During Ordinary Time in the church season, clergy are often invited to choose a blessing to offer to the congregation at the end of the service. 

Dear Friends,

This week we held a lively Staff Retreat for all of our Bethesda employees, both those who serve at the church and at The Church Mouse. The timing was great, as we have a number of new staff members. 

Playing the organ involves a complex series of managing many thousands of binary mechanical operations in an attempt to make something artistic.

As I write this letter, I’m enroute to Iona, Scotland for a spiritual pilgrimage and silent retreat.

Road Trip VBS was a spectacular success! The children and the volunteers brought incredible energy, excitement, and joy to every aspect of our week together.

Dear Friends,

I truly believe in the power of prayer. Whether I’m praying for someone else or for myself, I have confidence that God will answer in the perfect way. It may not always be the answer I want, but I trust, as we read in Matthew 7:9–11, that it will be just what I need.

Dear Friends,

On Palm Sunday, two kingdoms crash violently into one another. One is the kingdom of earthly power: that might-makes-right, survival-of-the-fittest dominance that pushes others down to get ahead. The other is God’s kingdom: the way of unwavering, self-giving love that willingly lays down power to lift others up.

Dear Friends,

This is a season for contemplation and reflection, a time to focus on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As we have been reminded over the past few weeks, this is a time to put to death our old self—one defined by the world, culture, or traditions—and to be born anew, solely focused and centered on God. We must remember God’s absolute love for us.