Our lamppost outside of home is on an automatic light sensor. Whenever the sensor detects that it is dusk, the lamppost turns on. And it turns off with morning light. This is a great way to keep our family from having to turn on and off the lamppost. Someone would certainly forget. It works well, lighting the path in front of our…
I want to begin this morning with an experiment. I will start the first line of song or hymn and you finish: • I’ve got the Joy, Joy, Joy, – – Down in My Heart • Rejoice! Rejoice! – – Emmanuel shall come to Thee O Israel. • Good Christian friends – – rejoice in heart and soul and voice • Joy…
Imagine my surprise: I began my renewal leave in the middle of October by spending eight days in Ontario, Canada in silent retreat. When I returned, I was surprised to find out major construction was underway just off Guernsey Road, just down from the church. On my short commute, I am now often slowed down and treated to a view of construction…
In the middle of December when I was a child, boxes would begin appearing on the kitchen table to decorate our home. It was not until later, I learned that they were tucked in the attic throughout the year and taken down only for Christmas. The children just expected Christmas tins, mistletoe, stuffed bears, and other decorations would show up. This Advent…
Earlier this month, I got a flat tire from a tear in the sidewall. Without a spare tire in my car (hybrids use that space for a battery), I relied on the next best option. As I was waiting for Triple A to come and tow my car, there was a parade of generous people who came by happy to share their…
525, 600 minutes in one year. Is there a way to get more? Regularly do emails, podcasts, and morning shows suggest ways to maximize your time. Streamline a process. Eliminate redundancies and smooth out unnecessary roles and tasks. Maybe more moments will show up in your day. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and…
Last weekend, Steve and I took some time away in New York City for our anniversary. We walked through Times Square, around Broadway specifically, and the rest of the Theater district. We heard lots of voices calling to get our attention. Large television screens advertising everything from news stations to clothing. There were broadcasts of games and talk shows. There were pop-up…
Almost every day, I walk to the bus stop. In this season of life, two of three children regularly ride the bus. For any of you who have, do, or will relate to a bus stop, you know it is a nexus of news. Students are exchanging news. Parents are sharing news. Bus drivers have news. News is to trafficked in. Bus…
Prophecy sometimes gets a bad rap like the proverbial boy who cried wolf. Or, if you prefer, like the ominous warning Winter is Coming from Game of Thrones. Being the lone voice who is calling the community to hear them can be lonely and long, draining and daunting. And yet, this is the work of the prophet. Look and listen. We hear…
The streaming video of this service can be found on Facebook. You will have to copy and paste this link into your browser: https://www.facebook.com/westgroveumc/videos/1576499385788371/ Do you remember the days of listening to the news at home on the television at a set time? Maybe the 6 o’clock nightly news after dinner or the 7 o’clock news as you were getting…