Do Not Be Afraid

Jesus tells us this about our fear in Luke 12 (NIV): 

Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

Meeting at the Well

Sermon for Sunday, March 15, 2020, based on John 4:7-14, the most complex story in the book of John, in which Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well. Life application connections made to the current coronavirus pandemic facing us all. This was an experiment (as so many pastors were making that Sunday) using Facebook Live for the first time. The recording you see here was made in parallel with that recording. That's why the angle and you see me looking between my computer screen (with camera and microphone) and my iPad with my sermon notes.

Walking Prayer at the John Heinz Wildlife Refuge on May 26, 2019

Red-wing blackbird poses
for two photographers

We had a beautiful walk in the John Heinz Wildlife Refuge after church. Red-winged blackbirds were present in abundance, along with swallows (both barn and tree) putting on aerial aerobatics chasing bugs. A lot of aquatic birds were not present or were drowsing in among the water plants when we were there in the afternoon heat.

We shared the natural beauty of the reserve with a great many fisherfolk, who were called in for one month to fish in both the creek and the wetlands area (where fishing is not usually allowed). The reason for this was an uptick of the invasive snakehead fish. 

Praying for Others ... Even Enemies ... Even Spiders

Not Rev. Sparks

Reverend Susan Sparks has a wonderful reflection on how to pray for others, even for our enemies. She unfolds her thoughts on praying for others with a story of an encounter with one of God's creatures that she fears the most, a spider ... or an "avocado with legs" as she describes it.

Follow this like to her article in The Christian Citizen, an American Baptist publication: https://christiancitizen.us/pray-for-the-spiders/

Oh yeah, and make sure you read to the very end. Trust me.

Standing With All Who Suffer

The congregation of Lansdowne Baptist Church stands with and prays for all who struggle today with disasters, natural and human-made. We pray that God will bless and keep you, that you will see the hand of God in action in all who seek to serve and rescue you from whatever has befallen you. We stand by you and grieve with you. We will do our best to offer help as prayer completed is prayer in action.

Peace be with you all. 

Walking Prayer at the John Heinz Wildlife Refuge

On Sunday, September 16, 2018, at 2 p.m., members and friends of Lansdowne Baptist Church went on a walking prayer at the John Heinz Wildlife Refuge in Philadelphia. It was wonderful to get out on a startlingly beautiful day and be quiet in God's creation. As usual, once we became still, all the wildlife around became apparent to us. It is amazing what we overlook in our hurried lives.

Our next walking prayer will be on Sunday, October 14, 2018. We meet in the church parking lot at 1:30 p.m. and travel over together. It takes roughly fifteen minutes to get to our beautiful destination. All who wish to encounter God through the natural world are welcome to join us. 

Spring Arrives in Lansdowne

We are celebrating the warming days, the beautiful flowers, the budding and flowering trees, the awakening grass ... 

It reminds us of the Song of Solomon 2:11-12: 

For now the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. 

Well, since this is a different climate, we'll say hopefully the snow is over and gone. Rain: that's another matter here in southeastern Pennsylvania.

Of course, we are right across the street from the Dollar Tree, so some unusual items sometimes end up in our yard. We don't mind nifty ones like these whirligigs. Whimsy and surprise are welcome. And if some child wants them, and it will brighten that child's day, by all means take those little whirligigs! 

Wishing you all a blessed day.  

Dominion

Sermon for Earth Day 2018 based on Genesis 1:27-31. An exploration is made into what it means for humanity to have been given dominion in creation. Explore our place in creation while listening and discover what microclimates we may care for in daily life.

Below is the first Earth Rise as seen by Apollo 8 while orbiting the moon, courtesy of NASA.


Moon crosses the face of the Earth, courtesy of NASA/NOAA

Easter Bouquets and Earth Day

While looking at the beautiful flowers adorning the sanctuary for Easter, it was easy to remember who created everything and gifted us as stewards of that loving creativity. May you find this Earth Day and every day an opportunity to help the rest of God's creation flourish. Plant trees and flowers, pick up trash, recycle all you can, walk lightly on the face of the earth. God gave us the minds and talents to do just that.

Further, take some time to get out and admire the natural world up close. Marvel in all that God has done. Also, remember that God deems all of creation, including all of us, to be very good indeed.

Join us Sunday, April 22, 2018, for our Earth Day reflection during the Sunday service. You will be most welcome.