Don’t you love it when you hear a song and it brings forth a sweet memory? A first love or your high school prom. Or a song that inspired you or simply made you smile just hearing it again? Sing with your whole self today – go ahead – sing with joy! Sing loudly! May it bring a smile to your heart!
St. Thomas UCC, Bethlehem – worship audio 6/2/24 –
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QLiltKaLPHWZ-LbujU-beywmzfY3O_77/view?ts=665c9043
https://drive.google.com/file/d/18SjIJGAEtlh4xJxUt7BwRSbfm-9C8aCI/view?ts=665353f0
Waiting. Do you like to wait? Not too many people do these days. We can use an app on our phone to do our banking online instead of waiting in line at the bank. We can use an app on our phone to order food and simply drive thru and pick it up. We can pre-register at a doctor’s office before our visit so we do not need to wait our turn to verify information. In some cases, we do not need to wait for a red light to turn green; it is okay to make a right hand turn on red, if signage is present.
We don’t like it much, this waiting thing. Patience is a virtue, it’s been said, but it is true. We need to practice it every day, like doing our exercises. Make it a part of our daily routine. We might learn something about ourselves along the way when we do.
St. Thomas UCC, Bethlehem worship audio 052624 – https://drive.google.com/file/d/18SjIJGAEtlh4xJxUt7BwRSbfm-9C8aCI/view?ts=665353f0
Lots happening in our back yard today for some of God’s creatures large and small… A herd of deer visited us early this morning. They were enjoying our beautiful azaleas and the leaves of our young apple trees for breakfast. A rabbit has been attempting to nest in our front yard. A nest of baby robins in our rhododendron bush met their mommy for the first time today. The birds were singing in our pear tree, but the birds hanging out at the bird feeders seemed to be squawking at each other! (Hey! Hey! There is plenty of food for all our feathered friends!) The squirrels were playing together in the backyard, stopping on occasion to take a drink from the bird bath. An army of ants were marching across our patio – to where, I have no idea. A pair of chipmunks nearly tripped me up as I was walking across the patio – they raced by me on their way to the patch of rhubarb. Slow down fellas! What’s your hurry?
St. Thomas UCC, Bethlehem – worship audio 5.19.24 –
I was proud of our confirmands today who presented a program, Glimpses of God. They were invited to take photos of the places, spaces, and faces where they experienced God in their daily lives. Our prayer for them was that as their faith matures and grows, they always remember to look up and look around, with open hearts and ears and mind, as to where they might see God.
Then we threaded them together in a PowerPoint and presented it to the congregation. It was a collective gift to the congregation. It was not only the photos they took, but the story they told of the photo and where they saw God within it. A rainbow, reminding us of how God’s paintbrush can make things beautiful and how beauty can happen, even after a storm. A piece of art, where the artist finds comfort in sensing God’s presence, helping shape the piece. Nature, whether fishing, hunting, or just being outdoors connects this confirmand to God, our Creator.
Where have you seen a glimpse of God today?
St. Thomas UCC, Bethlehem – worship audio 051224 –
With a mix of sun and rain this week, it seems the landscape is greener than ever! After May 15th, we can transplant or plant our vegetable and flower gardens. Let the growing begin! After all, plants grow… Trees grow… Grass grows… Puppies grow… Children grow… Faith grows… Love grows…Above all, plant love wherever you are and watch it grow!
St. Thomas UCC, Bethlehem Worship Audio 5/5/24 – Our Spring Cantata –
If you are having an event today – a birthday, a baptism, an anniversary, a family outing to the ball game – enjoy! If today is simply another day for you, find one small thing about it that might bring a smile – a blooming flower (one that you have been waiting for to open), green grass, robins playing, a gentle breeze. Try to stay in that moment, linger there awhile before you move on. You will have no regrets about the time spent.
St. Thomas UCC, Bethlehem – worship audio 4/28/24 –
I was waiting for transportation today outside the church and the sky became increasingly dark, where just a few moments before, the sun was shining brilliantly. These minutes served as a reminder that change can happen quickly, whether we like it or not; whether we are ready or not. What changes might you be experiencing today? For me, I put on my raincoat; but for many changes, it is not that simple. Prayers for whatever change has arrived in your life.
St. Thomas UCC, Bethlehem – worship audio 4/14/24 –
St. Thomas UCC, 902 East Macada Road, Bethlehem
Today 9-noon
Proceeds support our 50PLUS Group and Bethlehem Emergency Sheltering
So many things call for our attention every day, our families and our work, loved ones who are ill, our own health. Then there are other things like our country, immigration, Ukraine, Israel, Gaza (worker aides killed), Taiwan (earthquake and tsunami) , destructive storms, and why not add an eclipse, too. We need breathing room toward a path of healing and restoration. For this, we can fold our hands in prayer and ask God. What are the many things in your life that need attention?
We are one week away from Easter. One week away from the end of March. How are you doing? How is your Spirit? After all the rain yesterday, we are blessed with abundant sunshine today! I am a positive thinker but get the reality. We may not be feeling so happy this spring. Stuff on our minds and even heavier worries on our hearts. Waiting for results o f a job interview, medical tests, legal steps. Yet, when we look up, we can’t help but notice that God’s landscape is unfolding in beautiful ways. We certainly can pause for a moment and take it all in – can’t we?
St. Thomas UCC, Bethlehem worship audio 3/24/24 – https://drive.google.com/file/d/1q1PaoMOi9ngk6t-XxkGFPGguXUtDkt_M/view?usp=sharing_eil_m&ts=66004aa4
In plain sight 