in times of famine, did not help only the people of Israel; they also helped outsiders. In the same way, Jesus’s mission was not just to His hometown or to one group of insiders—it was for anyone in need of God’s mercy and liberation. We might ask ourselves how we would respond if someone who grew up in our own church stood before us to read Isaiah 61 and then declared it was now being fulfilled. Would we be open to being challenged and transformed? Or would we prefer a more palatable Jesus—one who asks little of us? Jesus makes many of us uncomfortable precisely because the Gospel has the power both to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. His mission in Luke 4 is clear: to bring good news to the poor, release to captives, recovery of sight to the blind, and freedom for the oppressed. This theme resonates throughout Scripture, from the laws in Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy, to the prophets like Isaiah, to New Testament writers like James. Over and over, God’s people are commanded to care for the poor and welcome the outsider. We see God’s desire to free the oppressed in stories of slavery in Egypt and exile in Babylon, and through Jesus’s healings of physical and spiritual blindness. When Jesus proclaimed “the year of the Lord’s favor,” He was referring to the biblical idea of Jubilee—a time when debts are forgiven, slaves set free, and the land rests. The congregation in Nazareth became offended enough to drive Him out of town, even threatening violence, because they realized He was serious  about these changes. We, the church, seek to be the Body of Christ in our own broken and fearful world. But to do that, we need the same Holy Spirit. A pastor named Joan Gray once pointed out that the power of the Holy Spirit was the only advantage the early church had. They owned no buildings, had no large budget, few members, and no paid staff—yet they turned the world upside down through the Spirit’s power. By contrast, we may have resources, buildings, and staff, but if we lack the Holy Spirit’s power and guidance, we will never truly carry on Jesus’s mission. God calls us to hear, to respond in faith, and to embody the work Jesus described. We are to bring good news to the poor, proclaim release to captives, offer sight to the blind, and declare freedom for the oppressed. May we, by the power of the Holy Spirit, fulfill Christ’s calling in our own time and place. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. *Delivered in worship on Jan 26, 2025

Hi, Central Family!    This Sunday we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord with the Gospel of Luke. We will be Ordaining and Installing our new Elders and Deacons, and the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper will be observed.   We hope you are able to join us for our in-person worship service at 10:30am. If you are unable to join us in person for worship this week, we hope to be streaming the service at 10:30am and then it will be available on our YouTube channel to watch anytime after that.   Come join us at 10:30 am on our YouTube page. The stream will go live around 10:15am. Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel and turn on notifications so that you will see as soon as the feed is live. If we are unable to stream the service, look for an email Sunday afternoon when the service is uploaded to YouTube.   Central Presbyterian YouTube Page   Below are the links to the Order of Worship and Bulletin for the service. You can print them out if you wish, or you can follow along with the broadcast, where the responsive readings and music should be on the screen for you.    Until Sunday...   Love in Christ, Mandy

For I know the plans I have for y’all,” declares YHWH, “plans for prosperity not disaster, to give y’all hope and a future. Y’all will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to y’all. Y’all will seek me and find me, when y’all search for me with all your heart. - Jeremiah 29:11-13 from yallversion.com . (You have heard me translate the plural “you” of the Bible into the Southern “y’all.” Now, someone has done that very thing in a unique translation of the Bible. Thanks to Raicheal Fulle for leading me to it.) I have always been drawn to Jeremiah 29:11 during times of transition. On Sunday, Noelle asked, “What’s next?” I was quickly drawn to this verse, which has guided me through many different times in my life. As we stand on the threshold of 2024 and 2025, I don’t know exactly what comes next, but I do know that God will guide us on the journey ahead. The “yallversion” of the Bible reminds us that Jeremiah 29:11 is intended to be a text of hope for people in community on their faith journey. In the Old Testament, it was meant for the Israelites in exile as a reminder that God would not abandon them. Today, it is a message of hope for our church-community in the midst of transition and growth. I am thankful for this church-community, which started with men and women of faith who planted a church in downtown Anderson 125 years ago. About 50 years later, as we outgrew the downtown facility, other men and women took the audacious step of moving to our current facility. This reminds me that God is where we are, whether at the corner of Orr and Main or at 1404 N Boulevard. It also assures me that God guides our future as we seek to serve Christ. While I am not sure of everything that is ahead of us in 2025, I trust that God will give us a future with hope. In the first part of the year, we hope and pray for the right candidate to join our staff to lead the Children’s Ministry of the church. We hope to finish our capital campaign and sanctuary windows project while retiring any debt incurred by the end of the year. I trust that we will welcome new members and guests in worship, and I pray that you will make room for them in the pew, Sunday School class, Bridge Meal table fellowship, and our journey of faith together. As we start this New Year, I invite you to worship in person or online. If you cannot join us in person, don't hesitate to contact one of the pastors and let us know you are watching online. We trust that God has plans for “hope and a future” for our church-community, and we invite you to share your gifts so that we can bear fruit together. In Christ, Michael

May the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you, all those you love, and those we ought to love.   At the end of every worship service, I offer this benediction—a tradition borrowed from a mentor, Dr. Jeri Parris Perkins, who borrowed it herself from a Scottish Presbyterian pastor. The words linger: And those we ought to love . It’s simple yet profoundly challenging. Over the years, I’ve realized that I must include myself when I use this benediction. After all, love is not a lofty ideal—it’s a call to daily action.   One remarkable thing about Central Pres is that they say the last line of the benediction with me. This is the first congregation in my ministry to do so across multiple churches in multiple states. It reminds me that this call to love is a personal charge and a collective mission. Together, we embody the Gospel’s essence: love for God and love for neighbor, inseparably intertwined.   The Shema and the Greatest Commandment   The command to love God and neighbor comes directly from Scripture, first in Deuteronomy and later echoed by Jesus in the Gospels. In Deuteronomy 6:4-5, we find the Shema:   Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.   When Jesus quotes this passage, he adds, “with all your mind,”   reflecting the Greek influence on Jewish thought. By distinguishing heart and mind, Jesus invites us to integrate the fullness of our humanity into our love for God—our emotions, intellect, strength, and spirit.   But Jesus doesn’t stop there. He ties the love of God to the love of neighbor, declaring that the two are not separate commandments but one unified call. To love God is to love our neighbor, and to love our neighbor is to love God.   The Enemies of Love   As I reflected on this text, I realized that in my day-to-day life the greatest enemy of love is not always hate—it’s speed. As a parent, I’ve learned that genuinely loving my children often requires slowing down. Whether baking cookies or working in the yard, love demands patience. When I rush, I miss the moments that matter most.   The other enemy of love is judgment. Too often, we fall into the trap of thinking, "If I were you, I would do it this way."  But love doesn’t insist on its way; it rejoices in truth, as 1 Corinthians 13 reminds us.   In our fast-paced, polarized world, judging and categorizing others is tempting. But Jesus calls us to love those who are different—those who look different, love differently, vote differently, and live differently. This love isn’t about liking or agreeing; it’s about reaching out with the fullness of our being without reservation or condition.   A Purple Church in a Divided World   This call to love is particularly urgent during politically divisive times. Central Pres embraced being a “purple church,” where people of differing perspectives gather under the shared commitment to love in the manner of Christ. Regardless of how we vote or the outcome, our allegiance is not to human leaders but to a living and loving God.   Our identity as followers of Christ is rooted in the greatest commandment: to love God with everything we are and to love our neighbors as ourselves. This love transcends political affiliations, personal preferences, and societal divisions. This love compels us to yield and serve, make space and listen, give up advantage and honor the humanity in people who have offended us. It’s a love that seeks unity in diversity, compassion over judgment, and connection over individualism.   Moving Forward Together   I recently heard a proverb that has stayed with me: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. ”  Love invites us to slow down and journey together, embracing the messiness and beauty of community.   As we navigate the challenges of our world, may we remember that love is not just an emotion but an action—a choice to give of our whole selves entirely and sacrificially. Whether in our families, churches, or broader communities, let us live out the Gospel by loving with every ounce of our being.   Grace and Peace,   Pastor Michael

On All Saints Sunday, Henry Adair shared a heartwarming reflection on nearly 50 years as a member of Central Presbyterian Church. His story is one of resilience, faith, and the enduring power of community.   Henry and his wife, Jane, first visited Central in 1977 at the invitation of dear friends Kay and Harold Gilbert. What kept them here was the church’s welcoming atmosphere, powerful sermons, and a sense of belonging. Over the decades, they witnessed Central grow and adapt, nurturing generations of members.   Central’s impact on Henry’s life is profound. It has supported him through immense joys and heartbreaking losses—helping raise his children and grandchildren, standing by his family through illnesses, and offering unwavering love when he lost his wife, Jane, and son, Ross Adair. Even after a serious car accident left him in recovery for months, the church’s prayers, visits, and thoughtful gestures gave him the strength to heal and return.   Henry’s love for Central is rooted in its people. From shared pews with cherished families to the embrace of a congregation that welcomed him back after a year away, Central embodies God’s love in action. The church continues to rally around his family, even as his daughter Henri faces her own health challenges, ensuring that every moment is filled with grace and support.   Reflecting on his life and faith, Henry sees heaven not as a distant promise but as the love he experiences within the church walls—a testament to the power of community and God’s presence. In his own words, “My Heaven is right there on that pew with my family, surrounded by the Perkins, Rodgers, McCallum, Anderson, Southard families, and this entire church.”   Through his moving story, Henry left us with an essential message: to live with love, see the world through the eyes of Jesus, and cherish the people who walk alongside us. “I love you,”  he says to his congregation, and his words resonate as a call to embrace faith, hope, and love in our own lives. I am grateful for Henry and his willingness to share his testimony of gratitude for our church-community. I urge each of you to keep reflecting on the significance of this body of Christ in your personal faith journey. Grace and Peace, Michael

Get ready for a heartwarming experience this Sunday at Central Presbyterian Church! Our children will lead worship as they present their musical, "Miracle and Midnight," during the worship service. This worship offering highlights the talents and hard work of our children and brings the community together in the joyous spirit of the season. We warmly invite everyone to attend and show your support for these vibrant performers as they celebrate faith through creativity. What to Expect This week's worship will be different, as the children bring the sanctuary to life with costumes and songs. There will be no separate Children's Message or Children's Church. The Nursery is open for your youngest children. Event Details Date: Sunday, December 15, 2025 Time: 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM EST Location: Central Presbyterian Church, Anderson, SC All are invited to this festive gathering—no registration is necessary. Participate in the worship service, no matter your background. Join our community as we celebrate the creativity of our children together. A Joyful Celebration Awaits This Sunday enhances our regular worship service with a celebration filled with creativity, community, and faith. Miracle and Midnight allows our children to shine and share their stories vibrantly. Mark your calendars, spread the word, and get ready to enjoy a Sunday packed with laughter, inspiration, and musical magic. We’re excited to see you there!