Sunday, April 26, 2026

Home, Earth, and the Good Shepherd

It is good to be home in Stamford after my trip to South Africa. As a "Third Culture" person, I live in that unique "space between" where I blend parts of my country of birth and my current home into something entirely new. In this space, home isn’t just a spot on a map; it is a sense of belonging found in the people and relationships that cross borders and boundaries.

This "between-ness" is a powerful lens for our life of faith. It mirrors the experience of being in the world but not of it—a dual citizenship where we are fully present in this life while living by the values of God’s kin-dom. Much like a Third Culture person who bridges different worlds, we are called to tend the beauty of our earthly home while working toward its restoration.

This Sunday, we explore that tension as we mark Earth Day. Following the way of Jesus of Nazareth, we have a prophetic call to face the "tragic gap": the reality of environmental struggle set against the biblical vision of a world recreated. To help us stand in that gap, the Church Calendar offers us Good Shepherd Sunday, with one of the texts being Psalm 23. This beloved psalm is full of surprises; it doesn't avoid the dark, but guides us through it. It is a bold claim that God satisfies every need, leading us into "paths of righteousness"—well-worn ways of living that sustain right relationships with our community, our planet, and our Creator.

The Kin-dom in Our Midst: Arts and Community

At Talmadge Hill, we believe the arts are a vital expression of this kin-dom vision. Live music is more than just a performance; it is a "universal language" that wires our brains and hearts together, helping us bond and feel deeply as one community. It is a tangible way we "become the Easter that contradicts this world".

Please join us for these essential expressions of our communal life:

• The KEYS Trio: Join us for a beautiful afternoon of classical music on Sunday, May 3, at 4 pm.

• Spring Concert — Griffin House: Experience an evening of authentic, story-driven music on Saturday, May 9, at 7:30 pm.
  Please Note: Tickets for Griffin House must be purchased in advance.

I look forward to seeing you on Sunday,

Mooi Loop,

Dries

Sunday, April 19, 2026

Was Easter really two weeks ago?
There is so much that builds toward Easter and that beautiful realization that Christ is alive.

But what we often forget is that this is not the end of the story. The story continues. Easter is not an ending. It is a beginning.

Throughout the Easter season, we linger with the stories of the risen Christ—stories in which he continues to come back for us. He meets us. He pursues us. He appears in ways both expected and surprising, so that we might remember that the risen Christ is with us in more ways than we can ever fully know.

The story isn’t over—not just for the disciples, but for ordinary people like you and me.

I look forward to being with you on Sunday as we reflect on how we encounter the risen Christ. It may be simpler—and more profound—than we imagine. And that, perhaps, is the ongoing miracle of Easter.

Love,
Cheryl

Sunday, April 12, 2026

Dear Talmadge Hill Family,

Easter is more than a single day; it is a 50 day season of "practicing resurrection." One of the most practical ways we do this right now is by participating in the Holy Cow! Congregational Assessment Tool (CAT). By completing this, you are helping lay the ground for Talmadge Hill’s future. It is a defiant act of hope and a vital investment in what is breaking through. If you haven't yet, please take 30 minutes to complete the survey before the Friday, April 17 deadline. (Find the link to the Holy Cow CAT below, in the Transition Committee Update).

As we continue through this Easter season, we are delighted to welcome The Rev. Deacon Eleanor Withers Kumar to the pulpit this Sunday. Elly is in her final year at Yale Divinity School and was recently ordained as a deacon in the Episcopal Church. She will share reflections from her recent "Borderlands Pilgrimage" to El Paso and Juarez. Just as the disciple Thomas sought to touch Jesus’ wounds to believe, Elly’s stories will help us "touch the wounds" of our migrant neighbors, inviting us to find the living Christ in our midst today. While you are reading this on Friday, April 10, I am currently away on vacation visiting my family in South Africa. I look forward to being back with you all on April 22nd. During my absence, please contact JP for general assistance or Cheryl for pastoral care.

Mooi Loop,
Dries

Sunday, April 5, 2025

Dear Talmadge Hill Family,

As we sit in the quiet of this Good Friday, the shadows of the cross and the silence of the tomb are with us. We are in that "Holy Saturday" space—the world holding its breath. But even in the silence, the story isn't over. We are preparing for the "defiant conjunction" that changes everything.

This Sunday, I invite you to join us for our Easter service at 10:00 AM, where I will preach "The Defiant ‘But’," grounded in Matthew 28:1-10. In Matthew’s account, the Roman guards—the image empire—became "like dead men," while the women were met with a life-changing word: “But”. Easter is an invitation to practice resurrection by looking at structures that declare themselves permanent and saying: “Not the final word.”

One practical way we "practice resurrection" right now is by participating in the Holy Cow! Congregational Assessment Tool (CAT). By completing this, you are helping lay the ground for Talmadge Hill’s future. It is a defiant act of hope and a vital investment in what is breaking through. If you haven't done so, please take 30 minutes (Access the Holy Cow CAT here) before the Friday, April 17 deadline. Detailed instructions follow below.

I look forward to being with you this Sunday as we run from the tomb with "fear and great joy." Following our celebration, I will be away for two weeks visiting my family in South Africa, returning April 22nd. During my absence, please contact JP for general assistance or Cheryl for pastoral care.

Mooi loop, 

Dries

Sunday, March 29, 2026

Dear Talmadge Hill Family,

I'm keeping this week's message short because it's that important.

Two things need your attention this week. Please read Lisa's announcement below for the full details on both.

First: The Holy Cow! Congregational Assessment. You received the link on Tuesday. Please complete it this week. Completing the Assessment is one of the most valuable things we will do together during this interim season — it measures our energy, names our strengths, and helps us discern the path forward — including what we are looking for in our next pastor. It's anonymous. Every voice shapes what we discern together. Lisa's note below has everything you need to know before you sit down to complete it.

Second: This Sunday — stay after worship. Our Listening Session is happening, and we want you there. Details are below.

In worship, we will celebrate Palm/Passion Sunday as we mark Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, his last supper with his disciples, and his new commandment to love one another as he has loved us.

Be there. Share your story. Add your voice. Showing up makes a difference.

Mooi loop, 

Dries