Rest in the Word

  February 1st, 2026   ( Luke 4:16–21) A Longing for Something Real Dear sisters and brothers in Christ, I hope you are staying warm and safe in this biting winter cold. As we gather today, I want to share some thoughts on the state of the church today and the state of our own hearts. Recently, I’ve been reading several articles about a surprising trend among young people. Some famous Christian magazines( Christianity Today , The Gospel Coalition ) are talking about how young adults are choosing traditional ways of worship. For a long time, many churches thought that to reach young people, we needed more "flash," louder music, and high-tech media. But a big change is happening. Young adults are moving back to the old, deep ways of worship. They are being drawn to the traditions and the history of the church. Why? Because many people are tired of "shallow" worship. They feel that when the focus is too much on the fancy show or the performance on stage, ther...

                                          Rembrandt's  The Return of the Prodigal Son January 25, 2026 The Power of God to Change Lives (Mark 10:17-27)                           Vincent van Gogh's Self-Portrait            Edvard Munch's The Scream    Henri Rousseau's self-portrait  Mirrors and Self-Reflection Dear brothers and sisters, have you ever painted or drawn a self-portrait? Nowadays, many people capture their likeness through "selfies," but before the invention of the camera, artists painted self-portraits for many different reasons. Vincent van Gogh painted himself because he couldn't afford models and wanted to give a painting to his mother as a birthday gift. Edvard Munch, who fought a lifelong fear of death, captured his own existential dread in his ...

Bethel: The House of God   January 18, 2026 Stetson Memorial UMC Scripture:  Matthew 6:31-34                    < Center of Gravity > Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, it is a joy to be back with you. I have deeply missed our fellowship over the past three weeks due to vacation, Covid, and the recent weather. As we gather again, I want to ask you a question that John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, famously asked in every small group or "class meeting": "How is your soul?" He didn't ask this as a mere greeting. He asked it to check our spiritual health. Looking back over the past few weeks, how has your soul been? Were you calm like still waters, or were you like Peter, sinking into the waves of fear? Perhaps you felt more like a "Rolly-Poly" toy—pushed and prodded by life’s circumstances. In this life, there are so many forces that threaten our stability: financial crises, distressing family news, uncertai...

  January 11, 2026 Stetson Memorial UMC Jeremiah 31:31-34; Luke 17:20-21   <Finding God in the middle of our Pain> Dear family in Christ, over the past few weeks, we have been surrounded by news of sickness and struggle. Some of our members have suffered falls and are recovering from hip surgeries; others are anxiously awaiting test results or battling chronic pain. Many of us have been hit by COVID, the flu, or severe colds. I personally missed being with you last week due to COVID, and I want to extend a special thanks to Sara and Ted for leading our service in my absence. Beyond our physical health, our hearts are heavy with news from our families, our town, and a world that feels increasingly broken. We are aching, anxious, and vulnerable. There is deep pain among us. However, I have also seen that God is among us. I felt His presence clearly this past Thursday during our meeting with local pastors and town leadership. Together, our four churches are steppi...