Our utmost thanks to all who have honorably served the United States military.

Thank you for sacrificing part of your life to defend our freedom.

Thank you to your families who shared your gifts with us as you served.

Thank you for all you have done for our nation, our communities and our lives.

May God bless you abundantly!

Matthew 14:22-36

²²Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. ²³And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, ²⁴but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. ²⁵And early in the morning he came walking towards them on the lake. ²⁶But when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. ²⁷But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”

²⁸Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” ²⁹He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. ³⁰But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” ³¹Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” ³²When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. ³³And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

³⁴When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. ³⁵After the people of that place recognized him, they sent word throughout the region and brought all who were sick to him, ³⁶and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.

This passage always amazes me. Peter gets out of the boat.  He has the faith to try, but when the wind kicks up, he shows fear.  Sometimes I think Jesus got a little rough with Peter – out of all the apostles, at least Peter tried and of course he was afraid.  Have you ever been on rough waters when a storm kicked in? I do get what Jesus is saying – “I’m right here calling you to me – do not let anything stop you from coming to me, not even your fear.”

When was the last time you stepped out in faith and tried something different, difficult or even nearly impossible?  As you go through this week, keep your eyes open for those opportunities and step out in faith like Peter.  Maybe you will stumble, maybe you will succeed, maybe you will do both.  But you will not if you stay in the boat.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰ And they cried out in a loud voice:  “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

Revelation 7:9

In the greater church, November 1^st is the Feast of All Saints, a day to remember all those who now reside with God (both those we know and those we are unaware of).  It is often a day to remember our departed loved ones.

In Mexican tradition, it is Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead.  It is a day to honor those who have passed on and is celebrated with parades, food and special cookies called Sugar Skulls.  The celebrations are intended to remember that those who have passed are still among us (the biblical “Great Cloud of Witnesses”).

Other traditions around the world have similar beliefs (and most are around this time of year). 

There is something to these celebrations – death is not the answer, rather a gateway to the next life.  While it is always sad when a loved one dies, and we should mourn their loss, we also can celebrate their life and legacy, as well as their continuing influence on us.

So whether you celebrate with a Mexican sugar skull or not, take some time today to remember some loved ones.  Give God a prayer of thanksgiving for their continuing influence on your life and consider how you want to influence others.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD!” Our feet are standing within your gates, O Jerusalem.  Psalm 122:1-2

Have you been to the “House of the Lord” lately?  I do not specifically mean have you been to live worship in the sanctuary, however, have you participated in worship (even online?).

Worship is important.  It is one of the most important things we do.  After all of our jobs are no longer valid, after all our extra-curricular activities are done, after all sports, games and anything else are in our history, we will be worshipping God (see Revelation 4).

One of the greatest gifts that we have received in this horrendous time of Covid is online worship.  While some churches had already done online, many of the smaller churches (like ours) were “forced” into it, and for that I am glad. I’ve wanted some form on online presence for years and we have it. 

Are you regularly participating in worship?  This question has nothing to do with showing up Sunday morning at 10:30, rather asks if you are watching the church’s service.  You should be. 

As you go through your busy week, take a moment to click onto our weekly service.  Participate in worship, be fed by God, give your attention and grow.

You will not be disappointed.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Do you need rest?  Do you need someone to lean on?  I do.  It has been a busy Fall (can you believe its mid-October already?).  Our school students are deep in their studies as well as after school activities, weekends are packed, the stores are already putting out Christmas decorations, and Thanksgiving is around the corner.  Things are moving too fast.

On top of this are the many people having medical issues, tests, job stresses, family tensions and the rest.  We all need rest.

Fortunately, the Lord offers us that rest.  No, it may not be an extra night of sleep, but consider this; can you take 15 minutes today?  Just 15 minutes of silence, 15 minutes of meditation, 15 minutes of sitting in the Lord’s presence.  Get in a comfortable place, shut off the phone and other distractions, read this scripture slowly, breathing the words in and out and then ask Jesus to give you that rest. You will be amazed at how just 15 minutes can change your day.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

¹If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ²And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
⁴Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant ⁵or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; ⁶it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. ⁷It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
⁸Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end. ⁹For we know only in part, and we prophesy only in part; ¹⁰but when the complete comes, the partial will come to an end. ¹¹When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways. ¹²For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. ¹³And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. Second Reading 1 Corinthians (13:1-3) 13:4-13

Recently I officiated a wedding and, as usual, read this passage.  Paul’s “Love Passage” is one of the most popular scriptures ever, and is read at many weddings.

But Paul did not write this for wedding ceremonies, rather to remind us all that servant love (Agape love) is the love Jesus had for us, and we should have for each other.  Servant love calls us to care for those in need.  Servant love calls us to be forgiving.  Servant love reminds us to not hold grudges.

Servant love is hard.  It is very hard.  But servant love is worth it, for it is the love of Christ.

And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

It is a pretty typical Monday morning, getting up, getting breakfast made, making lunches, taking out the dog, loading up the car, getting everyone out the door to work and school.

Add to it a weekend with a funeral and a wedding, and a bunch of other things, I was stressed before I got out of bed.

Then I read the daily lectionary text.  If your day started like mine, definitely read this passage.

²⁵“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? ²⁸And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, ²⁹yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. ³⁰But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you — you of little faith? ³¹Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ ³²For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

³⁴“So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” Matthew 6:25-34

Need I add more?

May this day and this week be a blessing for you.

Pastor Bill

Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of rushing rain.” So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; there he bowed himself down upon the earth and put his face between his knees. He said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” He went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” Then he said, “Go again seven times.” At the seventh time he said, “Look, a little cloud no bigger than a person’s hand is rising out of the sea.” Then he said, “Go say to Ahab, ‘Harness your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’” In a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind; there was a heavy rain.  1 Kings 18:41-45

There was a great drought that caused famine across the land.  The people were concerned, the people were frightened, the people were upset.  Every day was filled with the struggle of the crisis, a lack of food, a lack of water, a lack of the daily needs of life.  The stress must have been unbearable – and that sounds familiar to us, doesn’t it?

Some turned to God in prayer, only to receive no answer (or at least not yet).  But then the prophet Elijah tells Ahab rain is on the way.  Ahab could see nothing, so Elijah tells him to look seven times when Ahab sees the tiny cloud, promising the much-needed rain.

Can you see the tiny cloud in your life?  Can you see that little positive image way off in the distance while you remain in the tensions of the day? If not, have you looked seven times? 

We are all still going through incredible struggles with the pandemic, with the tensions in our nation, with the ongoing political divisions, yet there is a cloud of hope in the distance.

Let’s all look “toward the sea” for the signs of God’s action.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications! Psalm 130 V 1-2

Do you feel that you are in the depths right now?  How about those around you?

The world is certainly in the depths – rampant wildfires, blistering heat in areas known to be cooler, earthquakes, flooding and hurricanes.  And, we are still battling a pandemic.

The Psalmist certainly knows about the depths.  David often wrote Psalms during his darkest days.  He would write out the words of his heart and you can almost see his tears.  David and the other Psalmists wrote these honest thoughts as a prayer and a healing balm.  Even in his deepest pits, David retained hope in the Lord.

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning (v 5-6).

Perhaps we should turn to the Psalms – read them, pray through them, lift them up as prayers to the Lord.  Perhaps we can turn to the Psalms as our prayers for this world and each other.

Peace,

Pastor Bill There will be no Monday Morning Meditation until I return from vacation in September. 

Give ear to my words, O LORD; give heed to my sighing.
Listen to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you I pray.
O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I plead my case to you, and watch. Psalm 5:1-3

Did you ever have one of “those” days?  Did you ever have a period in your life when you just felt down?  It happens to most of us.  Yes, I know, we are all supposed to be filled with joy yet things happen that can temporarily rob us of that joy.

Whether it was King David or another Psalmist, we know that people often felt this pain.  The Psalms are filled with joy and pain, with good and bad.  The Psalms remind us that we do sometimes feel the pain of life – and it is okay to bring it to God.

If you are in one of those times, take a trip through the Psalms and know someone else has also gone through the same – and that God is still with you.

Peace,

Pastor Bill