Wild Grapes

Good morning Bethel Peeps, I have to read you one of our readings from this week’s Lectionary. Fasten your seat-belts; this one is a doozy: “Let me sing for my beloved my love-song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill. 2 He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; he expected it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes. 3 And now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge … Read more

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Hello Bethel Peeps, Have a seat and make yourself comfortable.  I’m so glad you came by to see me. Psalm 138: 14 says I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;     your works are wonderful,     I know that full well.   Can’t say that I’m feelin’ it today – the ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’ part anyway.  You see, last week in a fit of needing to clean and organize my house I moved a pile of furniture in my house and sent stuff to the curb for the ‘Community Treasure Hunt’.  With all that’s going on … Read more

The Victory Garden

Hi Everyone, come on in and have a seat.  I just made a fresh pot of coffee and you’re welcome to a cup.  I’m glad you’re here with me. This morning, Tex and I went outside in our bare feet to survey my Victory Garden. We do this pretty much every morning even in the rain.  It’s a lovely little ritual that we share together.  My garden has been renamed ‘The Tomato Jungle’ because its grown so large and tangled that its pulled up all of my tomato cages.   If you look carefully (and I apologize for my pop-socket … Read more

Being the Church Mouse

Hi Everyone!  I’m so glad you dropped by and welcome to my first blog: the Church Mouse.  I set this up (well, no, not me, the amazing Gary Petro at Terrautopia set this up) to replace my daily reflections that I had been doing for the church I serve since we were quarantined because of Covid-19.  We are now ramping up to our 7th month of dealing with the pandemic, and it is clear that the ‘sprint’ I was running to manage communication is no longer sustainable and I need to, instead, pace myself and plan to run a ‘marathon’.  … Read more