Summer is here! It is nice to page through family photo albums and remember all the fun we had in summers past. Examples: Going to the shore, fishing, lounging in the pool, eating lots of ice cream on a hot summer day, camping out in the backyard (or anywhere else!). This summer we may experience in different ways. We will still be able to do the things we love to do; we will simply find new ways to enjoy them. Happy Summer!

St. Thomas UCC worship podcast June 21

https://drive.google.com/file/d/11k1VRXvw_dgC9psyOE_3yQUrGENai_55/view?usp=sharing

Look at these beautiful flowers in this planter. Reminds me of people. When the wind blows, they gently bend into the wind, as though they are leaning over to lend a helping hand to another.
When the morning dew dances on their petals just at sunrise, they stand grace-filled together. The more mature ones offer shade to the younger blooms. The younger blooms, seem to nod in thanks.
A lesson for all of us.

St. Thomas UCC worship podcast June 14    Worship 06-14-2020.mp3

God’s world and everyone in it, is in need of prayer.
          Pray without ceasing.    1 Thessalonians 5:17

St. Thomas UCC worship podcast June 7  
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hxdi8-d6kBZUNKfm6VJyjfceql5Fg-MO/view

I have a near constant symphony in my backyard– endless choruses of birdsong! This is not a complaint by any means! They fly about – from hummingbirds to woodpeckers – happily flying from tree to tree, flower to feeder, then gathering ‘round the birdbath. At one time, I would grab my camera to capture the activity; now I am content with listening to the sweet gifts they offer.

These are anxious times. I worry about everything and everyone. I notice when I pause to listen to the singing of these feathered backyard visitors, my anxiety diminishes. All the worry in the world won’t take away the fact that the coronavirus exists. But your worry and concern can lessen in these backyard moments of song. Try it. Listen to the birdsong; watch the robins and bluejays and sparrows. Enjoy!

St. Thomas UCC worship podcast  Worship 05-31-2020.mp3

God is everywhere. God is with us, behind us, in front of us. We can even find God in the nest of a sparrow. St. Thomas UCC podcast worship  Worship 05-24-2020.mp3

God has created some beautiful spring days for us to enjoy this week: light-filled, gentle breezes, birdsong and the smell of lilacs filled the air. While grateful, I am just as grateful for the gray of today. It gives my eyes some rest. With non-anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, light plays an important role in how I ‘see’ the world around me. The days that are most light-filled, I struggle to ‘see’ the most. I am what it tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “Be thankful in all circumstances…”

St. Thomas UCC Sunday, May 17 worship podcast   Worship 05-17-2020.mp3

Such a beautiful spring day! God’s brush strokes paint our landscapes in a variety of ways – from the sky above with stunning sunrises and sunsets, to the fields and valleys that surround us.

For me, mostly how I ‘see’ my surroundings, are without lines: much of the time I ‘see’ the world in blobs of color. When I look up, with my face toward the sky, and I feel the warmth of the sun on my face, I believe the sky is blue. When I step outside and it is damp and cool, and I do not feel the sun’s warmth, I imagine clouds are above. I really cannot tell what kind of flower I am seeing without getting very, very up close and personal.

Passing by a field a few days ago, a bright yellow caught my attention. Miles of goldenrod in a field caused my driver to stop so we could look at the amazing golden landscape in front of us. Only God could paint such beauty!

St. Thomas UCC worship 5/10/20  Worship 5-10-2020.mp3

Today is the first day of a new month. A new beginning.
Many times, new beginnings offer us a feeling of hope and joy. Think about it – a new house, a new year, a flower bursting through the earth for the first time. With new beginnings comes a particular kind of energy and a sense of anticipation that something good will happen. Even though we are still social distancing, wearing masks and sheltering at home, I hope this first day of a brand new month brings you hope and joy in some way.

St. Thomas UCC worship
 Worship 5-3-2020 (revised).mp3

April showers, bring May flowers…remember that childhood saying? The poem is credited it to both Thomas Tusser and Geoffrey Chaucer. No matter. It is raining now and flowers are already in bloom! While I appreciate both, I like to think of each rain drop as a prayer, especially during this unusual time.

St. Thomas UCC worship podcast for Sunday, April 26:  Worship 04-26-2020.mp3

Alleluia! Christ is risen!
St. Thomas UCC podcast for Easter worship service  Easter 2020.mp3