This walk in which we find ourselves as Christians is not an easy one, nor was it meant to be. We are told to take up our cross to follow Jesus. We are not told to take up this light and easy vacation, but rather a cross.

A certain man was troubled with dizzy spells, redness in his face and bulging eyes. Every day when he went to his office, he experienced these things. Weekends were not so bad, so he concluded his work was causing his physical discomfort.

It all began with a campfire conversation in California nearly a decade ago. I was part of a retreat with the leadership of Philadelphia’s since-closed Cookman United Methodist Church in… Read more

“Enjoy life with your dearly loved spouse all the days of your pointless life that God gives you under the sun – all the days of your pointless life! – because that’s your part to play in this life and in your hard work under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 9:9 CEB

“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not harm, to give you a future with hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11… Read more

By Rev. David W. Brown, Deacon For months now, many of us throughout the state have been watching legislators in Harrisburg as they posture back and forth while negotiating a… Read more

By Barbara A. Stein, Lay Leader, Salem UMC, Orwigsburg, PA October is Pastor Appreciation Month. Pastors should be appreciated all the time, not just for one month. Pray for your… Read more

When I was in seminary, I was one of those part-time students whose day job was spent writing jingles and ad campaigns in one of Philly’s ad agencies. I remember… Read more

Download this sermon as a PDF to print and share “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the… Read more

By the Rev. Joy Bagwell Pastor of Salem UMC Allentown and a member of the Eastern PA Conference Urban Commission My recent experience has been that when we talk and… Read more