Roger's autobiographical sketch:
"I have been surrounded by a great cloud of witness who have paved the way for me and who have been instrumental in shaping my faith in God. I consider myself fortunate to have grown up in a family where faith in God was the center of life. My Grandfather was a Methodist minister, my father served as an elder in the Presbyterian Church and my mother served as the organist in the chuirch I grew up in.
For me, the church was like second home, a community of people I enjoyed being with. As a young person, I participated actively in church programs and in Winnebago Presbytery's youth ministry activities. As I came to the completion of my high school education, I expressed to my pastor that I sensed a call to the ordained ministry. To determine if indeed that was God's calling for me, he suggested I first explore other vocational interests and if it was a true calling, I would be led back to it. Valuing his counsel, I enrolled in Whitewater State University, Whitewater, Wisconsin pursuing a course in Business Administration. After taking an accounting course and one in economics, it became clear to me God was not calling me to enter the field of business! I transferred to Lakeland College in Plymouth, Wisconsin, from which I graduated with a bachelor of Arts in Sociology. My strong love and concern for people and a deep inner prompting led me to reconsider the ordained ministry as my vocation. I enrolled in Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, New Jersey and graduated in 1973 with a Masters of Divinity degree.
While in Seminary, I met my wife to be, Peg Brackbill. My first call was as assistant pastor at First Presbyterian Chuirch of Miami Springs, Florida. I was then called as pastor of Golden Gate Presbyterian Church, Golden Gate, Florida, and then to the First Presbyterian Church, Hollywood, Florida, where I have enjoyed a rewarding ministry for the past 23 years.
I have been a faithful and active member of Tropical Florida Presbytery serving on many of its committees. I am currently a member of the Committee on Ministry and I have recently served as its moderator.
My family (wife, Peg, and two sons, Dustin and Scott) is a very important part of my life and a great source of joy in my life. I enjoy participating in many recreational activities, including golfing, bowling, cycling, and tread milling. I also find a great deal of pleasure working in the yard and on woodworking projects. A great deal of my time over the past years has been devoted to remodeling our home. I have lived the movie, 'The Money Pit' and have become a regular viewer of the T.V. show, 'This Old House.' I enjoy participating in a wide variety of fellowship activities with friends."
Roger was installed as Pastor of Forest Park Church in March, 2003.
November 2009
If it’s not about things…
It really is true – “the best things in life are not things.” It’s a truth that we are reminded of throughout the month of November – as we celebrate Thanksgiving, reflect on stewardship, and enter the Advent season. That truth challenges us since our reality is shaped by a “things” oriented culture. We desire and value “things” - new things, better things, more things. Things provide entertainment, comfort, ease, enjoyment, a sense of achievement, and importance. The flip side of this is that “things” can complicate our lives and orient our priorities and values in a way not at all consistent with the Christian faith.
I’m not at all saying that “things” are bad or that we shouldn’t have “things.” I do believe, however, that “things” aren’t the best of life and that we place too much value on them. So then, if the best things in life are not things, what are the best things?
The creation story in the Bible proclaims that God created many “things” – heaven and earth, vegetation upon the earth, oceans, seas and rivers, animals on land and fish in the water. The “things” God created were all good things. But God’s creative efforts didn’t end with “things.” After creating things, God created human life and then others to share life with.
During the month of November we reflect upon the gift of live and life together. As families and friends gather to celebrate Thanksgiving, gratitude is expressed for all of God’s creation – all of God’s good gifts – especially the gifts of God’s presence with us and the gift of relationships with others.
Toward the end of the month, as we enter into the season of Advent, we anticipate the coming of Christ to dwell among us, to guide us, teach us, and show us how to live life at its best and how best to live together.
November is also the month when we highlight what it means to be good stewards (caretakers) of the gifts that God has entrusted to our use and management.
November – a month in which to celebrate and give thanks to God for giving us good “things,” and something much better than “things.”
Celebrating and giving thanks with you,
Rev. Roger
