Posts with the category “newsletter”

Prayer as a vital lifeline connecting us to the grace of God and fueling our commitment to action in the world around us. It is through prayer that we open ourselves to the transformative power of the Holy Spirit, allowing God’s love to shape our hearts and guide our actions in the world!This call to prayer is an invitation to deepen our relationship with God. It is a recognition of our dependence...  Read More

Lent has been a time of reflection, and recently, I've been thinking about justice and basic human rights. As United Methodists, these aren't just abstract ideas – they are rooted in our faith and clearly articulated in our Social Principles, recently updated at General Conference (read them here).Our Social Principles affirm that all individuals are entitled to basic human rights and freedoms, a ...  Read More

We always have much to pray for—our families, friends, church, community, nation, and world.Each week, I share a short prayer as a notification in the app, and I plan to do so more regularly. If you haven’t signed up yet, it’s easy—just open the app, go to your profile (top right corner), scroll to Notifications (under App Settings), and toggle on General.Scripture reminds us of the importance of ...  Read More

As you may know, I’ve been choosing a One Word for the year for a number of years. As I’ve said, sometimes the words choose me, and sometimes I have to really search, as I did this year. But, finally, the word Abandon chose me!Abandon isn’t about giving up hope; it’s about complete and willing surrender—a wholehearted “going all in” with God. It’s relinquishing control, trusting God’s perfect plan...  Read More

How you do discern God’s will for your life? Is that something you aim for, or do you just hope for the best? The New Year is a good time to think about God’s will and the spiritual gift of discernment. And the idea is certainly pertinent in my life right now as we are making decisions about where our son, Ethan, will go to college.Well, I’ve always loved the language of “figuring out God’s will.”...  Read More

Join millions in the global generosity movement that has developed in recent years — it follows Black Friday & Cyber Monday. Giving Tuesday gives us the opportunity to do good with our finances, and we invite you to make Wehnwood UMC part of your Giving Tuesday …Make a Difference This Giving Tuesday!This Giving Tuesday, join us in living out our mission to invite, serve, and grow in Christ. Your g...  Read More

Type your new text here. So, as I write, there are 8 days until the election. And you will likely read this before the election. So, none of us know for sure how it will turn out.Like anyone else who cares about the future of the nation and the world, I have a deep interest and concern for this election. And I take seriously the privilege of playing a role in our democracy by voting. Now, as follo...  Read More

Journaling can be a helpful practice, offering a simple yet profound way to reflect on life’s journey. Here are 5 things that I’ve found helpful …Self-awarenessJournaling helps you process your thoughts and experiences, leading to greater self-awareness. By writing regularly, you can gain deeper insights into your own heart, mind, and emotions.Spiritual growthWriting down your prayers, reflections...  Read More

Life gets busy, and often, we approach reading the Bible as just another task to check off our list. We skim through chapters, gathering information but missing something deeper. What if we approached Scripture differently?M. Robert Mulholland, in his work on spiritual formation, challenges us to see the Bible not just as a book of facts but as a tool for transformation. He encourages us to allow ...  Read More

Life is certainly not easy. We need a guide, a compass, a way to live.I remember one time while reading through the Psalms a number of years ago when a verse from Psalm 86 (verse 11) jumped out at me … This has become my prayer. I hope it will become your prayer, as well. We are disciples — people who strive to be like our teacher!“Teach me your way, Lord.”Few qualities are more important for a di...  Read More

The postponed 2020 General Conference finally took place this year. As I wrote beforehand, “I am choosing to trust the process.” That is still the case, and I am still trusting God to continue to lead and to bless the United Methodist Church!As I also said, “There will always be struggles” as well as “a variety of theological positions on a host of social issues.” And that’s okay.Following General...  Read More

Ordained United Methodist clergy are encouraged to take renewal leaves of at least one month every 4 years. The SPRC and the Bishops and Cabinet have approved a renewal leave for me for June 7 through July 9.What is a renewal leave?A renewal leave (mini-sabbatical) is not a vacation; it is a scheduled time for personal renewal, leadership development, and spiritual growth.What will Pastor Randy do...  Read More

The long-awaited General Conference of the UMC is set to take place April 23 to May 3, 2024 in Charlotte, NC.Here are some of my thoughts & prayers …I am choosing to trust the process. As United Methodists, General Conference is an important part of our church — it’s the highest legislative body of the UMC. Each delegate has been elected by their conference — 862 delegates — 482 from the U.S.; 278...  Read More

I’m writing this in the wake of my last sermon — “For Sake of the Gospel” (2/25).The sermon text began with Peter rebuking Jesus, whom he had just proclaimed as Messiah. Jesus responded: “Get behind me, Satan. You are not thinking God’s thoughts but human thoughts.”We naturally think human thoughts because we’re, well, human. But, as followers of Jesus, we must also stay in tune with God — to thin...  Read More

As we prepare for the beginning of the Lenten season, it’s good to be reminded of the need to … Slow. Down.I will always remember, in the early days of my ministry coming across an article by Pastor John Ortberg — “Ruthlessly Eliminate Hurry.”Ortberg received this sage advice from a spiritual mentor who challenged him, “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.”That phrase has stuck with...  Read More

It’s that time again — time to choose a new One Word for a new year!This practice has been meaningful for me. I started in 2013. I will choose my 12th word in 2024. Some of my favorites have been Energize, Persevere, Trust, and Climb. Sometimes, I find my word quickly; other times, it is a struggle. But it’s always worth it!How to Choose your One Word …Write down a list of the words that come to y...  Read More

Last month, I shared some best practices for personal finances. I also shared them in a recent sermon (10/22). I certainly hope  those things are helpful to everyone!In light of the letter from the Ad Board this month (October), focusing on church finances, I want to encourage you to please read the letter from the Ad Board that was thoughtfully/prayerfully prepared for you. You can read the lette...  Read More

Here are some of my (and my wife’s) best practices when it comes to finances. Our goal isn’t to be wealthy, but to be good stewards of what God entrusts to us!1. Honor God with tithes & offerings!Tithing wasn’t a new practice when we got married, but we developed a new system for the way we’d do it. We started out with a percentage (10%) for the tithe (“tenth”), and an extra percentage for “offeri...  Read More

A number of years ago, I started keeping a list of what I call "core prayers" — prayers that are important to me in my discipleship journey and I believe they are helpful in the life of the church!Of course, there are some core prayers in the Bible, including the Lord's Prayer …Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Giv...  Read More

Parents and families will soon be thinking about going back to school, if they're not already. As I write this, there are less than 30 days until the first day of school.But "back to school" is not just for parents and families. It's also a good time to be reminded that, as followers of Jesus, we are all disciples — students, learners, apprentices. This is a school from which we never graduate in ...  Read More

As I shared last month, the month of June was a busy, mission-focused time in the life of our church!Each Sunday evening, we participated in Saturate Altoona for the 3rd year in a row. It was a simple thing for us to do—give away free freeze pops—but we trust that God used our gifts as a practical way to show people God's love!We also had a wonderful Relay for Life—another opportunity to be a witn...  Read More

Some things to be excited about as we head into Holy Week, Easter, and the summer!  Read More

We are happy to announce the new Wehnwood App and other digital services using the Subsplash platform!  Read More

Reflections on a recent sermon, particularly on the words from 1 Corinthians 1.10 … "live in harmony with each other."  Read More