Dear people of Bethlehem, The sun has once again returned to San Diego and with it our renewed joy. I pray that this letter finds you traveling, or planning a time of rest for yourself, or simply at the beach for a moment. A colleague of mine reminded me, that the sabbath comes immediately after …
Dear people of Bethlehem, The theme for this year’s Easter Vigil was “Behold I Make All Things New!” God’s Spirit is always moving in the church and always making us new by pressing us forward into God’s grace. Here at Bethlehem many things are being made new. What a blessing! Finally, our greatest gift is …
Dear people of Bethlehem, Blessed Holy Week and Easter to you all. I find myself reflecting on the raising of Lazarus, which comes so close to the Easter story, both in time and distance. Bethany is just a few miles from Jerusalem, and a few weeks from the cross. In that moment, Jesus stood before …
“And Jesus was led up by the Spirit, into the wilderness.” Matthew 4:1 Every wilderness experience I have ever had has been wonderful. Our first trip to Yellowstone, with two young girls in the car, will always hold a special place. After driving for days, we arrived in the park and I told my girls …
Dear People of Bethlehem, Happy New Year and Blessed Epiphany. As I consider the trek of the wisemen over hills and valleys, following nothing but one star in the night sky, I wonder if our current journey is much the same. The hills and valleys of this current life, the circuitous paths we have been …
Dear people of Bethlehem, Blessed Advent to you all. The prophet Isaiah says, “A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse.” Advent is the time of our hope and expectation. It is the waiting season. Waiting for light to shatter darkness. I can recall the expectation of childhood. Every light, on every house …
Dear People of Bethlehem, Fall is always a season of new adventures, a new school year, a new job or the beginning again of routines that have been relaxed during the summer months. Fall is also a season of thanksgiving. It is a time of harvest of the seeds sown, and our national thanksgiving day …
Dear people of Bethlehem, As I write this, we are in the middle of Vacation Bible School, learning about Joseph and his brothers in Egypt. Children are running all over the campus, full of joy and new songs and a great deal of love. It does the heart good. In the background, our nation continues …
Dear People of Bethlehem, I find myself in a place to give thanks to God for all that has been and all that is yet to be. I remember as a child standing at the very edge of the diving board. My toes curled over the board, my arms poised above my head, too afraid …
Dear friends, As Ash Wednesday approaches, I find myself resting on thoughts of the ashes in our lives. The times in my life, and likely in yours, when all has become ashes despite our best effort. This life never seems to work out perfectly, and yet it is that imperfection that allows for the deepest …