I know it is peach season, and though a little wet, our Peach Festival yesterday went well! Everything peachy could be had! Including peach chili! But peaches are not the only fruit that is on the menu! Every day, at least 4 times a day, a family of deer graze the ground beneath our peach tree for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack. If there are none on the ground, they stand on their hind legs and select what they want from the branches above them! It is quite a sight!

St. Thomas UCC, Bethlehem worship audio August 18th –

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AwaaPGBst7w1fYoa-tVNZmYJVbNCUmLI/view?ts=66c21386

It is a beautiful day in the neighborhood – and in church! We held an outdoor worship service in our grove this morning – with special music and a baptism, followed by a lovely lunch in Fellowship Hall. Hope your day is beautiful, too!

St. Thomas UCC, Bethlehem – audio worship 8.11.24 – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qjjHxTHizOmefMSSsskhNw8xWmVS6DiY/view?usp=sharing

During the predawn hour this morning, there was a buck, a doe, and a fawn eating the pears on our pear tree and the grass beneath it. I was struck by the simple beauty of the moment. We worshipped this morning in our grove, with the birds and cicadas singing right along with us. Beauty  with our voices and nature’s voices blended together. We have heard the phrase, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” What is beauty to you?

St. Thomas UCC, Bethlehem – worship audio 080424 –

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zOY_l28QBs0zluBGqRjgPp8-_pqbMwo9/view?usp=sharing_eil_m&ts=66af9e17

Everyday I make a list of ‘to-do’s- for myself. A list of items I want to accomplish on a particular day. I create a list for my work and another for myself (personal). This process is beneficial to me. So some ‘to-do’s” for you:

If you are not watching any of the Olympics, please take some time to do so. These world athletes are amazing and dedicated.

If you have not hugged someone you love today or told someone you love “I love you” – please do it. (Same if you have not called a loved one – please do it). It will make your heart happy.

If you have not prayed in the last 24 hours, make it a point to do so. There are many things we can pray for in the world, in our country, in our communities, in our churches, in our lives. God is waiting to hear you!

St. Thomas UCC, Bethlehem – Worship audio 7.28.24 –

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zOY_l28QBs0zluBGqRjgPp8-_pqbMwo9/view?usp=sharing_eil_m&ts=66a66b6b

When I was a young girl, I used to sit on the front porch glider with my grandmother.  Those gliders with huge puffy cushions. My legs barely hung over the cushions. Sometimes we were quiet; other times we laughed and talked. We would say “hello” to everyone who walked by. Maybe someone would join us on the porch. Nanna would bring out glasses of lemonade or iced tea with the ice clinking against the glasses. This is such a sweet summer memory for me. We all have summer memories that we hold in our heart. What’s yours?

St. Thomas UCC, Bethlehem worship audio 7.21.24 –

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Cbb_pxpJAhiyNcd6pFTEtvwRT3lMEYVf/view?usp=sharing_eil_m&ts=669d2d2e

We have an aerial bird display in our sanctuary for this month – an eagle, a raven, sparrows, and a dove with an olive branch in its beak. Today, folks took notice of the dove, a symbol of the Holy Spirit, a symbol of peace. “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4: 3
Peace: peace of mind, peace in our heart, world peace, keep the peace, peace begins with you, make peace, let there be peace on earth…

St. Thomas UCC, Bethlehem worship audio 7.14.24 –

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZNpfRqZR3T1ZEXZ-p1wV9YT6HkiX-2o7/view?usp=sharing_eil_m&ts=6693edb8

I remember summertime being spent with neighborhood kids playing games such as baseball, jump rope, Simon Says, tag, Mother May I?, and  basketball. If we were lucky, we gathered together and went to a local pool. It did not matter if it was 72 or 92 in those days.  I was okay with these things, but I also enjoyed riding my bicycle through the woods and curlingu p anywhere with a book from my summer choices from the local library. If it rained, we would still gather to play games like Parchesi, Checkers, Scrabble, Dominoes, Rummy, or Jacks on somebody’s back porch. Those memories are priceless. As I sit on my back porch his hot summer afternoon, they are scrolling through my mind. Maybe they are for you, too.

St. Thomas UCC, Bethlehem – worship audion 7.7.24

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DIJm3WK1KGPzf6qv5mykFFEDHVKcRO9F/view?usp=sharing_eil_m&ts=668ac2d1

I recently went for a walk with my 5-year-old granddaughter and she was pointing out all the signs along the way: stop signs and street signs, speed limit signs. It got me thinking about signs in our lives. Reaching out to touch someone’s hand when they are grieving is a sign of comfort. Crossing one’s arms may be a sign of stubbornness.  Slamming a door could be a sign of anger.

In other instances, we learn to sign so we can communicate better with others. I am working on that now. It is going a little slower than I would like, but I will keep at it. It will be worth it.

St. Thomas UCC, Bethlehem – worship audio June 30, 2024 –

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18gEsJMkCzJg_hyKwmwm_lQ_WHo2y7ze8/view?usp=sharing_eil_m&ts=668177fe

I was cleaning out a closet and came across a skirt I sewed years ag0 – long ago! I loved to sew. I was not super great at it, but I loved to sew. My interest started in Brownies with a sewing project we did by hand. My interest continued not only through scouting but in Home Economics class in school. I made a lot of skirts, dresses,  pillows and curtains… But one thing I could never master was pockets. Every time I needed to sew a pocket; I would l sew it backwards! Ugh. Even my Home EC teacher was unable to help me understand how to do it correctly. (How frustrating it was for her!) Sometimes that is what happens in life, isn’t it? We can do many things correctly, but there are times when we just don’t – where we simply have difficulty understanding. Even when we ask for help. That’s okay, though. We are not perfect!  

St. Thomas UCC, Bethlehem – worship audio 6.23.24 –

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gaQpSzxRZv0dhh8-7l2qb11IEcJNUS82/view?usp=sharing_eil_m&ts=66783d6a

Do you like to paint? If not, have you ever given it a chance? Maybe you haven’t painted since finger-painting in kindergarten! We can google almost anything today – try painting for beginners! Or purchase some paint, brushes and a blank canvas and give it a whirl. Better yet, I just discovered you can by a paint by number canvas. That sounds like a challenge! But even if you have a gift to paint, no one can paint a picture better than God – who created heaven and earth and everything in it – whose brilliant brushstrokes give us memorable sunrises and sunsets, astounding snow-capped mountains and foaming oceans. Take a look around and be joyful in what you see! Then thank God for it!

St. Thomas UCC, Bethlehem worship audio 6.16.24 –

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AdP8_qUaISlURY-JMF6skqLS1Tgot2zS/view?usp=sharing_eil_m&ts=666f076f