May 21, 2022 Beautiful Beloveds To be held can feel wonderfully affirming, to be held back can feel stifling. To be held in love gives us the strength to soar. To be held captive can stifle the way we live our God given gifts in the world. As we continue our “God is Holding Your…
May 14, 2022 Beautiful Beloveds, Have you ever stood outside and gazed at the stars and considered the infinitely expanding universe? Have you seen the sunrise over the water or the Grand Canyon? Have you stopped and stared at a newborn baby? Have you sat with someone at the moment of their death? There are…
May 7, 2022 Beautiful Beloveds, Tomorrow is Mother’s Day. For some it’s a day of beautiful flowers, delicious, shared meals, and words of appreciation. For others it’s a day of grief, missing what was, or what never was, or what might have been. Social Media will be flooded with pictures of mothers living and long…
April 23, 2022 Beautiful Beloveds, This week, I’ve been taking some time for rest and renewal (and packing) with my family. Tomorrow, you will be blessed by the preaching and worship leadership of Ed Deyton. I am grateful to all who make it possible to take this time with my family. I’ll be back to…
April 16, 2022 Beautiful Beloveds, Today is Holy Saturday, a day between… Jesus has died, his body laid in the tomb, the disciples scattered and grieving. The women are waiting to anoint the body. The disciples are waiting for the danger to die down, to figure out what to do next. Jesus has died, and…
Maundy Thursday is an alternate name for Holy Thursday, the first of the three days of solemn remembrance of the events leading up to and immediately following the crucifixion of Jesus. The English word “Maundy” comes from the Latin mandatum, which means “commandment.”‘ REGISTER FOR MAUNDY THURSDAY HERE Join us for Maundy Thursday worship at 7:00…
April 9, 2022 Beautiful Beloveds, Tomorrow is Palm Sunday; the beginning of Holy Week as Jesus makes his entrance to Jerusalem. Throughout his ministry, Jesus found ways to challenge the expectations of others and redefine “Good Enough.” He entered town with a parade, but he was riding a lowly donkey. Instead of of display of military…
April 2, 2022 Beautiful Beloveds, As our Lenten journey nears the end, we consider our fragility. So much time and attention is given to our strength, courage, and achievement. We love stories of superhuman strength and speed. But what of our humanity, our flesh and blood vulnerability? Lest we forget, Jesus was human, fully and…
March 26, 2022 Beautiful Beloveds, Eight years ago, when our District Superintendent, the Rev. Dr. David Calhoun was installed, I was serving as the chair of the District Superintendency Committee. The installation, a formal worship service, was full of pomp and circumstance, ceremonial ritual, and symbolic gift-giving. The Bishop led the procession of robed clergy…
March 19, 2022 Beautiful Beloveds, Lots of things can be medicine… Earlier this week, someone asked a small group of pastors, “What are the release valves in your life?” The answers started pretty standard, “I walk; I read; I craft.” Then we dove a little deeper. “Time with family; a really good meal; total silence;…