Just a quick post.  I’m trying different ways to bring us together during this crisis.  I just posted a prayer for today on YouTube.  Check it out here

I also created a chat site  let me know your thoughts.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

Psalm 46:10

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”

On this surreal Monday of a surreal week we have only one recourse.  To be still and know that God is God.  We need to turn to God for our comfort and strength.

God knows it has been a trying time for many peoples and nations over the past few months and now we in the USA are experiencing the same thing.

We must not panic.  We must not scoff or ignore the warnings.  We must not hoard.  We must not blame ideologies.

What we must do is this; be still and know that God is God.

Keeping you all in prayer,

Pastor Bill

To view yesterday’s worship service and

special sermon, click:  Sunday 3-15-2020 Worship Service

I received an email to attend a church security workshop in New York.  It is one of many that I’ve received over the past few years as assaults on houses of worship have increased.  I have attended local meetings and webinars for this important topic.  Some of the many questions raised by these workshops include:

• Should churches have armed security guards?
• Should we lock all the doors except one?
• What precautions do we use to keep the people safe?

In the end, there are a lot of complex procedures to create a sense of security.

Pastors have also been inundated with training, workshops, etc. for child safety.  Between clergy abuse scandals and the Penn State scandal, we have had to attend mandatory boundary training and create processes to assure all who volunteer with children have the appropriate three Pennsylvania background checks.

In the end, there are a lot of complex procedures to create a sense of security.

And now we have the Corona virus.  No amount of background checks, no locked doors, no security guards will protect us against a virus.  Rather we must protect ourselves.  We need to take those standard hygiene precautions that we should have  been doing all along, like washing our hands properly, staying home when sick, limiting our exposure to those who are sick (which is really hard for those who care for and visit the sick).

Right now, the church leadership is looking at options for the serving of Holy Communion (and I refuse to NOT serve the Lord’s Supper.  It is far too important to neglect).

In the end, there are a lot of complex procedures to create a sense of security.

Hopefully you’ve notices a commonality among these three issues.  We do what we have to do to be as secure as possible, but ultimately, we cannot guarantee 100 percent that nothing bad will ever happen.

I’m reminded of the Joseph saga in Genesis.  Joseph, as the youngest brother, is a real pain.  He tells his brothers, father and mother that in his dreams, his family will bow down to him.  The brothers decided to do away with him.  Joseph, through a series of events, ends up in an Egyptian prison, explains the dream of Pharaoh and becomes second in command in Egypt.

When he reconciles with his brothers, he says this: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20).

I do not believe God has sent us these viruses and problems to accomplish something, rather God calls us to use our faith to accomplish things in these times of crisis.

As you listen to the news, as you hear the panic, remember God.  Be still and know that God is God.  Have faith, take precautions and go out and live your life.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

Written in a question and answer format, the Heidelberg Catechism has been used to teach the faith since 1563. And the first question is one that I cling to throughout my day.

 What is your only comfort in life and in death?

1. A. That I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.

We live in scary times when headlines continually tell us of bad things.  Wars, rumors of wars, earthquake, storms and the like are always present.  So too are the by-products of these things, refugees, homeless, pestilence, etc.

Today’s headlines are filled with the Corona virus and people are scared.  Many are cancelling both international and domestic trips, people are afraid to go out into public, many are already stockpiling food and water just in case something happens here.  Even churches are considering limiting the “passing of the peace” to a bow, or changing the Lord’s Supper, or even contemplating not meeting for worship.

While I think the Corona virus is dangerous and something we must take seriously, I cannot and will not enter into a “bomb shelter mentality.”  Rather, I remember that my comfort in life is that I belong, body and soul, to Jesus Christ.

Wash your hands frequently.  Limit contact with the sick (unless you are called to minister to the sick).  Use standard precautions.  Check in on those who have compromised immune systems.  Pray for all infected and all who battle this virus.

And be like Jesus.  Rest in His eternal arms while you be a Christ-like presence to those around you.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

Brain science has shown that it takes more than thirty days to change a negative behavior into a positive behavior.

In plain words, if you want to eat healthier, it takes a little over thirty days to make those changes.  If you want to exercise more, it takes a little over thirty days to make those changes.  And so on.  It takes that time to create neural pathways in the brain that lead to automaticity.

If you play an instrument or a sport, think of it this way:  in order to get that guitar chord, or piano hands, or grip on the baseball bat, you need to practice the correct way over a period of time.  Usually thirty (plus) days.

In the Hebrew Scriptures (the Old Testament), we often hear the phrase “forty days”.  In Hebrew, forty days can mean either forty literal days, or “a long time” (longer than a month).

Now, put together the brain science (thirty plus days) with the Old Testament (forty days) and what do you get?  The time it takes to create a new and positive habit.

Enter Lent.  Lent is the forty-day period between Ash Wednesday and Easter (except Sundays, which are “beyond time” as they are all celebrations of the resurrection).  Lent is the perfect opportunity to begin good habits.

Want to eat better?  Start on Ash Wednesday and keep going until Easter.  Want to exercise more?  Start on Ash Wednesday and keep going until Easter.  Want to pray more?   Hopefully by now you get it.

The Season of Lent can be more than a time of giving up something we like.  It can be a time of changing our lives by creating better mental, physical and spiritual habits.  We can use this natural time in the church calendar to begin a better life.

As we approach Ash Wednesday, take some time to consider what positive changes you want to make.  Write them down.  Create a goal.  Vision yourself achieving that goal.  And go for it.

May God bless you abundantly this Lenten season.

Pastor Bill

“Shout it aloud, do not hold back.
Raise your voice like a trumpet.
Declare to my people their rebellion
and to the descendants of Jacob their sins…” Isaiah 58:1

Most people hate it when preachers talk about sin.  But has been a reality from the beginning (see Genesis 3).  Sin creates lots of problems in this world.

This Wednesday is known throughout the Christian world as Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the season of Lent.

Some Christian traditions include the imposition of ashes, where the

celebrant makes the sign of the cross on the people’s foreheads with ashes.  This tradition is taken from the Old Testament, where the placing of ash on the head meant you were in a period of repentance.

It also hearkens to Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness being tempted by the devil.

Whether you observe the ashes or not, the 40-day period of Lent can be a great opportunity to stop, to contemplate your relationship with God and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you.

Over the Lenten season take time for more prayer.  Take time to give up a bad habit or form good ones.  Fast from those things that take you away from God.  Create an environment where you can hear God’s voice.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark 1:35

This verse is one of the many scriptures where Jesus goes away to be alone in prayer.  Prayer is one of those interesting concepts.  There are times when we should pray together and there are times we should pray alone.

Our corporate prayer, such as the Prayers of the People during worship are important times that we join together praising God and asking for God’s intercessions.  That prayer time is a special time we are connected in our godly communication.

Then there is the personal time that we must spend with God.  We need those moments to get away from all distractions including other people.  This prayer time allows us to truly be with God and allows God to show us His will for our lives.

And, unfortunately, many of us get so “busy” doing things that we sometimes miss out on this prayer time.

As you begin this new week, find a few moments to get away.  Turn off the phone, tune out of the world and seek God in prayer.  Allow God to speak to you and experience God’s presence.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.  Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 11:39-12:2

Sunday night was a viewing followed by a Monday morning funeral.  The family put together a ton of pictures as well as a digital photo display on a screen.  Many people came in to visit with the family, to pay their respects and to mourn.

I was looking at the pictures, as well as the visitors, and the passage from Hebrews struck me.  We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, not only those mentioned in Hebrews, but also those who have gone before us.  I was looking at pictures of people who I have conducted funerals for, and shaking hands with people who attended those funerals.

I also saw pictures of weddings and births – another wonderful part of the cycle of life.  They too are witnesses of God’s gifts.  Every time a child is born, we rejoice.  Every time a person is baptized, we rejoice.  A wedding brings joy.  And so does a death.  While we mourn the loss we also celebrate the joy of our lives with our loved one.  And we celebrate the victory of eternal life through Jesus.

In this latest round of illnesses and funerals, I am again reminded of that great cloud of witnesses and their example of faith.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

As we begin the journey that is 2020, I am taking some liberty with the vision idea and that in this New Year we use all of our senses to experience God’s presence.

This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. Acts 6:5-6

The past two Sundays we have ordained and installed new officers.  In the Presbyterian Church, Elders, Deacons and Ministers of Word and Sacrament are ordained.  We do this by laying hands on the person as we pray over them.  And just like Baptism, when I lay hands on someone, and pray over them, there is something special going on.  God’s presence is felt much stronger as a person is ordained and commissioned for their special calling.

But laying hands is not just for ordination.  Throughout scripture the laying on of hands means healing (see Luke 4:40), receiving the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17), and a general blessing (Mark 10:16).

The sense of touch is incredibly important.  From birth to death, holding someone brings comfort.  We can use touch in our daily lives to bless each other, whether holding hands during prayer, or touching someone you visit, or laying hands to pray over your children or pray for one’s healing.

Teresa of Avila is attributed with saying “Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world…”  Yours.  As you continue this new journey into 2020, consider how you can bless others with your hands.

Peace,

Pastor Bill

As we begin the journey that is 2020, I am taking some liberty with the vision idea and that in this New Year we use all of our senses to experience God’s presence.  Today we talk about the sense of smell.

May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.  Psalm 141:2

All it takes is a grape vine.  If I walk under a grape vine and smell the grapes, I’m taken back to my youth, visiting my aunt Marie who had grape vines in her back yard.  The smell reminds me of a different time.  In historic worship, incense has been used since the Old Testament and if you walk into a church that still uses incense, you can tell immediately something holy is present.  Aromatic oils and scented candles can help us remove ourselves from the busy-ness of our lives and enter into a more worshipful experience.  The scent creates a spiritual atmosphere of cleansing and healing, and studies have proven that some incense actually does purify the air with antibacterial, fungicidal and insecticidal properties! Maybe you can create a more spiritual prayer area through scent.  See if it changes your prayer time.

Malachi 1:11 My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord Almighty.

Peace,

Pastor Bill