Star Words, a new tradition at Lenape Valley… just a few years in the making. What a wonderful way to celebrate the Epiphany, when wisemen from afar followed a star to find the King of kings. For the last four years, we have been offered the opportunity to choose a Star emblazoned with a word to challenge and guide us through the year. Many of us have discovered that this “random” selection has a ...  Read More

Happy Epiphany! In just 2 days, Christians will celebrate the coming of the Magi to visit the child Jesus (Matthew 2:1-12). Those wisemen brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Much can be made of the significance of the gifts- they celebrate Jesus as king and priest, and one born to die. We can learn from the dedication of these Magi who searched until they found Jesus. We can join them ...  Read More

A few weeks ago, I was given a plant. That is always a dangerous thing to do since I am my mother’s total disappointment. While my mother could make anything grow, I can kill even the most resilient plant. But the card with the plant promised that it needs “NO care.” So now I wait… with the plant unattended in my living room window. It is an Amaryllis “in a wax ball”, with directions that say that...  Read More

JOY- a simple word… just three letters… yet those three letters express a deep yearning of our hearts. At Christmas we often sing “Rejoice”- which means to Joy again and again and again… But with all that is going on in the world, sometimes Joy is hard to find! Until we stop long enough to celebrate God’s goodness in our midst. Since Joy has three letters, today I will celebrate in threes… three p...  Read More

On Wednesday, November 24, 2021, many of us breathed a collective sign of relief as we heard the verdict in the Ahmaud Arbery case. GUILTY. That one word declared justice for a young black man and his family. This sad tale began on February 23, 2020 when Ahmad Arbery went jogging, as many of us do…as I do five days a week. He ran through a neighborhood not his own… as I do every morning. I never f...  Read More

I hope this letter finds you in Thanksgiving after-glow. After a painfully quiet Thanksgiving 2020, many of us were able to gather with family and friends this year. The Bell house was blessed with wonderful chaos- our whole family gathered around one table! But then, did you notice? Even before we digested the feast, Christmas is upon us… decorations in the stores, Christmas music on our favorite...  Read More