The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiworl.
Day to day pour forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
Psalm 19:1-2

Dear Friends,

A couple of weekends ago, fifteen of your church friends gathered  for a day of retreat – a time of intentionally setting ourselves apart in order that the Lord might be at work and discovered anew in our lives.  It was a beautiful day with a slight chill in the air.   During our time apart, we gained some new tools to help us live life fully faithful, holy happy and spiritually super-charged.  We began our day with blessings of peace, went within to examine what it is that we believe about God and attempted to express our core beliefs in some form of artistic expression.  We also had our eyes opened to some ways we can better be a welcoming congregation and we practiced some new and not so new ways of being in prayer with the Lord.  Later in the afternoon, we talked about ways, big and small, that we can change the world – beginning in ourselves and expanding into the church and into our community.  So many blessings arose from that time of sharing together that we left that day encouraged for the ways that God is and will be at work in the life of the church.  Please be in prayer during this season of Lent for our church and our community.  Let your time of prayer include a time of intentional listening.  When we gather for our next retreat, our 3rd Annual Church Family Retreat, we will explore the fruits of our prayers as we seek to do the will of God where we are planted.  Mark your calendars for that event on Saturday, April 28th.

Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all day long.
Psalm 25:4-5

Dear Friends,

Last weekend, eight people from our congregation attended the Kerrville District’s annual training event, Equipping the Saints.  We met with other laity and pastors from our District, attended a diverse offering of workshops and came away excited for what the future holds in our local congregation and in the United Methodist Church at large.  In one session, Breaking the Growth Barrier, our small group talked about our churches in terms of worship attendance, worship space, the contexts of our larger communities (aka our mission fields) as well as where we are in our life cycle as church.  With an average worship attendance of 65 the past two years, FUMC – Bertram is poised to examine what our next steps might be to break this barrier to reach  others in the name of Jesus Christ.  It’s an important conversation we will be having and every voice and idea is valued.

Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God,  and saying,
"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near;
repent, and believe in the good news."
Mark 1:14-15

Dear Friends,

Happy New Year!  Have you made your resolutions yet?  Most of us will resolve to exercise more, lose weight, give up unhealthy habits and manage our money better.  A year ago Queen Latifah offered advice for the New Year versus resolutions that I thought I’d share, fully claiming some embellishment. ¹

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness-- on them light has shined. 
For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:2, 6

Dear Friends,

The season of Advent is one of expectant waiting for Christ to return.  We’re called to keep alert, to stay awake for we do not know the hour of His return.  How can we be in an attitude of preparedness to wait for Christ to come in this season that has been taken over by consumerism and commercialism and things that seem far from holy?  Where can we find the Christ in the midst of traffic jams, busy schedules, shopping, baking, parties, concerts and more?  How can we face the increased busyness of the season without anxiety and the feeling of inner peace? 

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness; come into his presence with singing.
Know that the LORD is God. It is he that made us, and we are his;
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise.
Give thanks to him, bless his name.
For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.

 Psalm 100

Dear Friends,

As I approached the little yellow Methodist Church on the island of St. John recently the sounds of praise wafting through the open windows could not be missed.  Imagine with me if you can, gospel music melded with calypso; people singing and swaying, clapping and raising hands in the air in thanksgiving to all that the Lord has done.  My heart was glad when I came into the house of the Lord and I carry the joy received with me in preparation of our next days of worship together.