Tuesday Tidings, August 25, 2026

Dearest Members of Bethlehem,

“Pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” -1 Thessalonians 5:17

About a month ago, several of the faithful from Bethlehem Lutheran gathered for our first “Bethlehem Golf Night” of the season. Thanks to the weather, it turned out to be the only golf night of the season.

As a pastor, I know that there may be some who ask, “what in the world does golf have to do with church?” I get it, I do, it’s a legitimate question. But in response I would offer that a “Bethlehem Golf Night” can be a part of our congregation’s calendar just as readily as an event at the bowling alley, a book club night, or a chili cook off.

The faithful, connected members of an authentic Christian community, get together; it’s what we do. We get together for four distinct reasons: for worship, study, service, and fellowship. Each of these four are meant to edify the Body of Christ; draw us closer to God and closer to one another, and empower us for meaningful ministry. And there’s another thing, each time we gather, we offer a public witness to our faith in Christ and the value of the church itself.

Still not convinced? Still think I am stretching this just a bit? Well, on the evening of July 19th four of us pulled out onto the first tee just a little after five o’ clock in the afternoon. There was a starter there eager to see our foursomes get going.

We sauntered around a bit, warmed up some, and when the time was right that starter let us know that we should tee off. It was then, that one of the dear members of our congregation said, “Pastor, do you have a prayer to share with us on this beautiful evening?” As you might have guessed, I most certainly did.

In front of the starter who was patiently waiting, we took a moment to circle up, bow our heads, and pray. I gave thanks for the beautiful day, the fact that we had been blessed with the time together, for the meaningful  connections that we share in Christ, and asked that our time together might be a source of refreshment and renewal. Even after concluding the prayer, I thought of some of the beautiful characters that had golfed with us in the past, and felt gratitude for them too. That gracious invitation to offer a word of prayer reframed the whole evening.

And that’s precisely the kind of promise that we carry into every seemingly mundane moment; nothing is truly ordinary, the sacred and the holy are always present, and we get to share in that glory every time that we are gathered.

Question for reflection: How does your faith deepen your perspective and enrich your daily life?

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Dan

God you are our strength in seasons of weariness, our inspiration in moments of celebration, and the source of meaning that sustains the entirety of our lives. May we grow increasingly dependent upon you with each passing day. In Christ’s name we pray, amen.