Winter and the snow that accompanies it, like now, can be fun. You might enjoy a cup of hot cocoa, or cozying up with a good book and warm blanket, or playing board games with the kids. Maybe tomorrow it will be making snow angels and snow people; a little sledding or snow-tubing. Snow days can be just what we need. Or not! With accumulative snow and cold temps comes cancellations.

St. Thomas UCC, Bethlehem, has canceled all classes and worship tomorrow. We will worship on Zoom at 10:15. Communion will be postponed until next Sunday.

Maybe you are a New Year resolution-maker, maybe you’re not. Maybe you like to celebrate loudly, maybe you like to celebrate quietly. However or wherever you celebrate this last day of 2023, the new year will hold our hopes and our fears. May the peace, love, joy, and hope of the Christ child, be with you all year long. Happy New Year!

St. Thomas UCC, Bethlehem worship audio 12.31.23 –

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WVrq1EylFaapwkzhjoRbqFcQtBCu9ZkW/view?usp=sharing_eil_m&ts=659195aa

Many of us use technology, like Apple watches. It tells us when to wake-up, when to rest, when to exercise, when there is a meeting, and even when to breathe. Isn’t it funny how we need technology to remind us of basic life functions – like breathing?

As you go about this Christmas Eve Day, seriously, take time to just breathe. Sit quietly. Turn off your watch – don’t use it as a timer. Sit with God. Say a prayer. Immanuel, with us.

St. Thomas UCC, Bethlehem worship audio 1224 Advent 4 –

We cannot help but wonder here in the season of Advent – understood traditionally with the themes of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love – where these things are in our own lives. Are we a cup-half-full kind of person or a glass-half empty one? What brings peace to our hearts? Where is the joy? And what about love? I wonder – for myself – if I am giving and doing enough of these things – offer hope to another who is homeless, help someone find peace after the loss of a loved one, bring joy to someone who has been struggling with a job search, share love, especially God’s love, with everyone I meet. As we live out this this week of Advent – Joy – may we find it ourselves and then share it with others.

St. Thomas UCC, Bethlehem – worship audio 121723 –

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Hg76GJceCbnapZMMXriUEcPC6i6cOmwm/view?usp=sharing_eil_m&ts=657f2a3c

A few days ago I found myself in a group with a few children. Somehow the conversation turned to Christmas. We played a little game what I call, ‘the ABC’s of Christmas’. We went around the circle and I asked each child to to name a word about Christmas, beginning with letters from the alphabet starting with the letter “A”…angel, baby, child, donkey, elf, faith, Gabriel, heaven…and so on. What a great group! We went around the circle three times!!!!!! Go ahead – you try!

This season of Advent is a season of waiting…waiting for the Christ child to be born in a manger (again).

In our personal lives, we seem to do a lot of waiting, don’t we? Are we good at it? Some times more than others. Waiting fills us with anxiety or hope, depending on what the reason is we are waiting. In Dr. Seuss’ book, “Oh, The Places You’ll Go”, he talks of a “waiting place”. It goes like this –
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.

We all spend time in these places Dr. Seuss talks about, but we may not particularly enjoy it. Waiting isn’t useless. While we are waiting, life goes on, doesn’t it? We can make good use of that waiting time. Read a book, make a list, listen to music, perhaps. What is it you do when you find yourself in a “waiting place”?

St. Thomas UCC, Bethlehem worship service audio 120323 –

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1k24Z2noO2HICubKfUB32xokrHtAZvNX2/view?usp=drive_web

I was sitting outside when dawn arrived this morning. It was 26 degrees and chilly. Sometimes, a family of deer move across the yard; sometimes birds are stretching their lungs. But this morning, it was very quiet. Then I saw something scurry across the patio. I moved closer. A chipmunk. It wasn’t Chip or Dale or even Alvin! Just a random chipmunk. The poor thing just sat there – likely shivering – I could not exactly tell.

I do not know much about chipmunks, but I venture to guess they usually do not stand/sit still for very long.  I stood up to back into the house and the chipmunk still sat in place. I know I was overthinking it – what am I to learn in this moment? Is there a message for me in this encounter? I checked again in a few moments just in time to see the little body scurrying away. We never know what a new day brings! Sometimes being in the moment is enough.

St. Thomas UCC, Bethlehem – Worship Audio 112623 –

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1V0AOViYfiw8UO0CO9ftgMorkFGEMoJMV/view?usp=sharing_eil_m&ts

What is in your bible? What I mean is, do you place family obituaries in your bible? Have you marked or noted favorite scriptures that touch your heart? Do you have a lost of birthdays, wedding, funerals, family history, baptisms, or anniversaries recorded among the pages?

I don’t know if people do this anymore. When people note special scriptures that are important to them, it is helpful to families when the time comes for funeral  service planning. Favorite hymns, too. Whether or not you note it in your bible or somewhere else, it is important and helpful information for the family.

This may not be a loved topic at the dinner table, but it is a worthy conversation.. I have had a few funeral and memorial services the past two weeks, which is the reason I have been thinking about this today.

St. Thomas UCC, Bethlehem – worship audio 11/19/23 –

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UutoNpG-fjy9rYneITFiYtZvtyEsq0ir/view?usp=sharing_eil_m&ts=655a3ac8

Honor. What does that word mean to you? It was our honor to recognize veterans in our worship service today. It was an honor to officiate the funeral service of my mother-in-law yesterday and a church member a few days before. Respect. Dignity. Integrity. Honor.

St. Thomas UCC, Bethlehem – Worship Audio 111223 –

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18QxlWw3Sfy47MCPQdEIr9v147hQx42et/view?usp=sharing_eil_m&ts=655102df

Oh, what a beautiful morning! Oh, what a beautiful day! Remember those lyrics from Gordon McRae’s song? It is a lovely day for lots of reasons.  We can come up with our own, of course. For me, the first reason is we received 61 new members into St. Thomas UCC, Bethlehem today. What a wonderful gathering of remembering and sharing! The second reason is, the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles face one another today! (I am a Dallas fan!) Enjoy the blue skies today!

St. Thomas UCC, Bethlehem worship audio 11/5/23 –

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v0-vBOiBS6XjEp8Ya37VRJcJPemTT3rk/view?usp=drive_link