Posted by hlewis |
I am a believer in miracles. Sometimes we pray, hope, and dream for them, but many times they are unexpected … and we miss them if we aren’t paying attention. I try to watch for them, as they are so often in the small details of life.
This Sunday we’ll talk about Jesus feeding 5,000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish. His disciples did not believe they could make this…
Posted by hlewis |
Confession: Sometimes I run out of time (or ideas) for my Staff Trax and go back to previous years to get inspiration. I’ve been reading through my writings from 2020 and was struck by what I wrote after our 135th anniversary celebration, which was also our last worship service in our old location. During the service we read a litany of thanksgiving, which did talk a little about buildings,…
Posted by hlewis |
If you know me, you’re probably not surprised that I am an extreme optimist. I look for the good in people and situations. This can be … ahem … annoying, as I like to “romp through my field of daisies” instead of looking at things in a more realistic light; I leave that up to my auditor husband!
God obviously created us to be different from each other, and I find it so interesting…
Posted by hlewis |
David Hellwege built this beautiful cross for Salem in 2017. It is hand carved to hold 190 taper or tea light candles, and we use it for prayers and memorials on All Saints’ Sunday and Good Friday. I like this description of…
Posted by hlewis |
I adore stories of Jesus going out of his way to engage with those who are shunned by others, like lepers, Zacchaeus, the woman at the well, the thief on the cross. He knew everything about them, yet still sought them out to heal, forgive, and bring them new life. It was these people as much as his devoted disciples who spread the good news of God’s love to their communities.
This Sunday…
Posted by hlewis |
This Sunday in Matthew, Jesus is telling us to be salt and light to the world. We have lots of great examples of being the light: Jesus is the Light of the world; the Light shines in the darkness; “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!” But, let’s face it, salt is tricky. Salt can be exactly what you need, but can completely overpower if there’s just a little too much. If…
Posted by hlewis |
This Sunday we will celebrate the Magi giving their precious gifts to Jesus, as we prepare for the season of Epiphany. Did you know that many countries celebrate gifts from the Magi instead of Santa? Children in Latin America write letters to the Magi detailing their good behavior and asking for presents, while children in Spain leave straw in their shoes by the door for the Magi’s horses on the…
Posted by hlewis |
Thanksgiving is my favorite. No extra performances or gifts, just food, family, friends, and focusing on being thankful. Here’s my grateful list:
Happy, healthy kids: Each of my kids started a new level of school this year. In the years between toddlers and teenagers, the question is always, “What do I do to help this kid become a nice human?” As they grow, their influences…
Posted by hlewis |
I have a dear friend who didn’t grow up in the church and decided to read the Bible to figure out his faith. I regret not suggesting he start with the New Testament and then go back to the Old — he got so bogged down by all of the laws and stories of God’s wrath that he never got to the stories of Jesus and God’s love and mercy. Much later we both went through a very difficult time, and…
Posted by hlewis |
There’s a song we’ve sung over the years at Salem titled “Blessings” that says, “What if Your blessings come through raindrops? What if Your healing comes through tears? What if 1,000 sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near?”
It was written by Laura Story after her husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor and their prayers for healing were not being answered.…