April 15, 2023- The bells of Old South Church echoed across Copley Square in Boston at 2:49pm- the same time two bombs exploded at the Boston Marathon finish line 10-years ago. The blast of those bombs injured hundreds of participants and spectators and killed Martin Richard, 8; Lingzi Lu, 23; and Krystle Campbell, 29. Two police officers- Sean Collier, 27 and Dennis Simmonds, 28- also lost their ...  Read More

A blank page…For a preacher, a blank page is either an opportunity or a nightmare. I come to the blank page each week after time in prayer and hours of study, ready for God to shape a message that will teach and inspire, challenge and comfort. When I come to Holy Week, I know that there will be five blank pages… five messages that will need to be written (Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday,...  Read More

What words can capture the drama… the tragedy… the hope… and the miracle of this week? Every year I struggle to put words to the unimaginable… the brutal injustice of this world and God’s grace-filled response. Today, my words fall short, so I want to share the words of those who speak more eloquently than I. I hope these words help to prepare you for the journey ahead. Holy is the week… Holy, co...  Read More

Another tornado… a monster storm… EF-4 in strength... three-quarters of a mile wide, traveling 59 miles, devastating everything in its path. Houses and buildings of Rolling Fork, Mississippi were flattened. The tornado that touched down for over an hour, drew debris 30,000 feet up in the air and then flung it back to earth with devastating force. A tractor trailer crushed a small church in the cen...  Read More

Today, as I write this letter, Greg is at his doctor’s office… another 3-month check to be sure that the cancer is not back.  Each check makes us hold our breath.  Each completed check allows us to breathe again.  Some people survive this cancer for years, but we know that these early months are when the cancer is most likely to rear its ugly head again. Thus, another trip to Philly, braving the t...  Read More

Three years ago today… on March 14, 2020… the world closed its doors. At noon, the Elders of Lenape Valley Church voted to ‘cancel’ in-person Sunday worship for the next day. The office, the preschool, the weekday ministries- all of Lenape Valley Church closed. It was the only decision that we could make to protect the welfare of our people, but it felt counter intuitive. When the people of God fa...  Read More