|
|
 |
|
The thing I love about ministry is that it is
collaborative. The pastor of a church is not "The Minister," but "a minister" among many. That conviction is at the heart of our Congregational tradition. That reality is the source of the greatest joy and consolation the Church has to offer.
Ministry is all about relationships: our relationships with God
and with each other. The life of a community of faith is about
nurturing those relationships in worship, in work and in joyous
fellowship. Though church life is about an intentional Christian
life in a particular congregation, we must always strive to
serve God in reaching out beyond our own familiar congregation.
|
In reaching out to the wider
church, to people of other faiths and no faith, we can enrich
our experience and our spiritual lives. At Second Church we take
this seriously without taking ourselves too seriously.
That is what I love about being the pastor of Second Church.
If I were to boil our shared ministry down to one element, it would be a biblical ethic of hospitality. In worship, we welcome the spirit of God into our midst. We welcome old friends and strangers alike. We welcome those who
come from other traditions of the wider church, those of different faiths, those who are searching or merely curious about what we do. God's
love calls us together and our purpose is to share that love.
I hope you will find a warm welcome should you choose to visit us. Please introduce yourself so that I may greet you
personally. I would also be happy to hear from you via email. Please
click here  .
May God's peace be with you,
The Reverend Richard E. Malmberg
Pastor
Bio:
Richard Malmberg was born in Wilmington, Delaware and grew up in Dallas, Texas. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Guilford College, in Greensboro, North Carolina in 1984, and earned a Master of Divinity from Andover Newton Theological School in 1988. Before
ordination, Malmberg spent five years working for a daily newspaper. In continuing education, Richard has pursued the study of Judaism, Hebrew, and Jewish/Christian dialogue.
Richard's journey to ministry has been a winding road, and he
continues to pursue a variety of interests. His preaching is
rooted in a passion for writing, and his own search for God
within the life of a faith community. He has published articles
and poetry in a variety of publications and pursued his interest
in music playing bass in two rock bands: The Vagrants and
Calvinist Anxiety. |
|
|
|
Richard lives with his wife Jane and sons Max and Oscar. He enjoys biking, golf, films, reading, music, cooking and collecting toys. He is active in interfaith community organizations in the Greater Boston Area, and has served on a variety of committees within the Metropolitan Boston Association Committee and Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ.
|
|
|
Message from the September SPIRE
Dear Friends,
College students are heading off to campus. School kids and their parents shop
for supplies and for school clothes to replace the ones that were outgrown over
the summer. Summer seems like a fading dream. I hope you are enjoying a few
more adventures and savoring the remaining long days, as the weather grows a
little cooler.
Even as activity at Second Church winds down considerably over the summer, it
never stops. Once again, I found myself inspired by the variety and quality of
our lay-led summer services held in the Living Room during July and August.
These services not only provide your pastor with a break from leading worship
every Sunday, but also a welcome opportunity to learn from your insights which
are frequently quite profound, and always stimulating.
The Senior High Youth Group traveled to Washington DC for a fantastic Mission
Trip where they served God by serving the urban poor there. From everything I
have heard so far, Second Church can be proud of their work and their example.
As a parent of one of the young missionaries, I am grateful that my son had such
a rich opportunity to grow in many ways. Our youth have set a fine example for
all of us. They have shown us how much joy, enjoyment, satisfaction and
inspiration can be found and given through service.
As Welcome Back Sunday draws near, I look forward to seeing you all as we
continue our journey together, even as we invite and encourage others to come
along.
Yours in Christ,
Richard Malmberg |
|
