Pastor’s Blog (Page 4)

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 →

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 →

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 →

If you’re a Taylor Swift fan, you know her career is filled with distinct eras—each one a reflection of her growth, creativity, and impact on the world. This year at UMCG we’re diving into the greatest “era” of all time: Jesus’ life. Each sermon series in 2025 serves as a new chapter, a unique era in Jesus’ journey, inviting us to see how His life and teachings continue to inspire and transform. Our year with Jesus began in December with our Advent series, where we stepped into Jesus’ story with “The Light of Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy: Preparing Our Hearts for Jesus.” Think ofRead More →

Each year, on December 28 (tomorrow), the Christian calendar observes the Feast of the Holy Innocents, commemorating the tragic events following Christ’s birth. The Gospel of Matthew recounts how King Herod, in a desperate attempt to eliminate the newborn “King of the Jews,” ordered the massacre of all male children in Bethlehem under the age of two (Matthew 2:16). This brutal act led to unimaginable grief among Jewish families and forced Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus to flee to Egypt, becoming refugees. The story of the Holy Innocents is hauntingly relevant today as we confront the ongoing slaughter of innocents through violence, war, andRead More →

Earlier this month, our family received a lovely box of Christmas cookies, each one a tiny masterpiece of sugar and frosting. Among them was a sugar cookie shaped like the contiguous 48 states, its blue, red, and white frosting swirled to resemble the American flag. Star-shaped sprinkles completed the patriotic design. It was a magnificent cookie, a work of culinary art, and my daughter Lily can attest that it was lemony and delicious. As a centerpiece for a Fourth of July celebration, this cookie would have been perfect. But nestled among Christmas trees, snowflakes, and gingerbread men, its presence felt a little out of place.Read More →

Advent is a season of anticipation—a time to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. It’s a time of hope, peace, joy, and love, yet these can feel elusive in a world that often feels like it’s been turned upside down. Enter Bizarro Superman, a character from the comic book universe who embodies inversion. Everything Superman stands for—truth, justice, and the protection of humanity—Bizarro twists into its opposite. He creates chaos where there should be order, confusion where there should be clarity. In the Bizarro world, love doesn’t conquer fear; fear conquers love. It’s a distortion of the powerful promise in 1 John 4:18:Read More →

As the last echoes of Thanksgiving fade—along with the leftovers in our refrigerators—our hearts turn toward a new season. While Thanksgiving is a day of giving thanks, Advent is a season of preparing our hearts for the greatest gift: Jesus Christ. As we step into Advent this year, we carry forward the gratitude of Thanksgiving and open ourselves to the promise of The Light of Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy. In a world that often feels divided and anxious, our journey through Advent offers more than a flicker of light. It provides a brilliant beacon. This light is not fragile or fleeting; it is theRead More →