Pastor Jesse Larson is on a combined study/family leave through August 2022. Please direct concerns and inquiries to Office Manager Maria Mar or any member of the church session.

In September [when Rev. Jesse returns from leave] Bethany members and friends will gather with much excitement in September with much hopeful expectation for what God will be doing in our midst! Until then, rest and recreate, and I look forward to seeing you in September!

With jam-packed summer schedules, we regularly forget God's 4th Commandment to "honor the Sabbath and keep it holy." We'll be enjoying some very special music this Sunday as a way of embodying joy, celebration, and recreation.

This coming Sunday, June 19, is Father's Day and also Juneteenth—celebrating the emancipation of African American people under the terms of the 1862 Emancipation Proclamation. There is never a shortage of important topics to discuss, celebrate, acknowledge, etc. in our nation and in our churches.

This coming Sunday, June 12, we'll spend some time reflecting on James' letter in the New Testament. It's not a big book, but there are several ideas to discuss. He spends a lot of time speaking about "taming the tongue"—how we use our words to help or harm one another. Having just celebrated Pentecost and the birth of the church, the letters of the New Testament—including James—often add a lot of practical advice for how we are to be in community with one another in the spirit of Christ.

It’s hard to believe that it's already June in the year 2022. The months fly by, and we find ourselves bombarded every week with lots of heavy blows - from mass shootings to wildfires, war in Ukraine to economic uncertainty. It seems so much of life is changing so quickly - it can feel as though we are on an unending rollercoaster ride.

We find ourselves in that all too familiar position of being horrified and grief-stricken by yet another gun massacre in our nation. Nineteen children and two adults were gunned down in another inexplicable act of wanton carnage; and this is just a few days after a gun massacre in Buffalo, New York and another in Laguna Hills, California.

It's been just about a week since I tested positive for COVID-19. The good news is that my symptoms have been mild—in many ways, COVID has manifested itself like a cold. The bad news, after having taken an antigen test this morning, is that I'm still testing as positive for COVID. Unfortunately, it's taking a while to heal; I'm still very congested and stuffy. But I'm seeing little improvements each day.

In a world that is seems to be growing increasingly intolerant and fractured, we are in need of this powerful challenge given to us by our Savior. Why is it important to love our enemies? How do we love our enemies; is it even possible?

The four Gospel accounts share some powerful stories of Jesus appearing to his disciples after his resurrection. This coming Sunday—May 1—our text is from John 20: 19-23. In the midst of the grief and terror of Jesus' crucifixion, while they are hiding in fear of arrest, Jesus appears to his disciples and offers them peace.

The four Gospel accounts share some powerful stories of Jesus appearing to his disciples after his resurrection. This coming Sunday—May 1—our text is from John 20: 19-23. In the midst of the grief and terror of Jesus' crucifixion, while they are hiding in fear of arrest, Jesus appears to his disciples and offers them peace.

After a beautiful Easter morning and a meaningful Lenten season, this coming Sunday we'll be celebrating Earth Day. The environmental movement has been with us for several decades, but we are now hearing about climate change nearly every night on the evening news. We are experiencing wildfires and a severe drought, and we hear regular warnings that we may have reached the point of no return—that super storms and ecological disasters will only worsen until we find a way to curb emissions.

At our Palm Sunday service—April 10— we’ll ponder where God is leading us and how we might be more open to a new vision for the church in this time and place.

At our Palm Sunday service—April 10— we’ll ponder where God is leading us and how we might be more open to a new vision for the church in this time and place.

So much has changed in our world in just the past two years because of the pandemic, but if we look back just 20 years ago, very little seems familiar any longer.

"Kintsugi" is the ancient Japanese art of restoring broken pottery, like the pot in this picture. Kintsugi is also a spiritual practice of embracing the imperfections in our lives. It's a beautiful concept and you can learn more about it this coming Sunday, March 20 during the worship service

This past Sunday, I preached on the importance of tending to our spirits during these chaotic times. Worship is an important tool for reorienting our lives towards God, and all of the goodness in our world.

Lent—the time leading up to Easter—is beginning.

Coffee hour returns! And the season of Lent approaches!

his coming Sunday, February 13, we'll be celebrating Black History Month at Bethany! We'll be singing some wonderful spirituals and exploring more of the Old Testament.