The Church Mouse

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8) Happy Pride Month, Bethel. This week I posted a picture on Facebook of our Bethel sign with a rainbow flag flying beneath it. It was a simple picture, really. A church sign. A rainbow flag. A public declaration that our welcome is not vague, not private, and not conditional. And apparently that was enough to make some people furious. The comments came quickly. Some were threatening. Some were … Read more

“Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him, but they doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” (Matthew 28: 16-20)  When I was … Read more

 After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all people,[a] to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. (John 17: 1-3) I have a secret wish to be epic. You know what I mean. I want to make a huge splash on this world; something that stops people in their tracks. Which, … Read more

 (This week I’m straying from my normal blog format and publishing the sermon I preached at St. John’s United Church in Cardinal, Ontario, on Sunday May 3, 2026.  The scripture for this sermon was the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10: 25-37)   I am so delighted to be here this morning.  In many ways it feels like I’ve come to a family reunion and I’m staying for lunch at my cousin’s house.  You all are part of who I am as a Minister, as a rural minister, and as a life-long learner.  You see – way back many … Read more

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1) “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34) Since returning from knee surgery, I’ve had a steady stream of inquiries about weddings at Bethel. Without fail, the first question is about cost. Not theology. Not vows. Not the meaning of covenant. Cost. We don’t actually have a formal wedding policy, so I borrow from our funeral guidelines and explain the basic fees. I also mention, gently but clearly, that we can’t accommodate large crowds, we … Read more

  28 As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29 But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us[a] while he was talking to us on the … Read more

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” (John 20:19–21) A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were … Read more

After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had reclined again, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.” (John 13:12–15)  Pilate asked him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went out to the Jews … Read more

The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them;  they brought the donkey and the colt and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd[b] spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David!     Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, “Who … Read more

When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”  When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved.  He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”  (John 11: 32-35) You have turned my mourning into dancing;     you have taken off my sackcloth     and … Read more