Dear Caldwell, Sunday marks an important transition as we prepare for Lent, which begins Wednesday. It’s Transfiguration Sunday. We often read the scripture about how Jesus climbed a mountain, where a bright light encircled him, Moses and Elijah and the Lord called the world to listen to Jesus. A lesser known story is that of Moses, who …
Dear Caldwell, It’s Gail Henderson-Belsito at the keyboard this week. Last Sunday, Donna Singletery blessed us with a sermon entitled, “Pockets of Praise and Prayers.” One of the highlights of her sermon was the story she told about doing a ropes course activity in which she found herself racked with fear. Her wise course instructor …
Dear Caldwell, Below is a complete set of daily reflections by Caldwell member Richard Harrison during his four days on the McAllen, Texas/Reynosa, Mexico border helping immigrant families fleeing violence, persecution and lack of opportunity south of the U.S. He traveled there with friends from Myers Park United Methodist Church. Our thanks to all who went. Day …
Dear Caldwell, As we hear cries of “emergency” and “crisis” in Washington to describe what’s happening on the U.S.-Mexico border, one of our own is headed there to see for himself. And he wants to be our eyes and ears, heart and soul, arms and legs as we all seek answers about how to convey God’s gift …
Dear Caldwell, The top story in today’s news, in case you’ve been hiding under a rock (which I could certainly understand!) is the ritual performed last night in the U.S. Capitol – the annual State of the Union address. As Forrest Gump might say, “That’s all I’ve got to say about that.” What’s on my mind …
Dear Caldwell, Gail here. I have a friend who, on the first of every month, posts “Whole new month! Whole new month!” all over her social media platforms. Her excitement is almost palpable at the start of each year – “WHOLE NEW YEAR! WHOLE NEW YEAR!” I always smile when I see her posts on …
In the walk of faith, we often hear the instruction to move from praise to action, to put our faith to work, to move from Sunday to Monday. “Faith without works is dead,” says James 2:26. To be sure, faith and action complete each other, but the order isn’t always set. In worship this week, we …
Dear Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., My name is Gail. You probably don’t recall, but I wrote to you many years ago when I was a high school student in Brooklyn, NY. I told you some of my story, about how I ended up graduating from that predominantly white private school. I shared with you …
Dear Caldwell, Last Sunday, we celebrated the congregation’s energy, enthusiasm and commitment as we considered the Epiphany call to share God’s promise of love, healing and justice. We capped it off with a luncheon to say thanks for your financial commitments to the 2019 operating budget. We are given so many ways to “share the promise,” …
Dear Caldwell, As people of faith, we live between two worlds – secular traditions and the ways of God. What better example of that than the convergence of New Year’s Day and Epiphany, which we celebrate Sunday. Doubtless, television, social media and talk at parties will offer up ways we might enter 2019 with fresh spirits and …
