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A Note from the Pastor by Pastor Jessilou
"God is in the pause."

This quote was sent to me via text by our lovely and talented pianist, Laura. She found it in a book she is reading entitled, “All the Way to the River,” by Elizabeth Gilbert.  She (and I) thought it was a perfect and timely message.  Its meaning is simply this: we are asked to wait in humble faith through difficult moments, rather than act out of impulse.  In other words, before we act, before we speak, before we post something in response to a comment or story that rattles our sense of justice and righteousness – we must recognize and acknowledge the pause.

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 The pause is that moment of clarity just before our animal instincts kick in, just before we lash out with cruelty or sarcasm, just before we strike.  Because – in the pause is where we find the presence of God. This is the place where the Holy Spirit resides, the thing that separates us from the rest of the natural world.  And it is in this place where the answers lie.

 

We are entering the month of November, a quiet, cold month with shades of grays and browns, coated with the sparkle of fresh frost each morning. The earth is preparing to sleep through the winter months. It is a sort of pause – a lengthy pause to be sure – but with faith that the dreariness will not last. November is a time of waiting but waiting with hope and confidence.

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 So, when we are confronted with information that rattles our faith, chills our heart, brings us to tears, and has us question the humanity of people in power, let us embrace the pause. Let’s take a breath, and before we react, (or worse yet -  before we choose to look away), let us meet God in the pause, and the correct response will come to us, the correct action to take will be clear.

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Let us not be enticed to jump into the swamp of anger and violence like so many others but let us be the ones to stand on solid ground with confidence and courage and reach out a hand to pull our brothers and sisters out of the mire. This is what Jesus would do. And this is what we as Christians are meant to do. This is why we are here.+

Pastor Jessilou

From the Moderator...

Today I am preparing for the Genesee Valley Association meeting - 10/28/2025.   This is my second of these as your moderator and I look forward to learning about the UCC  and local churches missions, challenges, joys, questions, prayers, and planning.

 

How churches are growing, integrating into the community? I will share our great strides here at PGUCC.  How are others proceeding with open and accepting?  Are churches receiving grants for building upgrades?  What energizes our churches and how can I be an effective moderator?  More to come.

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Talents shared at PGUCC recently- learning how to do streaming.  Putting our raised beds to rest for the winter.  Celebrating Pastors’ Appreciation Sunday with delicious food and kudos. Choir practice and church friends leading our worship service on 10/18 in Pastor Jessi’s absence! 

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Soon there will be opportunity to offer your talents as we find members wanting  for  church boards officer positions.  See myself or a member of congregational concerns with questions. A summary of the October 2025 Church Council meeting is on the board across from Pastors office- noting work of the church and our boards.

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A PGUCC memory, comes back in 2025! “The Many Faces of Mary” at St. Mary’s church downtown Rochester -like of our Madonna Project- a wonderful afternoon of music and art re-creating the great paintings of the Madonna.  They use some of our props and artwork.  See information in the newsletter for this 11/1/25 event.

Thank you PGUCC-Loron Oster

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