Announcements

A word from our Associate Pastor December 2025 Dear friends in Christ, “But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.’” Luke 2:10-11 That is my wish, encouragement, and my most fervent prayer for you this December, that you get to experience great joy this Advent and Christmas season. I pray that you experience joy in the

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, “There was a man sent from God whose name was John.  He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.” -John 1:6-7 I really have to be careful, mindful of what it is that I am saying, because it is so easy for both my internal and external discourse to devolve into whinging and whining. Truth is, I can just about find material anywhere I look to complain about.  The weather?  Too wet, too cold, too hot, and too

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, “In that region there were shepherds in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night.” -Luke 2:8 Have you purchased your turkey yet?  How about set a time for Thanksgiving dinner? I included the quote from the Gospel of Luke in this morning’s devotion because in some ways we very much find ourselves in a similar position as those faithful shepherds. There they are going about their work.  Day by day they see to the tasks that are before t

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’” -Psalm 122:1 I am not getting any younger, and yet, each week my enthusiasm for worship persists.  And in fact, I might be more excited about being in worship than I have ever been!  Why? Well, there are several reasons… 1.      Worship reminds me that I am not the center of the universe.  The worship space itself is designed to draw us beyond ourselves and into the Divine p

From the Pastor's Desk: November 2025 A Place at the Table Recently, I was invited to enter into a very powerful moment of contemplation.  A group of pastors were asked to draw a table on a piece of paper, we could draw any shape that we might like and any size that we preferred.  Next, we took a deep breath, prayed for a bit, and… began to fill the chairs.  I deliberately wrote the names of each person in their respective spot.  Interestingly, location around the table matt

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” -Hebrews 13:8 This Sunday our congregation will be celebrating its 95th anniversary.  95 years… you know, a great deal can change in 95 years. In October of 1930, the Philadelphia Athletics won the World Series, have you ever heard of them? The first, yep very first, American football game was played indoors. And much more seriously, our country was deep in the throes of what would come

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, “This world, as a glorious apartment of the boundless palace of the sovereign Creator, is furnished with an infinite variety of animated scenes, inexpressibly beautiful and pleasing, equally free to the inspection and enjoyment of all his creatures.” Travels and Other Writings, William Bartram The words that appear above were not written a few weeks ago by a recently trained conservation biologist.  The words that appear above were written in our

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection.” -Philippians 3:10 A fancy new restaurant has...

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, “The next day, the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So...

Dear friends in Christ, I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “April Showers Bring May Flowers” before. I’m so looking forward to creation...

From the Pastor’s Desk July 2024 “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” –John 14:5 You’ll be receiving this...

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise; give thanks to him and call upon his...

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, “Be still, and know that I am God!  I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth.” -Psalm...

A word from our Associate Pastor JUNE 2024 Dear friends in Christ, in our ever-connected world, it has become easier than ever to...

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, “On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I in you.” -John 14:20 It usually...

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, “Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be, has not yet been revealed.  What we do know is this;...

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, “Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and...

TIDINGS from BETHLEHEM -----Monthly News from In & Around Our Parish From the Pastor’s Desk May 2024 “And suddenly from heaven there came...

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, “Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy.” Exodus 20:8 What you see above is one of the Ten Commandments,...

Dearest Members of Bethlehem, “Jesus said to her, ‘Woman why are you weeping?  Whom are you looking for?’” -John 20:15 For my birthday, I...