Monthly Archives: April 2020

What’s New? So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation. -Paul (II Corinthians 5:17-18) Hardly a day has gone by in this Covid-19Continue reading “April 30, 2020”

The Power of Prayer I am so grateful to God for giving me the gift of Prayer as a means of navigating through life’s daily challenges and routines, especially in this pandemic world we are all currently living in. I recently read a quote from Mohandas K. Gandhi, “A man is but the product of hisContinue reading “April 29, 2020”

It’s the Little Things As we slow down as we’re hunkered down, it’s the little things that come into focus. Maybe it’s the new growth on that tree right outside the front door that you always barely noticed or the beautiful birds, butterflies and squirrels playing effortlessly in your backyard. Now that we have time,Continue reading “April 28, 2020”

Meh! And God said, “Let there be lights in the dome of the sky to separate the day from the night.” And it was so.                                                                                                -Genesis 1:14-15     Long ago, Joni Mitchell sang in her popular tune, Big Yellow Taxi: Don’t it always seem to go that you don’t know what you’ve got ‘tilContinue reading “April 27, 2020”

During this pandemic many people have talked about how bad this disease is and the effects it has on us. But are there not good things about this virus? Like how many people are getting outside to get exercise. In my neighborhood not many people used to walk around. Now I see people walking aroundContinue reading “April 25, 2020”

Missing Our Church We are fortunate that our technology enables us share communal worship virtually.  How limited our worship would be if we didn’t have access to the internet!  Still, being virtually together is a poor substitute for the closeness we feel there, one of the main impulses drawing us there each Sunday morning.  Continue reading “April 24, 2020”

Now in the days following the watershed event of Easter, we are given time to absorb the impact of and wonder about the possible meanings of Jesus’ Cross and Resurrection for the world today. One such attempt is a sermon by Fred Craddock, a renowned Methodist preacher. In his “Why the Cross?”, Craddock considers but finallyContinue reading “April 23, 2020”

Enforced Separation The Lord watch between you and me, when we are absent one from the other.                                                                                                 -Genesis 31:49 A popular piece of jewelry, called the Mizpah coin, originated in that ancient Bible verse. We usually recall it sentimentally when we experience separation from people we love. Truth is, it comes from a rather contentious delineation of territoryContinue reading “April 22, 2020”

We’ve been hearing these words, “We’re all in this together.”  Our connection to and interdependence with each other locally and globally has never felt more real. We are distancing ourselves and wearing masks. We’re washing our hands more and wiping down surfaces. We’re making masks and delivering meals and offering words of encouragement and hope. Continue reading “April 21, 2020”

Recently I listened to a podcast conversation between a father and son.  Their names may be familiar to some of you.  The father is Presbyterian pastor, Dr. Jody Welker.  The son is Joe Welker, a student at Harvard Divinity School.  The podcast is Joe’s project.  He had invited his dad to share in a conversationContinue reading “April 20, 2020”