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
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
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
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
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
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
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
“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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Gently acknowledge the emotions that you have, whether positive or negative. Do not wrestle with them. Step back, and pray to the Holy Spirit, “We have a situation here!” Let the Holy Spir...Read More
The gift of Jesus refusing to resist the forces of darkness that pressed against him in his death, brought the power of the Resurrection which is now ours. Peter Paul Ruben’s great painting of S...Read More
The story of the woman with the issue of blood offers itself as a powerful image of overcoming what is in your way preventing you from coming close to Jesus? Audio of the sermon...Read More
Introducing the Season of Pentecost as away to be “in” a season, and not “after,” as in so many Sundays “after” Pentecost. A key concept expressed is “uncondi...Read More
When the ground beneath your feed isn’t enough to feel safe, the Holy Spirit is there to make what feels groundless, grounded in the Spirit’s love and the fruits of the Spirit....Read More