“Green Olive Tree in the Heart”
When you’re traveling and you look out the window, the moon and the stars follow you, not the other way around as for the Magi who FOLLOWED the star. Deep within you there’s a green olive ... Read More
Nativity and YOU!
Our Christmas Eve candlelight service is in sharp contrast to the absence of any Christmas celebration in Bethlehem this year. We dip back a few centuries to look at artwork contrasted with the image ... Read More
Joy and Laughter
Through silence, the Holy Spirit penetrated the initial resistance of Zechariah to believe the announcement of the Angel Gabriel about the promised son to Elizabeth. Through humor, from the 1970s into... Read More
Rejoicing in God My Savior
We go back to the book of Genesis and two other pregnancies to set the stage, as it were, with the story of the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth. Are there negative emotions that bubble up from the bas... Read More
Divine Message: NOW!
The inner quiet of Mary and her soul’s openness to pure silence was just what the Angel needed to have the Holy Spirit overshadow her. Meister Eckhart: “What good is it to me if this eternal b... Read More
The King’s Path to Joy
Sharing the powerful story of a man on a mission trip to Calcutta, and what happened to him with a precious interaction with a very poor man.... Read More
“God’s Vision of You”
Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30 The challenge of the parable shifts from taking a risk to trusting in God. From the Firestarter that introduces today’s Gospel: Do you bury your talents with judgments a... Read More
The Power of the Anointing
How oil became sacred in so many spiritual traditions. Closing quote and prayer. The eyes of the future are looking back at us and they are praying for us to see beyond our own time. They are kneeling... Read More
Joy Amid Adversity
Ordinary language tends to keep one in the mind alone; a language of the Spirit allows the recipients to yield the heart to those communications from the Lord that transcend the limitations of the min... Read More
Worship and Hymn Sing
Whenever there are five Sundays in the month, such as today, we offer a special service of Praise music. Today, we lift up our voices in a Hymn Sing. Enjoy the children’s message.... Read More
Don’t Walk Away!
“The Spiral of Violence” Injustice leads to Rebellion and then on to Repression. Hélder Câmara Archbishop in Brazil Olinda and Recife, serving from 1964 to 1985 From Nick’s Notes: ... Read More
“Back to Basics”
The Beatitudes offer an even, level place where we can return to basics. Amid the violence that breaks in upon us to threaten inward peace, these eight blessings from God flow down to us and uplift us... Read More
“To Whom Do You Belong?”
A slow reading of the sermon title, “To Whom Do You Belong?” With these two foundational prayers for the two traditions that are part of my life: Take, O Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memor... Read More
“The Curve of Emptying”
Two of the three Jewish celebrations find their corresponding Christian celebration: Passover – Easter; “First Fruits” – Pentecost. Today is Day Two of an eight-day festival. W... Read More
“Ponder a Punch Line”
Parables, like jokes, have punch lines. Feel the punch at the end of this familiar parable which is so much like other punches we receive in life. This Spanish saying will help. “Calladita se ve má... Read More
“AS We Forgive”
We seek to stretch the “AS” in the phrase from the Lord’s Prayer, “AS we forgive those…” The story of Joseph and the Parable of Jesus about Forgiveness are the two ... Read More
“How Not to Take for Granted”
Enthusiastic sharing of quotations from the book, “The Dawn of a Mindful Universe” by Marcelo Gleiser. Readings from Colossians and Ephesians form the ground of the mystery and the source ... Read More
“Joy in Suffering: How?
How we can experiences joy in sustaining God’s love in our hearts no matter want pain we may be going through.... Read More
“Beckoned Beyond Your Boat”
A joyful celebration of the Baptism of Jaxson and Chase Stolz offers the opportunity to find personal meaning in the Gospel of Jesus walking on the water. The beckoning of Jesus to Peter to step beyon... Read More
“After This: WHAT?”
Whatever is your “NOW” in you life’s movement, the Holy Spirit can move you to deeper, more joyous spaces when you stop and listen in the silence.... Read More
“A Worship Service with Music, Readings and Prayer”
July 30th was the fifth Sunday of that month. We have a custom at Matawan UMC to present a special program of music and readings in those months with five Sundays.To view the video with the lyrics of ... Read More