Lighted Tower Newsletter

The Lighted Tower

Summer 2026

Church Phone: (203) 235-1389

Church E-mail: secretary@centerchurchmeriden.org

Church Website: www.centerchurchmeriden.org

Pagan and Christian

We are all born pagans. Whether we are then raised within or outside the church, we continue to be pagans. That is, we live in our natural state with all which that entails: we enter families and the dynamics that exist within them; our families are situated in a certain time period, in particular socio-economic locations, in particular ethnic and language groups, in distinct political environments, and in geographies that are more or less suitable to sustain human life. As we grow, we absorb the atmosphere of our location in space and time in such a way that our distinctive biological make-up is molded to create the unique identity of each of us. Through the inherited and learned material of our personalities, we represent individual instances of the creature called Homo sapiens.

 Part of this development of us as persons within communities is the shaping within us of our religious nature. Again, whether we are raised within or outside a faith community, we begin the process early in life and continue throughout our lives to make assumptions or adopt premises on the nature of the world, of life, and of God. There has been found virtually no society which has not in some form developed rituals, myths, spiritual practices, or other religious forms as part of its identity. This impulse to seek, encounter, and engage with God or a higher power, or find or assign meaning in life exists as a real, natural aspect of human existence.

As a child grows, he or she observes and takes part in the religious life of family and community. The child learns from the parents and older siblings how to relate to others in the group, to strangers, and to enemies. The child observes and notes the ways in which those who surround him or her enact their beliefs. So, for instance, a child sees how a parent grieves and whether this accords with its understanding of the religious life of the family. The child compares the grief of a mother and a father. The child hears the words of comfort, of blame, of shock, of resignation: do these words jibe with the words and actions that are held to be the indicators of the community’s religious viewpoint? The question of God’s goodness, power, and will puzzle the child as much as it puzzles and disconcerts the parents and the community. In this process of searching for meaning, the child produces and enlarges an embedded theology. This theology forms the basis for the ways the child will continue to express its religious values throughout its life. Other forces may influence that enlargement, forces that bring about a conflict or a challenge to the worldview of the individual or the society. But in most cases, it is this embedded theology which will arise reflexively when the crises of life assail the person. The religious development of the child and the adult he or she will become bears greatly on the character and health of the person. Body and soul are shaped by this process. And all of this process is natural or pagan.

So what? Why should be recognize this aspect of human nature? Should we despise it? Should we renounce it? What, if anything, has this pagan-ness to do with us? Well, it should, first of all, makes us hesitant to scoff at, to put down, or to condescend to anyone who remains outside of the church and who claims to be “spiritual” but not “religious.” Everyone is religious. The moment that we put a noun together with a verb in the attempt to speak of God, even to assert God’s non-existence, we have expressed a religious idea or experience. And that expression comes from inside us, from our embedded theology, from the picture we began forming as a child of what the world is like, how we fit into it, and whether there is a God who is more or less involved in the world. Our pagan-ness signifies nothing less than our humanity. It is, therefore, the substance of the clay which God promises to mold and shape into God’s children.

What, then, does it mean to be a Christian? Do we not cast off our pagan past and “put on Christ” in order to become Christian? Hasn’t Jesus reconciled us with God and the Holy Spirit purified us with fire and water? Well, yes and no.

The hope of the Gospel is the promise of transformation. We are becoming what we are not yet. The Holy Spirit works in time in the mystery of sanctification. There is no “in the twinkling of an eye” in the Christian life. Instead, under the steady (and steadfast) pressure of God’s love, we render ourselves to be re-worked into new creatures. Our embedded theology, cleansed by the Spirit of Christ, tested and tried against the Word of Scripture, fed by the Lord’s Supper, supported and cherished by the Beloved Community, and obedient to the will of the Father of the Son, has the rough edges smoothed, releases the childishness of its pagan infancy, and receives the childlikeness of faith that matures beyond the scope and effectiveness of our merely natural selves.

Proceeding from the biblical foundation of faith, the Christian finds his or her avenues of transformation in various expressions of religious practice: through prayer and repentance; in fellowship and hospitality; by service and submission; with continuous study of the Scriptures; as worship and praise in song, silence, and Sacrament; along the lines of compassion, empathy and testimony; of advocating for justice. In all these ways, and more besides, the pagan, the natural person becomes the Christian person. This process brings the grace of God into an abiding presence in the world.

The reign of God is at hand, so close you can almost touch it, yet hidden within the heart of Jesus Christ within our hearts. So, bless the pagan within you, and pray for the renewal, refreshment, and recreation of that pagan into the son or daughter of God which desires you to be.

Greetings from the Diaconate

Happy Summer!

  We all enjoyed the inspiring Youth service on June 7. It is refreshing to see the enthusiasm and faith the children of Center Church bring.

  Summer worship service will continue at 10am with refreshments following. All services will be led by Pastor Kent in the Sanctuary, unless Summer heat & humidity prevails, in which case we will move to The Chapel, downstairs next to Fellowship Hall.

  We are planning a welcome dinner for the new UCC district head, Rev. Leslie Jackson, details to follow.

  Exciting news- next year is our 300th Anniversary!  In 1727 the Ecclesiastical Society built the first meetinghouse located on the corner of Ann Street and Dryden Drive. To celebrate we will be planning many different activities. We will be meeting with First Church in July to begin brainstorming and discussing timelines. Do you have a talent, are you interested in history?  We need to create a Center Church logo and need help marketing our events and posting on social media. First church will be doing a photo directory and will have a section for our members. Please contact Joan Gordon or Susan Trella to come aboard this ad hoc committee. Nonmembers welcome; this is for celebrating the history of the Congregational Church in Meriden.

  The Pastoral Search team (Steve Gorman, Robin Cusachs, Diane Stolting, Frank Covey, and Joan Gordon) have been meeting and are busy creating our church profile and awaiting UCC approval.

  The Parish-Pastor Relations Board members are Frank Covey, Robin Cusachs, Robert Rochette and Mary Zysk. The board is a bridge between the pastor and congregation. It supports and nurtures the well-being of the pastor and ministry staff.

  Our Care Team reached out to Betty Leidy and our shut-ins Joan Halla and Colleen Stack. We continue to pray for comfort and healing. Please let Joan Gordon or Susan Trella know if you or someone you know could use some CCC care.

  July Communion will be prepared by Frank Covey and served by Maggie Schillberg and Mary Zysk.  August Communion will be prepared by Frank Covey and served by Diana Halla and Diane Stolting.

We have received several requests for a copy of the text of Jack DePalma’s sermon on Youth Sunday, June 7th. The text is on the next two pages of this issue of The Lighted Tower.

  Next deacons meeting is August 2nd at 11:30. Please see any of our deacons if you have something you’d like to discuss.

Peace, Susan Trella (Deacon chair), Frank Covey, Dianna Halla, Maggie Shillberg, Diane Stolting, Chris Tabor and Mary Zysk.

The Sermon from Jack DePalma

June 7, 2026

Good morning. I, probably like most of you, was relieved to see that the forecast for today was sunshine. After such a storm last night, it feels like we deserve that at least. I’ll be honest though. If it had been raining instead, I’d be talking about that too. See, I’m not sure that the actual event matters so much as how we connect over it. There is an old Swedish proverb: “Shared joy is a double joy. Shared sorrow is half a sorrow.” So, by pointing out the meteorological fortune of today, perhaps all of our joy is at least a little increased. Having people to go to matters very much, doesn’t it? Even for the little things, I think that it’s important to know there is someone out there willing to lend an ear or a hand. Whether you’re just passing time, announcing a life accomplishment, or seriously expressing your troubles, your sorrows will be halved and your joys will be doubled.

I am not going to give you the dictionary definition of community because I think that’s been done to death already. I will, however, give you my two cents on it. Community is one of those words that is a bit tricky to assign one definition because of its many contexts. Communities are big and they are small. They can be officially sanctioned, casually formed, or spontaneous. They may dedicate themselves to helping outsiders or their own members, though I don’t believe either case is usually that exclusive. To me, a community is where the hearts of the people are. It is when the group collectively decides they are better off looking after each other than each member going it alone. And it is what happens when people begin to give a little of themselves to something that used to be just a shared interest.  Obviously, not every group of people is therefore a community for reasons I just mentioned. But I, and probably many of us, have had the fortune of seeing a community grow from where once there were only humans contractually obligated to spend hours in close proximity. I guess, then, that community creates itself where and when it is needed.

Center Congregational Church has been a community of mine for as long as I have lived. It has been indispensable to me throughout my years as a member of the church youth. I have received guidance, friendship, and scholarships, among other things during my time here. The congregation has always been there to lean on. I am truly grateful for that. And I think the only proper way I can show my gratitude is through action that helps the church in return, as I can only hope I’ve done over the course of my many years. That’s probably the “community cycle”. People helping people helping people. Something so fundamental to the human experience that I can say with near-certainty almost every person who’s ever lived understands it.

In nature, cooperation among and between species is not unheard of. Wolves live in packs, bees protect their hives, shrimp clean fish, et cetera. Mutually beneficial relationships have always existed; just think about the first cells to create a complex animal. But I think we can all agree humans are different. After all, I’m not usually concerned with how I’ll survive in the forest every time I wake up. Yet I still value the communities I belong to, regardless of the fact I don’t need to hunt for food. According to a Science Abbey article, the simple cooperation of ancient humans eventually gave way to culture. Empathy and kindness are such effective tools that early groups of people found it beneficial to continually produce humans with traits that made them more predisposed for togetherness. We may gather at the table to eat dinner or sit on the couch to watch a movie for the same purpose ancient people sat around a fire: to connect. It’s an awfully fundamental thing. The point is that it’s inscribed in our most simple instincts to lean on each other. Reliance on people is not just an ordinary facet of life but indeed necessary, and practically unthinkable to go without. By saying this I don’t mean to imply the community is the organism and people are just cells; quite the opposite. Unlike a biological system, community is made up of individuals, and that is what every person is. It’s special because a group of humans is non-homogenous. There has never been two communities of identical composition because every member brings their own diversity. And it is through this diversity that a group of humans becomes a community of people. But, like many people, a community is often more than the sum of its parts.

        During my research, I found an article outlining the basic timeline and structure of human civilization, starting all the way back to the first cohesive cities like in the Tigris-Euphrates river valley.  By the way, don’t worry; the history lesson is over… But that’s not what I was looking for. My search for community appeared to attract information regarding cultural history.  Obviously, there’s some overlap, but it didn’t cover the core of what I wanted to talk about, which is the sense of belonging necessary for a community to exist.  But that made me think of something else.  What is the largest community we’re part of?  Meriden?  New Haven County?  The whole country?  Earlier I said communities can be big.  What did stick out to me, though, was the scope of these early civilizations.  The world was big and one couldn’t afford to think about somewhere a hundred miles away.  Being a part of a community meant enrolling in a rivalry with another.  Over the centuries, I think humans have had to redefine what belonging to a community has really meant.  Of course, that’s a complex historical and geopolitical area to study.  And today, with everything we know about each other, and with how small the world has become, perhaps we are facing a new extent of community.  Maybe ancient civilizations couldn’t think broadly enough to consider outsiders as friends.  But as the scale of humanity increases, maybe it’s time we realize there are no true outsiders.  After all, we are going back to the moon.  And then, beyond that, who knows?  What if every human is a part of the same community?  Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 were both launched by NASA in an attempt to show our galaxy the existence of humanity.  On each of these deep-space probes there is something called the Golden Record.  These are phonograph records that contain information about humanity.  They feature images, songs, and greetings from cultures around the world.  So they effectively serve as an introduction to our planet’s community.  And as we continue to explore space, I hope the astronauts that reach evermore distant places introduce themselves and say, “We’re from Earth.”

        Everyone needs a place to belong.  Everyone, every so often, wants to double their joy or half their sorrow.  Don’t forget that the desire for kindness is a universal one and empathy is engrained in our systems for a reason.  We will encounter people in our lives that insist they are weaknesses, especially in an age where self-isolation can seem like an easy solution to a lack of connection.  But remember that we all need people to lean on and should all strive to be people to lean on.  Without community, what much point is there in being human?  Because we’re all part, especially nowadays, of at least one very extraordinary community, that being of Earth.  We are really all we have.  So, by all means, treat everybody like they’re part of your community. Because in the ways that matter, they are.

Meet the Rev. Leslie Jackson

Tuesday, July 28 in the Fellowship Hall

Rev. Leslie Jackson’s Bio

Rev. Jax is a church revitalizer, innovator, pastor, dynamic preacher, and speaker. Under his leadership, two churches without hope found new life again. On January 1, 2019, Rev. Jax became the first African-American Pastor of Houston’s third-oldest church, St. Peter United Church of Christ (SPU). Before this call, he was the Pastor of the Cathedral of Hope Houston (COHH) United Church of Christ (2017-2018). He revitalized both congregations in his first two years of pastoring and successfully executed a church merger in under six months. From 10 members in 2018 to 200 members, St. Peter UCC is now a thriving and revitalized United Church of Christ congregation.

Rev. Jax is deeply committed to justice and serves as an at-large member of the board for Texas Impact, an organization that brings together people of faith to advocate for justice and equity across the state. His passion for justice extends beyond the faith community, as he also serves on the Texas State Organizing Committee for Common Defense, a group of progressive veterans dedicated to upholding democratic values and advocating for policies that prioritize fairness and equality. Through these roles, Rev. Jax exemplifies his unwavering dedication to making the world a more just and compassionate place.

Rev. Jax is a veteran of the United States Navy. His professional, secular experience includes shaping the culture and strategy of non-profit organizations. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix, a Master of Divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary (NYC), and a Master of Positive Organizational Development and Change from Case Western Reserve University. 

THANK YOU NOTES

We received this thank you note from Church World Service (CWS):

Center Congregational Church,

Thank you for supporting the CWS Kits program in such a big way!  Because of your support people in crisis will feel the Care and Compassion you packed into every kit. 

Thank  you for turning kindness into action!

Peace, Tiffany (The Rev. Dr. Tiffany DeTienne, Development Operations Coordinator)

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We also received this thank you note from Birthright of Meriden:

Dear Ladies,

We are grateful for your generous support.  It is very kind of you to continue to support our mission of helping pregnant women and their babies.

So, thank you again for all the items you have brought to our office.

God Bless.

Karen Perzanowski, Operating Manger, Birthright of Meriden

Greetings from the Diaconate

Happy Summer!

  We all enjoyed the inspiring Youth service on June 7. It is refreshing to see the enthusiasm and faith the children of Center Church bring.

  Summer worship service will continue at 10am with refreshments following. All services will be led by Pastor Kent in the Sanctuary, unless heat prevails, we will move to  The Chapel next to Fellowship Hall.

  We are planning a welcome dinner for the new UCC district head, Rev. Leslie Jackson, details to follow.

  Exciting news- next year is our 300 Anniversary!  In 1727 the Ecclesiastical Society built the first meetinghouse located on the corner of Ann St and Dryden Drive. To celebrate we will be planning many different activities. We will be meeting with First church in July to begin brainstorming and discussing timelines. Do you have a talent, are you interested in history? We need to create a Center Church logo and need help marketing our events and posting on social media. First church will be doing a photo directory and will have a section for our members. Please contact Joan Gordon or Susan Trella to come aboard this adhoc committee. Nonmembers welcome; this is for celebrating the history of the Congregational church in Meriden.

  The Pastoral Search team (Steve Gorman, Robin Cusachs, Diane Stolting, Frank Covey, and Joan Gordon) have been meeting and are busy creating our church profile and awaiting UCC approval.

  The Parish relation board members are Frank Covey, Robin Cusachs, Robert Rochette and Mary Zysk. The board is a bridge between the pastor and congregation. It supports and nurtures the well-being of the pastor and ministry staff.

  Care team reached out to: Betty Leidy, and our shut ins- Joan Halla and Colleen Stack. We continue to pray for comfort and healing. Please let Joan Gordon or Susan Trella know if you or someone you know could use some CCC care.

  July Communion will be prepared by Frank Covey and served by Maggie  Schillberg and Mary Zysk; August Communion will be prepared by Frank Covey and served by Diana Halla and Diane Stolting.

  Next deacons mtg is August 2, 11:30. Please see a deacon if you have something you’d like to discuss.

Peace, Susan Trella (Deacon chair)  Frank Covey, Dianna Halla, Maggie Shillberg, Diane Stolting Chris Tabor and Mary Zysk.