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 …
Dear people of Bethlehem, Dear people of light and life and hope in new day. Together with Pastor Sam, I cannot thank you enough for your kind and generous Christmas gift. I was overwhelmed. You warmed my heart and renewed my joy, as you regularly do. Your support and care mean so much to me. …
Dear people of Bethlehem, In this Advent season, I am always so grateful to name us all, “the people of Bethlehem”. Indeed we are in name, but also in disposition. We are indeed a people who seek after the light. People who live, the day to day of our lives, as those in the town of Bethlehem must …
Dear people of Bethlehem, Two weeks ago, I arrived at church early on Sunday morning, but I was not alone. Emma (9 yrs. old) and Jonah (6 yrs. old) were there too. They came dragging a wagon full of brilliant pink flowers and contagious enthusiasm. Emma pulled the heavy wagon all by herself, while Jonah …
Dear people of Bethlehem, It is August. A time when we wish the pandemic was over, but it is not. A time when the nations of the world gather for the Olympics and we see a vision of a world united, if only for a moment. It is a time when most of us are traveling to see …
Dear people of Bethlehem, In this season of the church, we have moved from Ascension Sunday, to Pentecost, to Trinity Sunday. The Holy Spirit has central place in all three. Ascension Sunday: “You will be visited by the Holy Spirit, not many days from now.” Pentecost: the rush of a mighty wind and the gift …
Dear Easter People, I have always admired Mary Magdalene’s decisions on Easter Sunday morning. A woman of tenacity and strength, she had known suffering in her life. Yet she also knew the possibility of hope. On that first Easter morning, she was up before first light. She travelled to the tomb not in joy, but …
Dear people of Bethlehem, As a Lutheran expression of faith, we travel in liturgical seasons. We move from the waiting of Advent, to the light of Epiphany, to the reflective contemplation of Lent. We are accustomed to the pace, and as ashes are placed on our foreheads, we are reminded of each Lenten journey that …
Dear people of Bethlehem, Blessed New Year to you all. May grace and hope be yours, as we journey like the Magi and together follow the star set before us. This Epiphany we enter into a season of light. As with everything else, this feels like a much different New Year. In most years we …