We have a lot on our plates. We have so many responsibilities in our personal lives, and we have a lot of work to do as a nation as we make our way through the COVID-19 pandemic … rebuild our economy … and heal our divisions and political dysfunction …

We know that these are very unsettled times, and it has been frustrating not to be able to gather as a church family. Because we are not meeting regularly, it has become more challenging to stay in touch …

As we make our way in the aftermath of this election, may we be brave agents of love, grace, peace, reconciliation, unity, and hope. Every day, we are given opportunities to commit acts of kindness to help heal our divided nation

It is a busy time of year, in the life of our country as well as in the life of our church.

As the COVID-19 virus rages along, I pray that you, too, are all able to find small joys and bits of hope on a regular basis. I also encourage us all to continue to reach out to one another and other loved ones; these days have a way of overwhelming us, and so it's nice to know that we aren't alone even though we might be socially distanced.

As always, flexibility and adaptability help us to manage whatever comes our way. As Christians, we continually seek to offer one another grace, to trust that God will always make a way for us, and that we’ll always be afforded opportunities to share hope and love in our communities. As we stumble along, when plans work out and when they don’t work out, we remember that God calls us to faithfulness rather than perfection, and thanks be to God for that gift!

Justice Ginsburg was nothing short of a superhero, and I find it so encouraging to know that there are these blessed saints among us—of all faiths and backgrounds—who seek to make the world a better place for everyone. In a time when hope can be in short supply, it’s important to remember and celebrate the many people with big hearts and big minds all around us who are working for justice, equality, and love for all.

When you are feeling overwhelmed—which is a totally natural feeling—you are encouraged to know that God is still in control, pushing all of creation to a new chapter.

We remember that Jesus assured us that we can share our burdens with him; he’ll help us carry the load and see us through to a better day.

On September 6, I’ll be offering Part 2 to last week’s sermon concerning “The Myth of Scarcity.” We’ll be taking an inventory of abundance.

As we navigate these uncharted waters of virtual church together, you might consider sharing the good news with your many friends on Facebook and other social media. Many of you have shared with me how important your church family is to you—why not widen the circle?

It's been another eventful week here in Sacramento. It's definitely a time to hold one another in prayer, as well as all of the firefighters and first responders who are overwhelmed by so many wildfires. Our concern remains for medical personnel and essential workers who continue to put themselves in harm's way as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on. And our prayers surround all those who are sick, lost, hurting, and without hope.

Our lives seem to be composed of a host of chapters—jobs end and new ones begin, we sell old homes so we can afford new ones, we make new friends and say goodbye to other ones, we celebrate new births and weep at the passing of our loved ones. Some chapters are short while others are long, and some are joyful while others are marked by pain.

Now more than ever, we must be gentle and gracious with one another—those we know and love, as well as strangers. We all have the choice to give grace, understanding, love, and encouragement to those who come across our path, or we can offer criticisms, judgments, and negativity. Be kind and gentle with each other; it will make all the difference in the world.

Remembering this beautiful day together serves as a bittersweet reminder that one day, soon we pray, we’ll be able to be together again—singing songs and breaking bread.

We enjoyed a fantastic evening of music with the Tropicali Flames this past Sunday evening! We were happy to see many familiar faces who we haven't seen in a while. Everyone wore masks, we were socially distanced, and the delta breeze provided us with a refreshing atmosphere. If you look closely at the picture, the band all wore masks and the saxophonist even played through a small hole in his mask!

I'm a big music fan; I listen to music every day as it just makes me feel better. I am reminded of the many songs sung in the Bible. It seems that there is always a song to sing for any part of the human condition and experience. I'm sure that there are many artists out there writing songs about this pandemic!

Keep reaching out to one another, keep praying for one another, keep being gracious to everyone you meet (and yourself), and let love serve as our guide. And remember that God's Spirit is at work, inviting us to a new chapter for the life of the church universal and for Bethany!

For a brief moment, the wind whistles through the leaves but then falls silent. An old song reminds us to be still . . .

These past few intense days follow a series of many other unsettling weeks.It's getting to be a lot! Many of you, like me, are feeling strong feelings of sadness, frustration, anger, and despair.