Rev. Dawn-Marie's midweek reflection

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Next Wednesday, Sarah-Grace, Charlie, and I will be heading to the 245th session of the Virginia Annual Conference.  Annual Conference is the regional governing body for over 700 United Methodist congregations in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  When we all get together, there are over 3,000 of us in one room doing business and/or praising God in worship.  It is an exhilarating experience.  

So what happens at an annual conference?  

A United Methodist Church (UMC) Annual Conference is a regional, multi-day sacred gathering where clergy and lay members unite. It functions as the church's primary governing body, featuring worship, spiritual renewal, business sessions, and the official commissioning and ordination of new pastors.

The event is split between an equal number of clergy and lay members. Key activities include:

• Church Governance & Business: Members vote on conference budgets, apportionments, and resolutions, and make policy decisions affecting conference-supported ministries.
• Clergy Sessions: Clergy meet separately to vote on ordinations, review licensed statuses, and handle matters regarding retirements or changes in ministerial membership.
• Laity Sessions: Lay members meet separately for fellowship, training, and leadership development.
• Worship & Ordination Services: Includes daily worship, memorial services for clergy who have passed, and the Service of Commissioning and Ordination for new deacons and elders.
• Reports & Celebrations: Reviews of the past year’s progress, highlighting mission work, and formally recognizing new or closing local churches.

The officiating bishop will be Bishop Sue Haupert-Johnson of the Virginia Annual Conference.

This year’s theme: The historical movement of Methodism and the Holy Spirit in the church.

For more information, including agendas and livestream links, visit the VAUMC Annual Conference Hub.

Annual Conference is one of my favorite things to do as a clergy member because it’s like a huge family reunion.  I get to see lay leaders from churches I have served in the past, former youth who are now adults whom I baptized and/or taught, fellow clergy whom I served alongside in a variety of different districts, and retired clergy whom I have worked with and love dearly. I also LOVE worshipping with 3,000 plus people and singing praises to God together. 

I can’t believe it is June!   June means SUMMER and relaxing days at the POOL.   June is also Father’s Day and my Mom’s birthday.  As a United Methodist, June also means Annual Conference - our yearly business meeting.  

I grew up spending my summers at the pool.   Swim team practice was first thing in the morning (no lazy summer days for me!), and then back home for breakfast, a short break, and then 9 times out of ten - we were back at the pool for the majority of the day.  The pool was my second home during the hot summer days.  My swim team friends became like family.  The pool was a part of me, and like many others over the years, I was a part of the pool.  

I am writing this after going to the pool for the first time this season.  Sarah-Grace, Nik, and I took Charlie to the Virginia Hill Swim Club.  The very same pool I belonged to when I was growing up. Even though much had changed, it was the same pool; it was in the same neighborhood, and the same feeling swept across me as I checked in at the gatehouse.  

Charlie loves water, and he didn’t let me down  - he loved the pool.  His eyes got huge and a smile came across his face as he stepped into the baby pool with his little yellow duck floating beside him.  He was a happy boy for sure.  (And it was cold!!)

After some dinner, we took him to the big pool.  I wasn’t sure he would like it since the water was so cold. In fact, I was halfway hoping he would back out - because if he went in, that meant I was going to have to get in.   (Sarah-Grace had just gotten off work and decided before we left she wasn’t going to swim!).  I placed Charlie in the water on the first step to see what he would do; he gleefully splashed around and looked back at me to join him.  So I took a deep breath and went in.   To my surprise, he pulled me down to the next step and then another.  By now I was past my waist, and there was only one more step to make to the bottom of the pool - so I braced myself and went in - pulling him with me.  Brrrr.    But he didn’t seem to mind the cold - although his lips were blue and he was shivering - he would not get out.  

He kicked and smiled.  Splashed and giggled.  He swam on his back and then on his tummy - sputtering every once in a while when water got in his mouth.   But he had no fear.  Charlie was perfectly content in that cold water.   He played with the other kids, jumped to me from the side of the pool, and was oblivious to the fact that his little body was shivering with cold.   Silly boy!  

Is there something that you love to do so much that despite what is happening around you, it is extremely hard for you to stop?   What do you have a passion for?   Over the past several weeks, we have talked a lot about our calling as disciples of Jesus Christ.  We talked about EVANGELISM on Sunday.  

One of the questions I asked in my sermon was, “Do you lose sleep over thinking about the lost?”    Think about that - really think about that?   Shouldn’t we all love Jesus so much that we do not want to quit sharing his word until all have heard the good news?  Shouldn’t we all have hearts that break for the lost, the last, and the least?  

Think about that.  If we all loved Jesus as much as Charlie loved being in the pool today, what would that look like?   Charlie was shivering because he was so cold - yet he didn’t want to get out of the pool because he loved swimming in the water.   Oh - what if we looked at evangelism that way - that we were not willing to stop until everyone knew the good news of Jesus.   Sure, we might be tired, and frustrated, maybe other people were trying to get us to quit - but we wouldn’t give up…we weren’t willing to stop because we had a job to do.   And here is the thing - we are not alone.  Like Charlie taking one step at a time - he knew I was right there with him.  

He understood that I wasn’t going to let him get in deeper water until I went in first.  

And friends, we may not be literally going into deeper water, but I guarantee you the Holy Spirit goes with us each step of the way.  And the good news is that God is already there  - just waiting for us to do our part.

So - let’s take the plunge and allow God to move and work in and around us.  

Rev. Dawn-Marie

Rain, Rain, go away. Come back another day.    That’s exactly what I was thinking as I drove to my brother’s house for Memorial Day weekend.  The wet weekend wasn’t exactly what we had planned for a beautiful weekend on the lake.   But the truth is, we need the rain to replenish the earth.  We need the rain to ease drought conditions before the hot, dry summer begins.  

Rain is essential!  Not often what we ask for, but we need it nonetheless.  Instead of enjoying the lake and being able to fish and swim, we stayed inside - watching movies and playing games.   My brother is a fantastic cook, so we ate well - probably too well.

I hated to miss Pentecost Sunday with you.  Thanks to all who read and participated in the service I put together ahead of time.   I hope you felt the Holy Spirit at work.  I hope you feel his presence every day and not just on Sunday.

We are going to learn how to trust the Holy Spirit and live into God’s will for our lives. This week during worship we are going to hear Matthew 28: 16-20.  This text is what has come to be known as the Great Commission.  This is our task.  It is our mission for today and for the future.  As United Methodists, our mission is to make disciples for the transformation of the world.  This is exactly what Jesus is calling his disciples to do in Matthew 28.

I invite you to spend a moment before Sunday to read and reflect on the text of Matthew 28:16-20.  Ask yourself these two questions:  How am I, personally, making disciples?  How are we, as a church, making disciples?  

Then, think about what more we can do to make disciples to transform the world. There is no better time than now to transform our world.  To let God’s grace (love), kindness, and compassion rule over hate.  To allow forgiveness to reign over holding grudges and/or being hurt.   To share what we have instead of hoarding.  To be a witness to the beautiful gift we have been given through Jesus rather than keep him to ourselves.  

Friends, we have a job to do.  And this job is not for the faint of heart.  It is a job for bold and courageous disciples.   A job for prayer warriors.   A job for kindness spreaders and mercy & justice deliverers.  

It is a job for you and me - for us.   So friends, get ready to do God’s work and be ready to feel the Holy Spirit at work.

Rev, Dawn-Marie

This Sunday we will celebrate Pentecost!    Also known as the birthday of the church, Pentecost is the day that the Holy Spirit was given to the believers.   You may remember that before Jesus ascended to his Father, he promised the believers that he would not leave them alone - that he would send them the holy spirit.   

In fact, Jesus was quite specific; he told them not to go anywhere or do anything until they received it.   We read in Acts 2 that they were all assembled in one place, and suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.  Then we read the details of this scene.  It tells us that they saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.  And all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost is a high and holy day!  The Holy Spirit is what gives us our power from on high.  Yet, even as extraordinary as this is, this power is alive in each of us.  It’s a burning within, so to speak.   John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, described his personal conversion as his heart was strangely warmed.   It is this spirit that is alive in each of us.  

We read the biblical account of Jesus’ baptism, and we wonder why he needed to be baptized.  We understand that John the Baptist baptized with water (for the forgiveness of sins), but that one who would come after him would baptize with the Spirit.  It is Jesus who comes and grants us the gift of the Holy Spirit.  

In the United Methodist tradition, the definition of a sacrament is “An outward and visible sign or an inward and spiritual grace”. So through baptism, that outward and visible sign is the water that is used, and the inward and spiritual grace is the Holy Spirit.  

Come, Holy Spirit, Come.  This should be our prayer every day.  I believe the Spirit is alive and active all around us, but too often we are too busy to notice.  We must open our eyes to the workings of God and his spirit in order to see the breaking in of God’s kingdom on earth.  

You and I are called to be transformative agents - to change the world around us.  It sounds difficult, but it isn’t… not really.  All we have to be is the disciples that Jesus has called us to be.   The Holy Spirit is a part of who we are when we say, “YES!” to Jesus.  

I hope that you are willing to become a light bearer, a kindness embracer, and a grace bestower.  These are the tasks that I believe we are called to be.  These are the tasks that the Holy Spirit guides us in and strengthens us for.  

The world needs Jesus.  The world needs us to be the LIGHT in a dark world and a bearer of HOPE.

The Holy Spirit lives within us and guides us to do God’s work.  The Holy Spirit is very much a part of who we are as the church.  The Holy Spirit needs to be let out so that the world can be put on fire for Jesus.   The Holy Spirit should never be kept in a box - for that is when we rob it of its purpose.  

So friends, let the Spirit go.   Allow the Holy Spirit to live within you, to breathe life in you, and to ignite the world with the fervor of God.  May it be so.

Rev, Dawn-Marie

Everyone feels anxious or afraid sometimes, but God says he will be with us and reminds us that we can trust him to give us courage and strength.  

Here are a few reminders about WHAT GOD ‘S WORD SAYS TO YOU (Taken from Jodie Berndt’s book, Praying the Scriptures for Your Children)

• When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.  (Psalm 56:3)
• Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. (Philippians 4:6)
• Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.  (Joshua 1:9)
• The Spirit God gave us does not make us timid but gives us power, love, and self-discipline.  (2 Timothy 1:7)

Here’s a prayer you can say if you need it:

Almighty God,   I am anxious and afraid about _________________.  Help me to put my trust in you and to pray instead of worrying.  Thank you for your promise to be with me wherever I go.  Help me to be strong and courageous and to rely on the Holy Spirit to give me power, love, and self-discipline.  Amen.

Friends, even as a pastor, life gets overwhelming, and anxiety can hit an all-time high.  Our hope is in Jesus.  He is the hope of glory, the hope of our future.  And to be honest, Jesus is exactly how I make it through these hard days and times.  Jesus is my only hope for the future.  

My prayer is that when life gets crazy and you feel that you are at the end of your rope, you, too, can hold on to Jesus and trust in him.  May we all be bold and courageous in our witness, so that others may know who we are.  And in the process, may we be instruments of change and transformation.  

- Rev. Dawn-Marie

Being hospitable is so critical for a church.  Last week, I shared two suggestions from ReThink Church that will help us to become more hospitable as a church.   This week, I share three more tips for us to consider as we move forward in making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

MAKING DISCIPLES  is what it is all about.  That is our call and our task.   So with that in mind, let us consider some more practical tips for being hospitable.  

(The following are excerpts from Rethink Church by Phil Maynard.)

3.    It’s all about them: This comes from a conversation I had with someone who moved a year ago, and their family church shopped for a season, trying to discern the right congregation for them. She said that during some of their visits, when people did speak to them – and they often didn’t – “we felt like fresh meat in a lion’s den.” She said people descended upon them wanting her to teach Sunday School and her husband to be on this or that committee. “We weren’t looking for a job, we were looking for a church family.” She went on to say that at one church, a man started telling her all about their financial struggles and did everything but give her a pledge card. “I think people forget that visitors aren’t visiting because they want to fill some position or bail the church out financially.” “It’s all about them” means that first-time visitors should never be treated as the answer to the congregation’s needs. Rather, we need to explore with them how the congregation can address their needs. So, instead of trying to get our guests to help our church, tell them something you love about the church, get to know them a bit, ask what they are looking for in a church home, and explore with them how the congregation can assist them on their journey.

4.    Help them make connections: This has two parts. As you begin to get to know a guest and learn what they are looking for in a congregation, help them make connections with others who are like them, and who can assist them in finding whatever they are searching for. If they have youth, introduce them to another family with youth or to the youth pastor. If they are retired from Michigan, introduce them to someone else who is retired from Michigan. If they are interested in missions, connect them with people who are involved in missions in your congregation. You get the point. The second part of “Help them make connections” involves receiving hand-offs well when people get introduced to you. Help them feel welcome and make the connections for which they are looking. In other words, don’t just say, “Oh, hi,” and then turn back to your friends and ignore them like they are an interruption. Instead, be intentional about receiving them and helping them make the connections for which they are searching.

5.    Remember their names and use them: It’s such a simple thing, but so powerful. I joined Gold’s Gym recently, and there are two staff members who remember my name and greet me using it every time I go. I find myself looking for them when I go to work out. Just that simple thing – which I’m sure they are trained to do – makes me feel more like I belong when I walk in the door. People are people, whether they are new at the gym or new at the church.

I challenge you to know these tidbits about becoming a more hospitable church and put them into practice.  A visitor decides within the first three minutes of entering a church whether or not they will return. THREE  MINUTES!  That is not long at all.  We must be welcoming and hospitable at the outset.  We must connect and be relational.  

Let’s be willing to take a risk and get out of our comfort zones so that we can truly possess radical hospitality.  

One of the many ways to help a church grow is to be hospitable. But how do we actually do this?  I want to share some simple suggestions that are key to making a congregation more hospitable. This week, I share the following two practices:  

1.    The 3-minute rule, suggested by the ReThink Church material, encourages people to spend the three minutes just before and just after the worship service, greeting those they do not know.  Too often, people visit with those they know at church and believe that they have a friendly congregation. Yet when visitors come, their experience too often is that, other than ushers and greeters, no one speaks to them.                              

So the “3-minute rule” reminds people to be intentional about greeting and getting to know someone they don’t know during these two times.

2.    The 10-foot rule, also suggested by ReThink Church material, encourages persons to greet anyone they don’t know within 10 feet of them. No one wants the entire congregation converging on them when they visit. Instead, those who are physically the closest to worship guests take responsibility for introducing themselves and engaging them in friendly conversation.

I remember being a first-time visitor at a church where no one spoke to me.  Sarah-Grace and I had gone to the First Presbyterian Church, not far from our beach house in Myrtle Beach, SC.  We chose that particular church because they were really growing and had already begun building a new, larger place nearby.  I wanted to know what they were doing right, so we headed there one Sunday morning.

The first thing we noticed was that their signage was terrible.  We were going to the early service to check out their contemporary worship, but once we got into the building, we had no idea where to find the service.  We walked all around the education wing and found no one; however, we could hear people down a hall.  So we walked that way - and at last found the service.   We walked in, past several groups of folks, not one of them stopping to greet us.  As we approached the threshold of the room where service was being held, two greeters were there - neither of whom spoke to us.  We even had to ask for a bulletin.

Once in the room, we noticed people milling around the back, getting snacks and coffee, so we made our way that way.   There were about a dozen people back there.  Did anyone stop to speak or say Hello? NO!  As a pastor, I thought, “How can these people be growing?”

We sat down in a pew towards the middle - still no one spoke.   But, just as the service was beginning, we realized we must have been in someone’s chairs.   They kind of hemmed and hawed in the aisle, then sat directly behind us.  We did not feel welcome at all.  

Truth be told, this was a terrible experience.  After church, I introduced myself as a pastor and told them that I was there for the first time and that they were not welcoming at all.  The associate pastor made some excuse about them not being on their game due to the fact that they were preparing to move to a new building.  I thought, “All the better to be more intentional on being welcoming.” We left, disappointed and frustrated.  As we left, we tried to make our way through the church without getting lost.  Not realizing it, we came up the side hall and entered the sanctuary where they were preparing for the 11:00 am service.  

One of the ushers greeted us and handed us a bulletin.  I politely thanked them for speaking to us and for giving us a bulletin.  I went on to tell them we had already attended the early service, where no one spoke to us. He made an attempt to apologize, but we promptly went straight out the main doors to our car.  

I share this experience because, unfortunately, many churches think they are being warm and welcoming to visitors, but they aren’t. My hope is that Bruen Chapel and Cameron UMC are actually warm and welcoming places to others.

I encourage you to study these two suggestions and make them a part of who you are and how you act toward others on Sunday mornings.  I would hate for anyone to ever leave Bruen Chapel or Cameron and feel like Sarah-Grace and I did after visiting First Presbyterian in Myrtle Beach.  

Be welcoming and genuine.  Be willing to go the extra mile to greet someone in the name of Christ.  

Stay tuned for more suggestions in the next few weeks.

Why do we think PRAYER is so complicated?  Why is it that PRAYING makes us so uneasy and nervous?   

Like public speaking, praying is one of those things that creates high anxiety and stress.   But it shouldn’t.  

I remember when I first started in the ministry, I did not like to pray out loud.  I wrote my prayers out ahead of time and usually worked on them until I felt satisfied.  Then, on the first day of my first appointment as a Lead Pastor, I was so busy getting ready for worship and setting things up that I completely forgot to write out my prayer.  I realized it about a minute before Prayer time.  I took a deep breath and thought, “I can do this one time.  I can do it!” Thinking this would be a one-and-done deal, I closed my eyes and prayed. As luck would have it, I was busy and distracted after the 8:30 service. When the 11:00 service began, I quickly realized… Yep, you guessed it - I didn’t write a prayer for the second service either.  Prayer time came, I took a deep breath, asked the Holy Spirit to give me the words, and simply prayed from my heart.  

I have not written a prayer since then.  The Holy Spirit has taught me that if I trust in Him, the words will come.  After all, prayer is simply a conversation with God.  Why get so uptight about the words we use?   God knows us better than we know ourselves.  It is important that you know that God doesn’t expect you to use fancy words or pray in a certain way.  God wants your heart.  God wants you to trust him enough to let your thoughts be pure and uninhibited.  

I know that praying out loud is not something people like to do.  I know this from experience - I see it in Bible Study, Sunday School, or even committee meetings when I ask if anyone wants to open us in prayer, and immediately everyone looks down, avoiding my eyes.   OK, that was pretty obvious.   Like anything else we do, one must practice - not just to get better, but to feel at ease.  And the great thing to remember is that if you mess up - it’s totally ok - because you are in church - where forgiveness is free.   In fact, there are no mistakes in praying.   There just aren’t.  There is no set way, or length, or words you must say “to pass” at prayer.  

I invite you to trust the Holy Spirit during this season of your spiritual journey and simply speak from your heart.  Let your words be pure as they freely flow from your mouth.  Don’t overthink - just speak.  It’s also ok to pause and leave some silence in your prayer.  No need to rush in - give all your thoughts to God and then rush out.  Stay still and present, God might just have something really cool to say. 

In regard to prayer…it is important to pray for our family and friends as well as those that lead in our lives - whether in work, school, or in the world.  Cameron and Bruen Chapel have a prayer list that is in our Mid-Week every week.  I encourage you to push that PRAYER LIST button (below) and pray for those on the list.  You can pray a little each day of the week, or you can pray for the entire list every day.  You want to lift up their names in the morning and then again at night, leaving silence between each one.  God knows the details - we are just encouraged to pray for them and lift them up to the Lord.  

Beginning this week, you will also have an opportunity to have a weekly prayer partner.  There will be an insert in the bulletin for you to place your name and anything you may need specific prayer about, as well as a way to contact you.   If you are interested in having a prayer partner, you will fill it out, place it in the offering plate, and then, after worship, you will pick another paper with a name of someone to pray for.   This person is your prayer partner for the week.   You can pray and not let them know, but I encourage you to give them a call or send a note to let them know they were prayed for.   It’s always nice to hear that someone is thinking about you!

Remember, prayer is simply communication between you and God.  Speak and Listen.  Anyone and everyone can do it! I trust that you will become a master pray-er this year.

Can you believe Easter Sunday 2026 is already behind us, and we are halfway through April?  It doesn’t seem possible.   And yet - here we are.  Mid-April with summer weather in the 90’s.   Spring has always been an exciting season.   New birth is evident everywhere.  In the budding of the trees, there is a plethora of pollen and the burst of color in gardens and parks.

One of the new things that is happening at Cameron is the Milkshake Ministry.    This is an outreach to the youth of our community.    I wonder what these youth are looking for.  I have a passion for youth, so I don’t want to just guess.  Which is why, at this very moment, I am sitting at McDonald's across from Edison High School.  Today is observation day.  I have planted myself at a table, simply to observe.  

I have already found out that the back door to this McDonald’s was locked because “the kids go in and spend too much time in the bathrooms.”   I get that, but perhaps there is a better way to discourage that?  Hmm - looks like some of these teens already have a bad rap.   Like I said, I am sitting here ready to observe.  

School is over, so I imagine they will be coming in, and the noise level will be going up.   A few young ladies have come in, and they are sitting at tables glued to their phones.  That phone is something that is priceless to them.   All of them are gripping them like they are gold.  Oh -here they come.  A group of about 12 just came in and sat down - schools out - whew - they are chilling - but phones are in everyone’s hands.  I would love to know what they are all looking at.  Perhaps in a few weeks, I can ask.   Another group of young boys is hanging out at the Kiosk.  

Heads down, phones in hands.    

They do seem to have some social skills as they have come in nodded heads, shaken hands and at least acknowledged one another.    It is filled now.   That didn’t take long.   And yet - as big as day, there is a sign on the far wall that says, “No loitering Please: no more than 30 minutes.”   Hmmm, we will see how that goes.  

If we could get even half of these youth to want to engage - we might just see God at work.  

A girl with a skateboard.   A group of lacrosse players.  Backpacks being slung to the ground; this is the scene I am encountering.  It’s a joyful yet eclectic crowd.    Talk of the lacrosse game.  

Have to say, just looking at these young people makes me feel old.  However, I am not so old that I don’t remember what high school felt like.   Ok, so maybe I am old - I just tried to strike up a conversation with a young man beside me.  I asked him what was so interesting on his phone.  But HA - he had ear pods in and totally did not even hear me.   Oie!   Guess it is a good thing today is just an observation day.  

I am pleased to observe that they are actually talking to one another and have put the phones down.   Yay for them!  Well…not all of them - some are sitting together but focusing on the phone.    A few just left on the Fairfax Connector bus - I guess that takes them home.   A group of girls just came in with Big Gulps from 7-Eleven - they came to hang out with some friends that were already here.   It’s quite the scene.  A bit intimidating if I do say so myself, but God is at work.   Please pray for God to open hearts so that we are able to engage in conversation with the youth in this area.  

Until next week. . .

Oh, what beautiful Easter services we had on Sunday!   Despite the rain, the JOY exuded from everyone’s hearts as they sang those old familiar Easter hymns.  There is just something about being together on Easter Sunday and knowing the HOPE of glory.  We are an Easter people - let us never forget that.  

We live in uncertain times, and if you are like me, you may have asked, “Are we at the end of time?”  I have been asked that quite a lot lately.   I just keep to my faith and my belief that no matter when Christ chooses to come again - I will be ready.   It’s the HOPE in Christ that keeps me going on days that are filled with strife and doubt.   As believers in Christ ,we have the wonderful gift of knowing that we are loved, that we are forgiven (if we ask), and that no matter what this world brings, what really matters is what lies beyond this life.  

Let’s keep the joy of Sunday in our hearts and in our lives.  May we come again to church this week, knowing that we are a resurrected people because DEATH DID NOT WIN!   DEATH COULD NOT KEEP JESUS IN THE GRAVE - and that wasn’t just for one Sunday - that was and is forever and ever.  

Jesus is alive!  He has risen!  He has risen indeed!  Alleluia!

“Jesus loves me, this I know.  For the Bible tells me so…” so go the beautiful words that most of us know so well.  I learned this song in Sunday school, sang it in church, Vacation Bible School, and even at youth retreats. It speaks a truth we sometimes forget.  JESUS LOVES US.  

Holy Week is the perfect time for us to pause and ponder these wise words.  “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.  Little ones to Him belong; they are weak, but HE is strong.  Yes, Jesus loves me, Yes, Jesus loves me.  For the Bible tells me so.”   I sang this song to Sarah-Grace when she was small, and now I sing it to Charlie, a member of the next generation of believers.  There is a deep simplicity to this truth, but it is who we are in a nutshell.    It is during Holy Week that we are reminded of the depth of love Jesus has for us.  He loved (loves) us so much that he died for us.  

In a few short days, we will be celebrating Good Friday.  I invite you to come to worship that day (3 :00 pm at Bruen Chapel and 7:00 pm at Cameron) to remember Christ’s Final Hours.  Instead of having two services during Holy Week, I wrote a single service that combined the two.   The service will begin with time to contemplate the time Jesus spent with his disciples in the Upper Room, and then we will celebrate Holy Communion and participate in Visio Divina, the practice of praying with a sacred image or work of art.  We will then strip the altar as a sign of the transition to Good Friday, and will proceed to remember Christ’s final words.  

The services during Holy Week are key to understanding the pain and suffering that Jesus endured.  We can not fully understand the passion of Christ and the depth of love he has for us until we face the cruel and ugly part of his betrayal, denial, and suffering.    Jesus endured it all out of love for you and for me.   Jesus loves us, this I know.  For the Bible tells us so.   Easter becomes  more meaningful when we can acknowledge the hardship of Jesus.  His suffering makes the miracle that much more powerful.  

“Jesus loves me, this I know. For the Bible tells me so…” The words to this song are not just for children.  They are for all of us.  It’s simple theology.  It’s a statement of truth - an affirmation of faith.  It is what Holy Week is all about.  It’s the reality of a God who loves us so much that he sent his son to die for us.  

Today my pondering is going to be short.  I would like you to sit for just a moment and breathe.  Just breathe.  Go ahead.  Now breathe again.   I want you to think about your spiritual journey.  Who has been an example to you over the years?   Take a moment to recall the names and faces and give God thanks and praise for them.  

As a community of believers, we are stronger together.  We witness to one another and we witness to the world with every breathe we take and every deed we do.  

Our goal should always be to be encouragers, to be LIGHT in a dark world, to be SALT - to give life flavor.  Our calling is to LOVE, to FORGIVE and to SPREAD GOD’s love wherever we go. 

Those names and faces you just thought about - they were encouragers along your journey.  May you and I, may we always be encouragers to others.  May we encourage and love one another but may we also be a bright witness to those who do not yet know God.  

They will know we are Christians by our love.  

Perhaps one day, our face and name will be recalled by someone yet to know the Lord.  Perhaps  our love and encouragement will mean so much to someone that they will thank God for our witness in their lives.  

Caterpillars are an amazing creation.  It is beyond my comprehension that a wiggly, small caterpillar can live its life crawling upon the ground and then one day climb upon something a bit higher, form a chrysalis, and then VOILA - turn into a beautiful butterfly - one that can flit and fly away.  

This past Sunday, I introduced some of my caterpillar friends to you.  For over thirty years, I have raised caterpillars during Lent.  I first did this when I was the Associate Pastor at Aldersgate UMC in Chesapeake, Virginia.  My Senior Pastor and colleague, Bob Cofield, raised them and taught me how to tend to them.  Every church I have served since has enjoyed a butterfly release on Easter Sunday.  

Caterpillars are a wonderful way for us to remember the change that happens within us when we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior.  We become a new creation!    The metamorphoses of a caterpillar remind us of Jesus’ journey.  When the caterpillar spins its chrysalis and snuggles in, it may seem as if it's dead, or that nothing is happening; however, the magic is just beginning.  Like Jesus in the tomb, who is assumed dead, the mystery of the resurrection is at the world’s fingertips.  

The butterfly emerges as a completely different creature.  Jesus comes out of the tomb, proving that death does not win.  And when we say, “Yes” to Jesus, we too, become a new creation.  

As a family of faith, we named a couple of the caterpillars (soon to be butterflies). During worship, we came up with two to three names for a boy, as well as two or three names for a girl, after which everyone present that day had one vote.    At Bruen Chapel, we gave them the names of Daniel and Mary.  At Cameron, we named them Charlie and Eudora.  All four of these caterpillars, along with about 100 or so other caterpillars, are now being prayed for and are preparing for their debut as butterflies on Easter Sunday.  

As we continue our own journey through Lent, let us be mindful that we are nothing without Christ.  It is because of him that we are a new creation.  It is because of Jesus that we can be free.  It is because of Jesus that we can say goodbye to our sin and live with HOPE.  

But Easter is not yet here, so we must still take time to reflect and repent.  We are still in our “Caterpillar” stage and have not yet even figured out how to spin our chrysalis.  So for now - slither along your merry way and keep moving forward-- and know that the best is yet to come.

As I was cleaning out my files this week, I came across an article entitled “A Modest Lenten Rule” that I would like to share with you. Perhaps you can get a chuckle out of it or maybe even an idea for yourself…

I WILL: 

Not shriek at the children more than once a day.

Stop making a pig of myself.

Refrain from making snotty remarks.

Let that poor driver pull into the line of traffic in front of me. 

Be nice to the checker, cashier, clerk, repairman, attendant, relative, neighbor, wife, husband, mother in law.   

(Circle one, several, or all)

Bless the food I eat. 

Cook that dish which my husband likes and I do not; eat that dish which my wife cooks and which I do not like.

Put down that trashy book and read something worthwhile.

Stay awake all through worship.

Find out what the inside of the church looks like on a weekday.

Get out of the sack every single Sunday morning and go to church; modify my Saturday night routine so that I can get out of the sack on Sunday morning. 

Give our Lord a little credit for the good things happening to me; blame our Lord a little less for the bad things happening to me.

Blame my husband less.  Blame my wife less.  Blame everyone less.

Say, “Thank you” more often.  Say, “Please” more often. 

Talk less.  Say more. 

Smile some.  Try smiling even when I do not feel like it.,  

Write letters.   Send cards.   

Clean up the house.  Quit cleaning up the house.  

Ask our Lord Jesus Christ to help me to do all these things. 

(taken from St James Tower, St James Church, Wichita  The Anglican Digest (used by permission)

From “Worth Repeating Editor Clip sheets March 1995)

Take a few moments to sit still and ponder anew what Jesus has done for you - after all, that is the purpose of Lent - it is a season to reflect and repent, to be still and know that God is God, and to be grateful that you are a part of the family of God.  (God’s always got your back!)

I am always amazed at how entertaining children can be. I love to simply sit and watch Charlie. 

Everything he does fascinates him.  At 14 1/2 months, he notices EVERYTHING!  We could be walking down the hall at Greenspring Retirement Village, and suddenly, he will stop.  As he bends over and touches the floor, I see that he has spotted a rivet in the floor or a change of texture.  And “PLOP,” he sits down and wants to run his tiny fingers around the metal, touching and inspecting and touching some more.   Then he looks up wide-eyed with glee, expecting me to be as mesmerized as he is.   Charlie finds joy in it all.    

I wonder if that is how God feels about us when he watches us?  Entirely filled with joy and marveling at our every move.  His love for us is so deep and so big that we can’t even imagine it.

Of course, what we see and do is not all new to us.  Not like a child.  They are simply seeing things for the very first time. Trying out new things - so that life for them is a huge adventure.  

When they do something that causes us to tell them, “No,” or if they are in danger and we holler, “STOP,” they don’t always understand what we are trying to convey.  But they do know that something isn’t exactly right.    They don’t yet understand right from wrong or safe from danger.  They just do and learn as they go.

I do think God marvels at us.  Psalm 8 reminds us that David believed that as well.  We read those beautiful words,

“…When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind

that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?

You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them

with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands;

you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals

of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths

of the seas. Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”

I also believe God cries or laments our actions, words, or attitude.  You see the difference between us, and Charlie is that we do know better.  We know what is expected of us.  And God has set a high bar for us. We are to love God and love our neighbors.  Love is kind and patient.  Love is not envious or rude; it is not boastful…and so the scripture goes.   I wonder why we tend to mess up so much.   Yes, to err is human and to forgive is divine. But seriously!   Thank goodness our God is one of love, forgiveness, and second chances.  

As I marvel at the newness of life that Charlie experiences, I must remind myself that all that I do is also being seen by God.  I may not be experiencing everything anew, but I am walking into the moment fresh.  And yes, I mess up too!   I hear God (not audibly) tell me, “NO!” or sometimes he whispers, “DANGER,” and I stop and reconsider my next move.  I am sure you do the same.  Perhaps it is a conscious thought, or maybe it’s just unconscious; regardless, I believe the Holy Spirit guides us through life.   Correcting us, yes, but also loving us and encouraging us.  Marveling at all the beautiful deeds we do, the wonderful encouragement we give, and the willingness we possess to forgive our neighbors.  

I know God loves us far more than I love my grandson, Charlie.  But honestly, that is incredibly hard for me to believe.   God’s love must be incredibly HUGE!   God’s love must be TOTALLY unconditional.  God’s love is AMAZING.  Grace is so undeserved but so freely given to us.  

This Lent, repent of your wrong doings, but remember that YOU are DEEPLY and RADICALLY loved.  Live your life as freely as a child, remembering that each moment is new and will never be given to you again.  

The B- I -B -L -E. That’s the book for me. I stand alone on the word of God. The B- I -B -L -E.  The Bible!  

Did you know that the Bible is recognized as the most read and best selling book of all time? According to Wikipedia, there has been an estimated 5 - 6 billion copies sold and distributed worldwide.   As of August 2025, the full Protestant Bible has been translated into 776 languages, while the New Testament is available in 1,798 languages, with additional portions in 1,433 others.  In total, at least part of the Bible exists in over 4,000 languages.  WOW!   The Bible is the most translated book in history. 

As Christians, the Bible is our playbook, so to speak.  The Bible is what helps us stay close to God, brings us into a deeper relationship with Jesus and keeps us form veering off the path of God.  But it doesn’t do any of that if we do not open it and read it and use it.  

I remember how excited I was to receive my first Bible from Cameron UMC.  I was in the third grade.  I still remember standing up front thinking that I had just received the best gift ever.   Now, this was long before I knew that I would be a pastor when I grew up, long before I knew God would speak through his Word to enlighten my life.   Truth be told, the Bible was used for many years, but then somehow the excitement and glamour that it once held faded.   I am ashamed to say that the Bible was probably on my shelf, or laying on the bedside table far too long before it was opened.   

As I got older, I would pick it up and read it.  I would go through spurts of reading it faithfully, and then …well … there is no excuse really - life just happened.   As a youth and a young adult, I learned that the truths in the Bible held me steadfast.  I saw that the Word needed to be written on my heart, not just randomly read.  I was blessed to have many Christian friends that modeled that for me.  

In high school, I began to thirst for the word.  I attended Wednesday night RAP sessions at Groveton Baptist Church with two of my best friends, Betty and Barbie Renzi.  There I realized that the Bible was more than a tool, it was a lifeline.  The more I learned, the more I wanted to know.  

The Bible began to be a book I not only used, but enjoyed.  Opening up the Bible became natural to me.  Being in the Word was still not always a daily thing, but I was beginning to realize I received strength from the Bible.

I wanted to be more involved in Bible study, in youth group, and I wanted to attend all the youth retreats I heard about.   God was speaking to me in a powerful way.  In fact, it was at a Fall Retreat at Blackstone my Junior year in high school that I committed my life to Christ.   (Still not having any idea that I would be a pastor). 

God moved in my life, and as you know, I became a United Methodist Pastor.  Now, I have to admit, the Bible is not always front and center in my house…not because it is not important, but because the WORD is a part of me now.  I have learned that the words of Jesus, the stories of God and the beautiful assurance that the Bible gives is engrained within me.  It’s part of who I am.    I want that for you too.    Maybe it is that way for you already.  But if not, that’s ok.  No judgement here!   The Bible is a big book and it can be overwhelming.   We all learn everyday.  I have learned that even as a pastor, I do not know everything there is to know.  I still realize the more I know, the more I need to know.  

One thing I want for you, for all of you, is to possess that quiet assurance that I have that God is with you.  Never be afraid to admit what you don’t know.  Be willing to talk about the stories in the Bible, ask questions, wrestle with the issues that are within you.  Read and ask questions.  There are really never any dumb questions!   Remember that Sunday School and Bible Study are not just for children - they are for all of us.  That’s how we will grow- you, me, each one of us.  

I hope and pray that you are willing to take on the task of getting to know your Bible.   Go ahead, take a risk, open that book, read and ask questions.  If you ask a question and I don’t know the answer, we can learn together.  I am ready, are you?

-Rev. Dawn-Marie. :)

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of Lent.  Lent is a season of preparation for the Holy day of Easter.  But what does it mean to prepare for Easter?  It’s not about finding new Easter attire or buying an Easter basket filled with Cadbury eggs and marshmallow peeps.  It’s not about an Easter dinner menu.  Preparing during Lent is about preparing your heart.   During our Ash Wednesday service we read Psalm 51 - a psalm where David calls on God to have mercy on him.  He praises God for his unfailing love and great compassion even when he has sinned.  He asks God for forgiveness, and asks that he be washed clean.  Not just washed clean - but whiter than snow.  And then we hear the beautiful request from David, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.”   

This request is nothing short of raw emotion.  David understands he is not perfect and that he has done wrong.   Yet, in his faith and knowledge of his God, he also knows the love and forgiveness possible.  

When was the last time you admitted that you have made mistakes?  Ouch!  No one likes to admit they are wrong, but we all fall short of God’s glory.  All have sinned and unfortunately, we continue to sin -whether we want to believe it or not.  During Lent we take the time to reflect and repent - in other words, we must be honest with who we are and then turn back to God.  This is how we prepare for Holy Week and Easter.  

We can not celebrate the resurrection of our Savior without coming face to face with our own faults and our own sins that placed Jesus on the cross.  Jesus died for the sins of the world.   Think about the weight of that!   How terrible that must have been.  I wonder did he see my face and my faults in those last hours?  On Ash Wednesday we are reminded of our own mortality.  We are smudged with ash as we hear the words, “You are dust and to dust you will return!”   A reality that we often don’t want to think about.   But alas, that is exactly what the season of Lent is all about.  A time to reflect on our own lives and how we live them.  A time to prepare our hearts and let the sinfulness go.  A time to ask God to put a new and right spirit within us.  

As you embark on your spiritual journey this Lent, may you truly take time to reflect and repent.  May you empty yourselves of all things worldly so that you will have room to fill your heart with Jesus's love and goodness. May you prepare yourselves to encounter Jesus afresh and may you be open to receiving a clean and contrite heart.  

-Rev. Dawn-Marie. :)

As I watched Charlie play this afternoon, I was amused at the joy he was having accomplishing a new task.  Putting a star in the star shaped slot, hammering the pegs in a pretend board, carrying and then handing me a mini basketball…He was so excited as he went from toy to toy.

He bent down to slide shapes on the floor and moved forward as if ice skating with his hands.  He was filled with wide eyed glee because he was “meeting” his toys again after a short time away.  You see …the toys had been in a basket in the living room and today I chose to get them out and organize them.  Organizing them was done for my own sanity as they were spilling over the toy basket and moving to the main floor.  As I pulled them all out, he was delighted to see old favorites as well as some pieces we thought had been lost.  

Charlie went back and forth from fun toys to educational ones.  He sat mesmerized as he placed wooden pegs on a beam that would hold them up until he pulled a lever that would cause them to fall down into the bottom.   Then he stood, walked over, handed me a yellow peg and smiled up at me.   His eyes danced with delight as he beckoned me to come play.  

I willingly took the peg and began to interact with him.   In an instant I realized that Charlie was using play to learn.  His mind was completely engaged.    It made me wonder what happens to that joy of learning as we grow up.  How do we engage our intellect as we move through our daily life?  

I have been told that you learn something new every day.  I think that is true.  Sometimes it is an intentional learning, other times not so much.  As we approach the season of Lent in a couple of weeks, we will be engaging in something new.  One of the best ways for Christians to learn is by being in the Word.  

Starting the first week of Lent, we will be adding a section in our weekly worship for “Bible Time”. This will be a time to learn something new, to do Bible drills (with a little competition)  and to work on memorizing  Bible verses.  I encourage you to BYOB (Bring your own Bible) during worship.  Bring a highlighter and a notebook. Most of all be willing to engage in play as we learn more about God and His word.  

I promise if you come with the right attitude, you will be like Charlie - completely filled with joy and ready to engage others in what you do.  And your joy will overflow to others.

              -Rev. Dawn-Marie. :)