Announcements

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, “Even to your old age, I am he; even when you turn gray I will carry you.  I have made and I will bear; I will carry and I will save.” -Isaiah 46:4 There is a distinctive blessing in being young, you often do not need to think through the ravages of time; the way your mind and body are slowing; the way you begin to plan differently for your future. There is a distinctive blessing in growing older… actually there may be several. First, you appreci

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, “Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens the wits of another.” Proverbs 27:17 A couple of weeks ago, Brenda Frese the head coach of the University of Maryland’s women’s basketball program went viral for “yelling” at one of her players, Oluchi Okananwa. Criticism of the coach was mounting until Okananwa spoke out.  In a surprising turn the player informed the media that she had been looking for that kind of intensity in a coach.  She was not u

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, On this day we commemorate a poet by the name of John Donne.  Donne entered the Church Triumphant in 1631, but his poetry remains an inspiring testament to his profound faith. In one of his poems entitled Resurrection Donne writes, “May then sin’s sleep, and death’s soon from me pass, That waked from both, I again risen may Salute the last, and everlasting day.” This is just glorious.  God bless him, John Donne understood that we are living an “

Dear friends in Christ, We get to celebrate the season of Easter all throughout the month of April! Easter extends into May until the celebration of Pentecost. This means weeks of celebration and joy in the resurrected Jesus. You’ll continue to see the color white used in the church paraments to symbolize resurrection and joy. We’ll hear together how Jesus appears to his disciples and discuss the difference resurrection brings to our lives.   This celebration kicks off during

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, “I am the vine; you are the branches.  Those who abide in me and I in them, bear much fruit…” -John 15:5 I was reminded recently that this little line from the Gospel of John is both a source of meaningful wisdom and a compelling image. Jesus wanted to be sure that we understood where we stood, or at least should be standing. We are not the “vine,” and we certainly are not the “roots”… we are the “branches.”  Is this a heap of poetical nonsense,

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, “There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the most high.” I grew up on the Kiskiminetas River, I had lots of adventures on that river.  Fishing, boating, swimming, and countless hours peering out on to the perpetual flow.  That river became a part of my story, I was a kind of 1980’s Huckleberry Finn, every once in a while even sleeping out in a tree house. And yet, as glorious as those memories might be, ye

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, “What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done; there is nothing new under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1:9 Every once in a while, I’ll slip up and say something like, “Now I have seen it all!”  But, you know what?  I haven’t, and I never will… there’s always more to see, more to hear, more to learn; and best of all, more to behold (“behold” is a such a spiritually rich word). When I am at my most morose, I am at my least c

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, “Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews.  He came to Jesus by night…” -John 3:1-2 I know there’s a school of thought that suggests that Nicodemus came to Jesus at night because he wanted to remain under the cover of darkness. Some suggest that Nicodemus was worried about what others would have thought if they discovered that he was chatting with the controversial rabbi from Galilee. That could be the case, or maybe Nicodem

TIDINGS from BETHLEHEM                                                              -----Monthly News From In & Around Our Parish-----                                             From the Pastor’s Desk                             March 2026        “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28- (NRSV)   Have you ever had one of those moments?  You come to worship, eager, but not expecting anything spiritually monum

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, This coming Sunday evening is the “Super Bowl.”  Super Bowl Sunday has become something akin to a national holiday.  People spend the day in preparation; there’s shared food, festivities, and family traditions.  Which I think is just great. Now, as you reach your hand down into the chip bowl this evening, for one more handful of nachos… you might be thinking, why do we call this game the “Super Bowl ?” And as a matter of fact, how about “bowl” ga

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, “Am I not free?  Am I not an apostle?  Have I not seen Jesus our Lord?  Are you not my work in the Lord?”  -1 Corinthians 9:1 There’s a classic hymn that asks a timeless question, “Have you seen Jesus my Lord?” Before you can think too long about your answer to the question, John Fischer, the hymn’s writer offers a startling revelation in the very next line, “He’s here in plain view.” Wow!  And just in case you needed more evidence, the hymn proc

TIDINGS from BETHLEHEM                                                              -----Monthly News From In & Around Our Parish-----                                                                                   A word from our Associate Pastor                                                                                                                             February                       Dear friends in faith,   During the season of Lent many Christians turn the

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, “And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day approaching.” -Hebrews 10:25 This Sunday, January 25th is Bethlehem’s annual congregational meeting.  And I am almost sure that even with just that sentence I have already lost several folks.  But I really do hope that you will stick with me for a few mor

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. -Philippians 1:6 It has been said that an effective way to fend off the doldrums is to have something to “look forward to.”  There definitely is some truth to this encouragement. A genuine sense of anticipation and expectation can be a real blessing.  It permits us to hope for a joy-filled future without being consumed by

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, “Then opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” -Matthew 2:11 This is the Epiphany of our Lord! January 6th isn’t just the day set aside for the removal of Christmas decorations, it is the inauguration of a new liturgical season. Of course, today is the day we remember the Magi following the star and finally making their way to Jesus. The wise ones brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We k

TIDINGS from BETHLEHEM                                                              -----Monthly News From In & Around Our Parish January 2026  Tremendous Potential   “Do to others…” -Luke 6:31 (NRSV)   I admit, this is not an easy time of year.  The Christmas holiday is in the rearview mirror and Easter seems to rest on a distant horizon.  The days are short.  The cold has settled in.  And the snow shovels stand at the ready for the next inconvenient squall.  It is only a ma

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, “Hark! The herald angels sing, ‘Glory to the newborn king; peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.’  Joyful all you nations rise; join the triumph of the skies; with angelic hosts proclaim, ‘Christ is born in Bethlehem!’” - ELW #270 We will be singing lots of carols in the coming days, and “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” is one of the best. It’s a tremendous carol for many reasons, but one of the elements that I truly treasure

Tuesday Tidings, December 16, 2025   Dearest Members of Bethlehem,   “For the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” -Isaiah 11:9   “There’s got to be one more box!”  This is usually the line that precedes the frantic search for the missing Christmas decorations.   “It’s the one with the stockings, the tree skirt, and the special table cloth…”.  And back up the ladder into the attic I go. Trust me, just about 11 months ago all the totes

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