“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:36-37)

Disaster relief is something that follows you. Whenever a healthcare provider asks me how long it has been since my last tetanus shot, I do the mental math on how long it has been since Hurricane Harvey. The heavy-duty overalls hanging in my closet (specifically used for post-ice storm, post-tornado, post-hurricane, post-fire, post-flood work) remind me of the many times when we dropped everything and started coordinating recovery plans because there were people and communities who needed help clearing debris, ripping out flood-contaminated dry wall and carpet, or bleaching the already molding places of their home or church.

Winding through the Old City of Jerusalem, the Via Dolorosa represents the path to the cross. In Jerusalem, this route is marked by 14 Stations of the Cross, positioned from the Antonia Fortress to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. In church halls, sanctuaries, along corridors, and in gardens around the world, different versions of these stations have been created for centuries.

As I assume it is for most partners in the same industry, Paul and I have some very niche home conversations.

As I assume it is for most partners in the same industry, Paul and I have some very niche home conversations.

First Church Library is now accepting donations for its fund-raising used book sale on May 4, 2025.

2025 has already been a full year in the life of our community – even if you don’t count politics!

Paul and I are back from a whirlwind journey to my mother’s motherland: the Philippines. My mom didn’t have the luxury of leisure, so we explored the places she didn’t get to go:

This southern gal gets excited when snow of any kind falls from the sky – we didn’t have much snow where I grew up and a snow day was almost like a once-in-a-lifetime event (okay, three times a year).

In case you missed it this week, the Western Jurisdiction College of Bishops released this statement calling for love, unity, and support for one another during this time in our history. 

Dear Friends,

Once a month in the 10:30 service and weekly in the 8:30 service we celebrate The Great Thanksgiving together. These times are the most holy times in worship for me.

This is a Word not only with the pastor, but also with your Staff Parish Relations Committee.

Thanks to your generosity at Tabitha Circle’s Fall and Holiday sales, we will be able to continue our ministry of handwork from the heart.

The United Methodist Church operates on a quadrennium schedule. This means that all the laws, rules, policies, and practices of the United Methodist Church globally are updated every four years.

A big THANK YOU to those who contributed to my upcoming Volunteer in Mission trip to Kenya!  I leave January 16 – and I’m awed and grateful for the support I’ve received from my friends at FUMC and elsewhere! 

Sunday’s scripture comes from Isaiah 43:
Don’t fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; when through the rivers, they won’t sweep over you.

Everyone in our church community is invited to participate in a shared reading and discussion of “When We Walk By: Forgotten Humanity, Broken Systems, and the Role We Can Each Play in Ending Homelessness in America” by Kevin Adler and Donald Burnes.

While FUMC members and friends are enjoying delicious fair-trade food items from Palestine, the Global Mission committee …

We Methodists have no shortage of traditions to ring in at the very beginning of each year:

One aspect of our life together that amazes me is our annual practice of end-of-year giving.

Biblically, it’s a little early to be talking about stars in the sky. We haven’t gotten to that part of the story yet; Epiphany isn’t for another couple weeks!