Lindeman

He was only supposed to be here for one or two years. The Rev. Clifford L. “Skip” Lindeman was selected as interim pastor in September 2002 to replace Pastor Charles Schepel, who left the then-Church of the Lighted Window after just one year. On Nov. 1 — seven years later — Lindeman was named the La Cañada Congregational Church’s new permanent pastor during a congregational vote held after Sunday morning’s service. The congregation voted 70-0 to elect Lindeman.

Pastor Skip Lindeman will conduct the worship service and give the morning message this Sunday, Sept. 24, at 10 a.m. at Church of the Lighted Window in La Cañada Flintridge. Joyce Holmes and Sue Huchthausen will greet arriving worshippers in the narthex. Visitors are always welcome. The Chancel Choir, accompanied by church organist Joseph Klice, will provide special music and will perform "Give Me a Clean Heart" by Douroux-Helgen. Nursery care is available for infants and toddlers and church school classes are held for preschool ages through high school.

On Feb. 18, Pastor Skip Lindeman will lead the worship hour. Worship time, nursery care and church school commence at 10 a.m. The Chancel Choir will perform "The Heavens Are Declaring" by Beethoven. The director of music is Dr. Harold Daugherty, and the church organist is Joseph Klice. All are invited to stay for coffee following the service. Members of the church's Mission Board will host the coffee hour in Fellowship Hall. Church of the Lighted Window is a Congregational Church affiliated with the United Church of Christ.

The Rev. Clifford L. ?Skip? Lindeman was formally installed as pastor and teacher of La Cañada Congregational Church during a special service Sunday afternoon, marking the end of Lindeman?s seven-year tenure as the church?s interim pastor. Moments before services were scheduled to begin, Lindeman was found in the church?s Fireside Room, talking with colleagues. Asked what going through his mind seconds before entering the sanctuary, Lindeman said: ?I am relieved and very grateful.

On April 27, Church of the Lighted Window celebrated its 111th anniversary with a catered luncheon provided by an anonymous donor. Ninety-four people, mostly regular church attendees, showed up for a lunch of roast beef sandwiches, potato salad, and 111 cupcakes made by a member of the church. ?I was really happy with the turnout,? commented Pastor Skip Lindeman before joking, ?I?m really looking forward to the 222nd anniversary.? Church of the Lighted Window was one of the first churches in the Crescenta Valley region, and the land upon which the church was built was donated by the Lanterman family.

For Christians the world over, the week preceding Easter, which commemorates the Passion, the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, and the Resurrection, is one of the most observed of religious holidays. Easter follows Lent, the 40 days prior to Easter, not including Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. On Easter Sunday, Christians flock to their respective churches in numbers far exceeding those normally seen during regular Sunday services and, according to local clergy, more mainstream churches are finding it difficult to fill with members on a regular basis.

Last week's Time magazine cover story by Bobby Ghosh reported that "hate speech against Muslims and Islam is growing both more widespread and more heated," with protests against a mosque in lower Manhattan and the building of other mosques elsewhere not considered isolated incidents but part of a nationwide feeling of Islamophobia. A poll by Time/Abt SRBI found that 46% of Americans believe Islam is more likely than other faiths to encourage violence against nonbelievers. Is America Islamophobic?

A recent op-ed piece published in the New York Times states that American clergy are burning out as they try to meet their congregations' demands for more lighthearted messages. Is it possible for the clergy to tailor their sermons to congregations hungry for a comforting, entertaining message, or is there no room to do so without sacrificing the tenets of their faith? Do you find such challenges as you preach to your flock every Sunday?   So far, combining the serious religious stuff with the humorous has not been a problem for me. However, I must admit that when I decided to go into the ministry at age 60, a college friend had a hard time believing I was sincere!

British theologian Daphne Hampson, author of "Theology and Feminism," argues that "religions have proved the ultimate weapon in keeping woman in her place. " How would you answer the question "Is religion bad for women?" Religious traditions are intimately tied to our social structure, and the place of women in society is much influenced in that way. I can understand how Daphne Hampson reached her conclusions with respect to women's rights, for example, that Christianity "is neither true nor moral," that there is "need for a paradigm shift in religion," even her decision to "discard Christianity," as she defines it. And yet she retains her deep conviction of God's existence.

A California federal judge struck down Proposition 8, the state's law that prohibits same-sex marriage, last week. What are your thoughts on this ruling?   Judge Walker needs to address our concern that his own sexual orientation clouded his judgment. Nonetheless, the will of the people is clear; marriage must not be redefined. Marriage is by definition a heterosexual prerogative, not simply any imaginative variation. If two men want to pretend one is the feminine counterpart, then let them pretend they have an actual marriage, and do so in the closet and away from thinking society.

Ronni Abergel, a Danish antiviolence campaigner, has begun what is being called the Living Library. Already in 12 countries, patrons "borrow" people who represent stereotypes that often are the target of prejudice or hatred. Examples of these would be a Muslim, an immigrant, a transgender individual, a witch or an atheist, as was the case in an east London library. What do you think about the Living Library? Do you think it would work in the United States and, to some extent, our local communities?

Anglican Archbishop emeritus Desmond Tutu has announced that, after his 79th birthday in October, he is to resign from nearly all of his official commitments and withdraw from public life, the United Kingdom's Guardian newspaper reported last week. He wishes to spend more time in reflection and prayer . Tutu is best remembered for his fight against apartheid and leadership of the Anglican Church in South Africa. If you had a chance to sit down with the archbishop, what would you say to him?

Despite criticism from some religious leaders who have called on her to resign her post , Alice Huffman, president of the NAACP's California chapter, said last week that she will not retract her support of an initiative to legalize marijuana in the state, according to an article in the San Jose Mercury News. She believes that Proposition 19 would "be a good first step in reforming marijuana laws," especially for African Americans who she feels are targeted, creating a "permanent underclass."

CNN recently aired a documentary titled "Gary and Tony Have a Baby," where CNN's Soledad O'Brien followed a same-sex couple in "their struggle against the legal and personal obstacles to become parents" and their quest to achieve a life as mainstream as possible. How do you feel about gay couples having a family? Should they be allowed to adopt and be foster parents? What if you had a gay member of your family and they decided to have a baby through adoption, surrogacy or sperm donor?

C hange will be coming to La Cañada's St. Bede Parish in the next few days, as St. Bede Pastor Monsignor Jim Gehl says goodbye this week to his parishioners and moves on to another assignment at St. Euphrasia Parish in Granada Hills. Gehl replaces St. Euphrasia administrator pro tempore the Rev. Rolly P. Jardiniano, who was named to the position in April 2009, according to the archdiocesan newspaper The Tidings. The Rev. Antonio Cacciapuoti, pastor at Christ the King Church in Los Angles and a native of Italy, will take over Gehl's position on July 1. Change is never easy, especially at the close-knit parish level.

Elena Kagan's successful confirmation to the Supreme Court "would result in six Roman Catholic and three Jewish justices. Many argue that because Protestantism remains America's largest religious affiliation, the top court should have at least one Protestant justice," according to a piece written by Corey J. Hodges, pastor of New Pilgrim Baptist Church, for the Salt Lake Tribune. What do you think? Is it really necessary for the court to have a Protestant judge simply because it is considered America's largest religious affiliation?