A Word from the Pastor

Overflowing Grace

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Thu, 15 May 2025 01:59:46 GMT

A First Communion and the Abundant Love of God

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Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Tue, 13 May 2025 00:12:20 GMT

Trusting the Spirit and Living with Peace, Hope, and Empathy

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A Community of Love and Compassion

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 00:45:00 GMT

Living Our Faith Through Connection and Care

BEING SALT AND LIGHT

Our statement of intent as a congregation is in front of us every Sunday. "We are a Community for Faith Formation, Spiritual Growth and Compassionate Caring." We could have said we are a church or a congregation but the word community seems more appropriate, broader, more inclusive. Many who are a part of our community do not make it to worship every Sunday. Many in the community live here and somewhere else from time to time. Some who lived here at one point now live somewhere else but they are still a part of the community. Some people used to attend more often, but now, due to life circumstances or a change in the way they view the world, attend irregularly, on holidays, or even on line. They are a part of the community. The very concept of a community is that we share a set of guiding principles. For most of us those principles are grounded in the words and actions of the rabbi, teacher, Jesus. The central guiding principle is love. The branches of the tree of love include kindness, generosity, forgiveness, mercy, care for the poor, healing for the sick, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, and loving the enemy, to mention a few of the branches. I thank you all for allowing me to be a member of this community.

Along the way,

The New Lent

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Sun, 16 Mar 2025 00:45:00 GMT

A Journey of the Heart, Not Just Sacrifice

BEING SALT AND LIGHT

THE NEW LENT

I feel a little guilty about the title here, "The New Lent". Like who am I to say such a thing? On the other hand, having some feeling of guilt certainly fits the tradition of Lent being a time of self reflection, contemplation and confession. A lot of what I read today about Ash Wednesday, which is tomorrow as I write this, and Lent, talks about fasting and giving things up for the 40 days of Lent. A lot of people I have known during Lent have given up things like chocolate, sweets, certain meats, or even coffee. I would never want to discourage people from doing those things if they help, but in recent years there has been another sentiment. The little picture below expresses the idea pretty well. "This Lent, keep the chocolate and give up bigotry, judgement, legalism and hatred of all forms." These things are far more likely to put a smile on the creator's face than giving up desires for tasty treats or other foods. One of the texts for Ash Wednesday comes from the old testament book of Joel, "Rend (rip open) your hearts, not your garments." The journey to new life is an inside job, not one filled with small outward actions. The new lent challenges each of us to examine our action, or motives and our guiding principles. The world will be a better place when we learn to love God, our neighbors, our enemies and ourselves. We are most in line with the guiding principles when we give up being angry, jealous, hateful and vengeful. Jesus always welcomed the stranger, called his followers to care for the widows, orphans and others who could not care for themselves.

Along the way,

Glimpses of the Divine

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 00:45:00 GMT

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BEING SALT AND LIGHT

It was probably the summer of 1965. I was out in the backyard of my parents house shooting basketballs. I turned to the south shore of Long Island and saw something I have never forgotten. It was a meteorite slashing across the sky, low enough to hear the sizzle from it burning up in the atmosphere. In my mind I can see and hear it whenever I want to. What I find difficult is explaining the experience to someone else. My description and the words fall so far short of that one moment in time that I shared with the cosmos. Later that night, on the news, the meteorite sighting was reported to have been seen from Maryland to Boston Massachutes. This at least helped the people I told about it believe I was not seeing things.

The apostles had the same problem when they described what it was like to see Jesus in this so-called Transfiguration. They tried to explain that it was like seeing Jesus in the company of others who radiated the love, power and wonder of God. As a matter of fact, the lesson will tell us that, "And they kept silent and those days told no one of the things they had seen." I am sure they tucked away in their hearts the message from the Creator to listen to everything Jesus had to say. Later, when more things were said by Jesus and they had other experiences, they shared this moment they had with Jesus.

What is it like for you to describe the moments in your life that you encounter the sacred and the holy? I am not always sure how to explain when in my inner self, maybe the soul, I am convinced that the love of God is real. It is hard to tell people how I might be inspired by the darkness of the night juxtaposed to the stars in the sky and move me to be compassionate and kind. Can anyone understand that on this last Sunday morning, 2 year old Huck Neurouter looked at me with a smile that can only come from God and helped me see God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit in the very beginnings of an incredible life. The one thing I want to tell you is keep trying. Let's keep telling the moments we get a glimpse of the Creator who peaks in and wraps his love around us.

Along the way,

Radical Forgiveness Over Revenge

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 00:45:00 GMT

Joseph’s Story and the Power of Grace

BEING SALT AND LIGHT

Radical love, radical kindness and radical forgiveness. These are all in the Bible and many of the stories in scripture show us what it looks like. For a few moments today, I want to explore one story that we will read in worship tomorrow, that has a great example of radical forgiveness.

The Bible does not pull punches. It shows the best and the worst of human behavior. One of the cruelest stories is about Joseph and his jealous brothers. I think we need to look at the word jealous for a moment and recognize this is not one of the emotions that puts a smile on God's face. It is also true that we all have experienced jealousy, been jealous and hopefully tried to avoid jealousy.

Joseph has eleven brothers by several mothers. (that is another story) Joseph is the youngest and seemingly the favorite of his father Jacob. He gets a really cool coat from his father. This makes his brothers very jealous. They decide to kill him, but then they change their minds and throw him down a well and then change their minds again and sell him off as a slave. After that he ends up in Egypt in charge of all the food and farming in Egypt and manges to save Egypt from starvation...to make a long story short.

Some time later, all his brothers come to Egypt because they, their father, their children and animals are all starving. They heard there was food in Egypt. Guess who is in charge of the food? Joseph. This is the perfect opportunity for revenge. We know that people love to, need to and often are revengeful. If anyone had a right to be revengeful it was Joseph. BUT GOD! There it is. The one thing that changes everything. Those who walk with God do not practice revenge. They practice forgiveness.

And to make a long story short again, Joseph lovelingly welcomes his brothers, his father, their families and livestock. He feeds them and cares for them and Joseph is thankful, through all his difficulties he is now able, by the grace of God, to help not only Egypt, but the brothers who had treated him so badly. Radical forgiveness is far greater than cruel revenge. Spiritual, true followers of God and those who listen to the spiritual words of Jesus practice radical forgiveness.

Along the way,

Radical Love: Are You Ready for It?

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Tue, 11 Mar 2025 00:18:10 GMT

Living Out the Gospel in Everyday Actions

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Walking with Compassion

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 01:30:50 GMT

Being a Light for Those in Need

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Love’s True Calling

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 01:28:16 GMT

Honoring St. Valentine’s Legacy of Courage and Compassion

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The Greatest Catch

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 01:23:56 GMT

Following Jesus in the Everyday Moments of Life

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Unity in Diversity: A Shared Journey

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 00:57:32 GMT

Embracing Our Differences Through Love and Mutual Respect

BEING SALT AND LIGHT

Andrea and I just returned from a 11 day vacation on a cruise ship. While we were on the ship I came to grips with what a privileged person I am to be able to make such a journey. One of the most interesting things about a cruise ship is the staff who work there. I do not mean the captain, or navigators or department heads. I mean the room stewards, the waiters, and the people who serve food. I dare to say, all of them are not from Dingmans Ferry, or even other parts of the United States. They work hard, away from home and family and do it with a smile.

Almost every day on the ship I spent some time writing either on a pad or on a keyboard connected to my ipad. On the last day of our trip, I was alone, sitting next to a window, scribbling some notes. A young girl, on the waiting staff, walked up to me with a smile and asked if she could get anything for me. Her name tag indicated she was from Indonesia. I smiled back and said, "No thank you, I have some coffee, and I am good." She left me to myself for a while and then returned and asked again if I wanted anything like orange juice. I replied again "No thank you but thank you very much." She turned and started to walk away but then turned around and asked another question. "Can I ask you something?" I said, "Sure." She asked, "What are you writing, I see you here and there writing, what are you writing about." This is a pretty interesting question she asks. I began to wonder how long she wanted to ask the question and what was behind the question. I have to confess, I do not see a lot of people sitting around writing on a cruise ship so maybe I am just a curiosity.

I found myself in a dilemma, do I tell the truth or just make something up. I go with the truth. I tell her I am a pastor and I am writing down my thoughts and experiences on the cruise. I tell her I find it hopeful to see people from different backgrounds, countries, religions, races, genders and ages, getting along on the ship while it seems much of the world is clashing over all sorts of issues. I looked right at her and said, if I had been born where you were born, I would have been a completely different person. I then held my hands apart and began to interwin by fingers and until I had my hands folded.

I said, "I write in hopes that someday, like my separate fingers, all the separate peoples of the world can come together and see we are much more the same than we are different. No one of us can save anyone but perhaps we save one another. We chatted a few more minutes about the need for mutual respect and love and then she walked away to continue her work. She walked into a crowd of people carrying food, laughing, sitting down, and standing up. There were young and old, Jews and Muslims; Christians, agnostics and atheists. There were babies in carriages and adults on electric scooters. There were Asians, whites, black and brown; people from India and Indiana. There were some Germans and New Jersians. There was even a foursome from Dingmans Ferry. We were all in the same boat.......(I need a cymbal crash from Wes here.)

Where do I get this idea? What is the basis for this hope? 1 John 4:7 "Beloved, let us love one another, for love comes from God."

Along the way,

Salt and Light: Living with Purpose

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 00:54:41 GMT

Embracing Our Call to Heal, Flavor, and Illuminate the World

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Acts of Love and Kindness: A Lesson in Giving

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 00:45:37 GMT

Embracing Generosity, One Simple Act at a Time

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A New Year of Kindness and Compassion

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 00:36:09 GMT

Making the World Better, One Act of Love at a Time

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The Pursuit of Peace

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 00:32:23 GMT

Embracing Hope, Faith, and the Work of Creation

The Journey Continues

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 00:29:23 GMT

Embracing God’s Presence in Every Step

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Tuning In to the Presence of God

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 00:26:13 GMT

Finding Peace and Love Amid Life’s Distractions

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Light in the Darkness

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 00:17:15 GMT

Embracing the True Meaning of Christ’s Birth

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The Journey to the Manger

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 00:12:12 GMT

Embracing Change, Grace, and the Moments in Between

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Let Your Gentleness Be Known

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 23:53:25 GMT

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A Great summary of the Advent season comes like a lighting bolt out of the lessons for Sunday. "Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near." This helps me remember how fragile people are. Lots of people, maybe everyone, puts up a strong front, but everyone also has a million things going on. Parents are concerned about their children if they are 2 or 62. Children keep their eyes on their parents to make sure they do not stumble. Hearts are broken when promises are broken. Tears, both visible and invisible, are shed by violent actions or vicious words are dished out. Paul, knowing God is near and able to pour a gentle spirit into us, preaches that we should let the gentleness overflow and flood the world to comfort those in pain. Never assume that everything is alright. Always assume your gentleness will be helpful.

Along the way, PN

Journey to the Manger

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 02:32:26 GMT

Discovering Faith in the Humility of Christ

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The Path to Peace

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 02:29:23 GMT

Sharing the Gift of Christ’s Peace with the World

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Journey to the Manger

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 02:14:44 GMT

Finding Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love in the Humility of Christ

Advent 2024 is upon us as we at Holy Trinity take a "Journey to the Manger." My first real look at a manger came in the fall of 1966 when I visited one of my college friends at his farm in Grand Meadow, Minnesota. Jim and his family ran a good size family farm with cornfields, beef cattle, a saw mill and a small plot of popcorn corn. When we went into the barn I had my first experience of a working livestock feeding area with , yes, a fairly large manger. It was filled with hay and a pregnant momma cow had her nose in the hay. I remember the Christmas story words popping into my head, "and they wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in the manger." About a year before this I was singing the words from the Messiah, "King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and he shall reign forever and ever. Hallelujah!" The juxtaposition of these two things was a little unsettling. The powerful words of the Messiah and the powerful odor of the barn. At the core of our story with the Creator is that His son, the one who we are to follow and try to imitate has such humble beginnings, it is hard to imagine Jesus could accomplish much. Still he was the hope for the world. He would speak of love. He would proclaim that although there is much darkness in the world, brought about by ideas of greed and power, the darkness will not, cannot, must not win! So, he spoke of loving the Creator, he spoke of loving even yourself as one created by God, (God don't make no junk), love of the stranger and the foreigner, love of even those who hate you, love of the enemy. These ideas, these spiritual truths, were planted in human hearts, claimed by human souls to be the truth by which we are called to live. We, you and I, not only claim all these messages of hope but we also become messengers of hope, the deliverers of peace, joy and love. We will keep lighting candles in the darkness so that all can live in the promise of hope. Keep traveling the path to the manger where we find the source of hope, peace, joy and love. Along the way, PN

The Advent Journey: Walking Toward the Manger

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 02:04:03 GMT

Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love in the Light of Christ

In the next 4 weeks we will be on the Advent Journey to the manger. We will walk through the weeks of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. In the manger we find Jesus who shows all of humanity how to live the authentic life guided by love. As hope springs up inside us and brings us peace we are filled with joy to live a life of love. Along the way, PN

Finding Rest in Compassion

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 01:59:01 GMT

Discovering Peace Through Acts of Love

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Letting love lead the way

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 02:33:33 GMT

Embracing compassion, unity, and the resurrection of hope

Jesus made it a point to reach out to the forgotten, the rejected and powerless. He called for a kingdom that inspired people to share what they had with those who had less. I am concerned we are not headed in that direction. The apostle Paul was facing much of the same wave of the powerful ignoring the weak and forgotten. He called up the followers of Jesus to engage in a counter cultural activity. He wrote to a generation trying to remove itself from the culture that gave all power to the rich and powerful, "Let us consider how to provoke on another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encourage one another". The resurrection of hope, empathy, compassion and love may, like all resurrections, happen from the bottom up. I thank you all for walking through your life and considering letting love rule your hearts. May His peace be your companion. Along the way, PN

Finding Peace in a Noisy World

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 23:29:30 GMT

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One way to deepen your faith formation and spiritual growth is to contract with yourself to spend some time in contemplation. We live in a noisy world filled with advertisements, news, views, opinion, and way too much information. Our friend Jesus would on occasion go up onto a mountain to pray. I have always interpreted this as Jesus getting away from the noise and focusing his heart and soul on the love of God. He would be renewed by the nourishment of the Spirit. A contemplative practice, on a regular basis, can help you not be overwhelmed by a conflicted and confusing world. There are lots of tools to do this. I use an app called Second Breath that I find helpful. Some friends use devotional books, yoga, silence and some of the numerous apps on the internet. During the coming Thanksgiving and pre-Christmas weeks, activities, demands and pressures will get noisier. Let the Spirit speak to your heart, comfort your mind and bring rest to your soul so that you can experience each day as the gift from God that it is. Set aside 5-10 minutes a day, with coffee if it helps, to consider how God's love for you can direct the things you do each day.
Along the way, PN

Daring to Dream: Living as God’s Beloved Family

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 23:48:27 GMT

Embracing God’s Vision of Love, Unity, and Responsibility

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Living the Call: Becoming God’s Hands for the Vulnerable

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 23:45:17 GMT

How Our Actions Reflect God’s Care for the Stranger, the Orphan, and the Widow

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Guided by Compassion: Living Out Our Faith Beyond Politics

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 23:41:59 GMT

Embracing Jesus’ Call to Justice, Service, and Moral Leadership

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Embracing the Gift of Today

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 23:38:17 GMT

Finding Joy and Gratitude in Life’s Simple Blessings

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Remembering the Saints: A Celebration of Love, Legacy, and Faith

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 23:34:58 GMT

Honoring Those Who Walked Beside Us and Reflecting on the Promise of God’s Presence

All Saints’ Day reminds us that we are part of a great cloud of witnesses. Today, we honor and remember those who have gone before us—faithful people, loved ones, family members, activists, and peacemakers—those who fought for justice, who ate at our table, who worked for inclusion, who slept in our homes and practiced a life of healing. Saints are not perfect but people who reflect God's love in word and action. Luther called them and us, Simul Justus et Peccator, at the same time saint and sinner. Today we remember, with love, those who God has allowed us to walk the earth with, sons, daughters, parents, grandparents, wifes, lovers, prophets, writers, apostles and truck drivers: Darnells, Carolines, Rileys, Sherrys, Annes, Ells, Helens, Johns, Warrens, Lillians, and the list goes on. Add your own. Nurture your heart with the memories and comfort your soul with the promise that Jesus says, "I am with you always."

Along the way,

Stay Plugged In: How Prayer Connects Us to the Source of Light

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 23:31:36 GMT

How Prayer Transforms Us by Connecting to God’s Power

One of the simplest pieces of advice that people give and get is, if something is not working, check to see if it is plugged in. How about if we think for a few minutes about prayer and making sure it is plugged in. Prayer is a human activity to stay in touch with the power of God. When we are not plugged in, we are either running on battery power or without power at all. But on a more interesting note, think about what happens when you plug a light in. Nothing happens to the socket or source of power. What has changed is the light. It now has what it needs to bring light. Plugging in to the power, changes the lamp. So it is with prayer. Our conversation with God does not change God. It changes us. We get a direct connection to the source of love, forgiveness, hope, life, reconciliation, empathy and compassion to name a few. When Paul writes, "Pray constantly, he tells us to make sure we are plugged in to the source of life.

Along the way,

Remembering the Reformation: Embracing God's Transformative Grace

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Sat, 26 Oct 2024 17:28:50 GMT

Continuing the Journey of Love and Empathy in Our Christian Faith

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Continuing the Reformation: A Call to Love and Follow Christ

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Sat, 26 Oct 2024 17:24:36 GMT

Embracing Scripture and the Holy Spirit in Our Journey of Faith

This coming Sunday, much of the church will remember the Reformation when Martin Luther and other reformers called for the church to follow scripture and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. At the core of the Christian faith is the commandment from Jesus for us to love God, one another, ourselves and even our enemies. Reformation never stops as the church today continues to teach and preach about imitating Jesus.

Along the way,

Love in Action: Answering the Call to Care for One Another

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Sat, 26 Oct 2024 17:19:33 GMT

Finding Worth in Every Soul by Living Out the Greatest Commandment

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Radical Love: Walking with the Least Among Us

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Sat, 26 Oct 2024 17:11:33 GMT

Following Jesus’ Call to Value People Over Power and Serve the Forgotten

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Refilling the Soul: Finding God in Nature

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Sat, 26 Oct 2024 17:07:22 GMT

Clearing the Mind and Renewing the Spirit Through Prayer and the Outdoors

When I need to get a refill on God I go outside. I look at the sky, smell the fresh air and feel the wind blow on my skin. I whisper a little prayer, "Sweet Lord, clear my mind of all the clutter coming at me from every direction and teach me to focus on love." It always changes my attitude and restores my soul.

Along the way,

Lessons from My Father: A Reflection on Faith and Family

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Sat, 26 Oct 2024 17:03:17 GMT

Finding God’s Love in the Memory of a Father’s Steadfast Presence

One of many fondest memories is of my father following my basketball games. I do not recall a game in high school that he missed. He was not a loud fan but he was always there and often took us to eat at a joint called Wetson's after games. On at least one occasion he took me to the ER after a game to get my lip stitched up...after Wetson's of course. After games we would sit at the kitchen table. He would drink coffee and I would down a quart of orange juice. He would often analyze my mistakes and praise my positive contribution to the game. It was always a nice time with dad. He got out of his work head and we shared our enthusiasm for the game. He played when he was a young man when there was a jump ball after every basket and most folks shot free throws with two hands under hand...or so he told me. I have lots of positive memories of my dad. He was forgiving, open minded, strong and he worked too much. When I say the Lord's prayer and say "Our father... It is the image and experience with my dad that informs my relationship with the Creator. He analyzes my mistakes, praises my positive contributions and shares my enthusiasm for life. God is still a great mystery to me. He is beyond my comprehension. I can not say I have anything tangible to hold on to....except in the same way I know my dad loved me and I loved him in return...I know "Our Father..." loves me and I am compelled by my heart and soul to love him in return. (Picture of Dad below...he is the good looking one...like me. LOL) Along the way, PN

Embracing the Gift of Each Day

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Sat, 26 Oct 2024 17:00:10 GMT

Finding Grace in Everyday Moments and Walking Together in Faith

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Finding Rest and Renewal Together: A Day at Holy Trinity

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Sat, 26 Oct 2024 16:53:43 GMT

Sharing Burdens, Offering Grace, and Embracing the Rhythms of Community

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Yard Sale Theology: Discovering Value and Purpose in Every Life

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Sat, 26 Oct 2024 16:51:06 GMT

Finding Redemption and Renewal in What the World Overlooks

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Called to Serve: Embracing Selflessness in Everyday Life

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Sat, 26 Oct 2024 16:45:30 GMT

Reflecting on Jesus' Example and the Power of Giving Ourselves to Others

There is a line in the Gospel reading for this coming Sunday where Jesus says, He, the Son of Man, came not to be served but to serve and to give his life... This is a very humbling thing to come face to face with. If Jesus came to serve, what should I do? Is there really any choice but to focus on serving others? I was trying to make a list of ways to serve. These are a few that I came up with. To feed, to heal, to comfort, to sit quietly with a person who is struggling, to clothe, to cry with, to laugh with, to pray with, to listen, to help and maybe in summary, to love. We need to move away from the concept of me first. We need to learn that it is giving ourselves away that we get everything in return. Along the way, PN

Embracing Simplicity: Finding True Value in God's Love and Childlike Faith

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 17:18:33 GMT

How Letting Go of Comparison and Judgment Brings Us Closer to God's Simple Call to Love

Life is complicated when we make it that way. Jesus confronts his disciples in this week's Gospel reading because among themselves they were arguing which one of them was the greatest. I read his answer to say, it is really way more simple than you think. Come to God with childlike qualities of trust and love and that is all you need to know. I have come to believe that in the eyes of God, I am completely worthless and of the greatest value at the same time. In the heart of our Creator, no one of us is of more or less value than anyone else. The book of Galatians confirms this idea as Paul declares, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free, nor is their male and female, for you are all one in Christ" Gal 3:26 Our value is not about where we come from, what race or nationality is, we are not what our financial worth is, nor our gender. Our value is that we are created and loved by God. Our value to one another is that we love as we have been loved. Simple. Do not complicate it. Do not judge one another. Do not hate one another. Do not be jealous of one another. Do not kill one another. Do not think you are better or worse than one another. Those things just complicate life. Love...it is simple...just do it!

Along the way,

Starting with Humility to Seek Justice and Love Mercy

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 17:13:35 GMT

How Gratitude and Humility Lead Us to a Life of Justice and Compassion

"Seek justice, love mercy, walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8 I have struggled some today to come up with some words. After about an hour, the Micah text wandered into my head. I was not really sure it was a great idea to comment on. I found the picture below on the internet that has a slightly different translation of the text, but the same meaning. I said to myself, "What kind of recruitment poster would that make? How many people will come running to sign up?" Then it hit me. The key is to start at the end of the verse. "Walk humbly with your God." It all starts there. It begins with waking in the morning and simply being grateful and thankful to God for being alive. It is recognizing that my small self, with all my flaws, and mistakes is still loved by the creator. From that perspective the potential to seek and do justice starts. The walk through the day is guided by making sure that I treat people justly and with kindness and that I encourage others to do the same. There is no day that I go through that I do not encounter people who need help of some kind. The last thought I had was one I have had many times before. It is that "The Lord works in strange and mysterious ways. None stranger or mysterious to me than me.

Along the way,

Reflections from Koinonia: Experiencing God's Presence Through Nature and Community

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 17:05:57 GMT

A Retreat to Remember: Finding Grace, Connection, and the Gift of Life Among Friends

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Embracing the Creator's Love: A Call to Wonder, Awe, and Unconditional Love

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 17:03:20 GMT

How God's Unconditional Love Inspires Us to Cherish Creation and One Another

The simple base of the Good News is that God, Creator of heaven and earth and everything and everyone in it, loves you. It is the Creator's intention that we would all be so filled with wonder and awe that we would accept His love and use it to love the Creation and everyone in it. No exceptions.

Along the way,

Being Alive Together: Worship as a Journey of Love, Healing, and Sacred Transformation

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Sat, 07 Sep 2024 17:06:07 GMT

Embracing the Sacred Call to Love and Renew Our Hearts in the Presence of God's Spirit

I wonder if "being alive together" is a good definition of worship. We come together in this Jesus community to be reminded and experience again that God is good, that creation is good, that all these folks sitting around me in this space we call holy, we are all good. We are created to do good for one another. And in that hour of worship, in sacred space, reading the sacred word, singing sacred songs, praying sacred prayers of thanks, healing and confession, we are refueled to be alive in the spirit even when we are not together. I think that God's Spirit, we have decided to call the Holy Spirit, is in hot pursuit of our hearts, souls and minds to remind us of the overwhelming love that our Creator has for us. When this lesson of love penetrates our sometimes stubborn and broken hearts a mysterious, marvelous, miraculous thing happens. The words of the sacred song come alive in us "I will break their heart of stone. Give the hearts for love alone. I will speak my words to them." Being alive together in worship transforms the hearts of all who gather to see the whole creation, every person, every creature, every bee, every tree, every ocean, everything as targets for us to love. I thank you all for the opportunity to "be alive together" with you.

Along the way,

The Rhythm of Life: Beating the Drum of Love in Harmony

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Wed, 04 Sep 2024 00:23:44 GMT

Embracing Love as the Heartbeat of Life, Unity, and Purpose

Without casting any dispersion on our beloved HTLC drummer, Wes Lambert, very often the loudest instruments in the band are the drums. The inspired drummer can sometimes get so into the music, the rhythm, the connection with the heartbeat of life, that he or she cannot help themselves. In the spiritual journey, the drum beat that sets the rhythm and tone for life is Love. Love is the background beat that drives the dance we call life. It is the driving force behind forgiveness, empathy, compassion and kindness. You and I are called to love in remarkable and extraordinary ways. In the book Paul wrote to the Colossians he beat the love drum hard and said, ABOVE ALL....clothe yourselves in love. Dress up with the divine gift that overcomes darkness, anger, hatred and apathy; LOVE. Wear it on your head, your arms, your whole body until you can help yourself. Do this because it is how we are created to be. It BINDS US TOGETHER! It binds us together in HARMONY! Do it now! Do it now because I do not think the world is listening to the beat, the rhythmic beat of the drums of life, LOVE. HARMONY, getting along with each other making the world better for every person, every creature, every plant and stone is the vision planted by Jesus, nurtured by the Holy Spirit and designed by God.

In junior high school, when I first started dating Andrea, my wife, my mom, trying to protect me, said something like, "In life you cannot live on love alone". I understand the idea that you need other stuff, other plans, but...you cannot, should not, must not live without love. Love not only binds us together but sustains, inspires and makes each moment sacred and holy. A day without love is a day without purpose, a relationship without love is doomed to end in bitterness and sorrow, a world without love is like a song without the drum beat. Embrace this greatest gift of all as Paul also writes,"The greatest of these (gifts) is love". Beat the drum of love in your relationships, in your work, in your play. Dance in harmony with one another as love brings us all together under the dome of our Creator.

Along the way,

Nature's Healing Power: Embracing Outdoor Beauty for Renewal and Restoration

musicaljw@gmail.com (Jordan Williams) — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 22:46:35 GMT

Finding Peace and Rejuvenation in the Great Outdoors

Can the beauty of nature, the rising and the setting of the sun, the wind blowing in the trees, and the reflection of life in still waters restore your soul? I think yes. The summer allows me to spend more time outdoors. Biking, walking, and sitting outdoors seems to calm my spirit and renew my hope for the future. David wrote about such things in Psalm 23. "He leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul." If you read through the New Testament you find a significant number of times that Jesus would "Go up the mountain" to pray or meditate or rejuvenate. Science supports the idea of being outdoors as a part of physical, mental and emotional health. I think we all spend too much time looking at screens. I am certainly doing it too much. I love the scripture verse where Jesus tells us that "I have come that you may have life and you might have it more abundantly." John 10:10 b The picture below is from this year's High Adventure Trip. I repeat that one of the themes for the trip and the summer has been "We are bound together by love." So, spending time outdoors with people I love is like the ultimate great thing. To drink in the beauty of the creation and walk through the creation with God's beloved is experiencing being led by God to a place of renewal, rejuvenation and restoration. Thanks be to God!

Along the way,