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I think that some actions are not matters of opinion or open to debate, they’re simply morally wrong. Cruelty is one of them. As followers of Jesus, we are called to a standard that reflects love, compassion, and justice. And when I scour through Jesus’ teachings and actions, I see no instance where cruelty, as the Oxford Dictionary defines it— “callous indifference to or pleasure in causing pain and suffering”—is ever condoned. In fact, as far as I can tell, cruelty stands in direct opposition to the entirety of Jesus’ life and teachings… so much so that God rejects Jesus’ cruel death on Easter morning.Read More →

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You’ve all been invited to write about what makes Lent and Holy Week meaningful to you for our 2025 Lenten devotional book.  So – what exactly is a devotional?  It’s a book or digital source of daily readings that help us grow our relationship with God.  Daily devotionals are short, inspirational pieces of writing, often based on scripture, designed to encourage personal reflection and prayer.  Sometimes they include just a brief personal story, and sometimes they include scripture and a prayer for the day.  They often focus on a specific theme or passage.  You can find all kinds of devotionals, some made for 30-40 days,Read More →

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This Sunday, as part of our ongoing “Jesus’ Early Years” sermon series, we will be focusing on the story of Jesus’ baptism. It is a powerful moment where God’s love is declared over Jesus, and it’s a story we hold dearly in the church because it reminds us of our own baptism and the claim God has on our lives. As part of this celebration, our Sunday School students, who have been learning the story of Jesus’ baptism this month, will help us celebrate baptism in worship. We’ll be invited to remember our baptism and be thankful, or if you have yet to be baptized,Read More →

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Dear friends, The headline isn’t clickbait; it’s a pastoral invitation. You may have seen recent posts on this blog expressing concern for immigrants and calls to action. Our Church in Society and Missions Committee will soon present recommendations to the Church Council on how we, as United Methodists in Geneva, can best respond to these concerns, including potential policies to guide our collective actions. On Monday, the day of Epiphany, our Bishop, Dan Schwerin, sent a message to all clergy and church leaders, urging us to read the letter from the UMC’s Council of Bishops during worship this coming Sunday. In our context, I recognizeRead More →