From Our Pastor / April 2026

Pastor Danny’s message

He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.

Matthew 28:6

HE IS RISEN! ALLELUIA!! THE TOMB IS EMPTY!

Jesus did warn the disciples he would not be staying. I can remember two events that made a difference in my life… my brother moving almost four hours away to Pennsylvania and more recently my best friend moving to Florida!

It was an adjustment to say the least! I went from visiting my brother and his family almost every weekend to seeing them about once a month! I went from seeing my best friend almost every day to only visiting with her about three times since July! But, there is one conclusion I have come to in the transition… our relationship is still as strong as it was before– it just has some changes! We are not comfortable with change and I am sure as the Marys went to visit the grave though they had faith– they were not expecting the sudden change either! The disciples I am sure for as much as Jesus talked about not making his home on Earth— the disciples would still Jesus again. Mary got to see Jesus bright and glowing! The tomb is empty! 

We live in a world that demands change— whether we look at this from a moral view or our own personal lives– or I dare say our place in politics! We embrace change in every four years we take on newly elected officials. Some of us embrace change in moving to a new apartment or home. We embrace change at times in our employment! 

Jesus chooses after this Easter to return to his disciples– through locked doors no less! “The resurrection story, especially as it is recounted in Matthew’s gospel, makes it clear that resurrection and new life are God’s work.” Jesus makes a promise that He will come again! Jesus makes a promise that the story is not over! Jesus makes a promise that in the transition He will still find His way to meet us where we are! 

My conversations with best friend still happen almost daily via phone or facetime! My conversations with my brother and his family have never been deeper! Jesus meets us in the transitions. Jesus meets us when fear overtakes us! I never forget what it felt to hear the news of my family or my best friend, but I also realize how special these relationships are! When we care about someone enough we become intentional about meeting them where they are! Embrace the risen and transformed Christ! AMEN.

-Pastor Danny 

From Our Pastor / March 2026

Pastor Danny’s message

8 A very large crowd[b] spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!’

10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, ‘Who is this?’ 11 The crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.’

Matthew 21:8-10

We just came from a month of celebrating as many as three birthdays in our church! The preparations included balloons, cake, food, candles, the works! Similarly Jesus enters Jerusalem and people are overjoyed! It is always puzzling and urgent that Palm Sunday comes and is celebrated in the same week of Holy Thursday and Good Friday! All these crowds who chose Jesus as Messiah will eventually turn on Him!

We are on a journey where we have been asked to not believe anything is too late. It is not too late to get on that diet! It is not too late to hear God’s voice! It is not too late for forgiveness. This past Thursday we shared about Peter’s denial moment (which brings us to the Good Friday story). 

Jesus knows the crowd will turn on him and yet still chooses to enter Jerusalem! He enters for those like Peter who will deny Him. He enters for the betrayers like the soldiers who Peter cut the ear of; the betrayal of Judas who in his celebration turns and kisses the cheek- an intimate experience and yet met with such betrayal! We have spent our weeks (about two now) focused on the sacrifice so we can be closer with Jesus; focused on the nail that places Him on the cross. 

But, there is victory! 

Jesus chooses to enter the locked doors! Jesus chooses to enter Jerusalem for YOU and for me! Jesus chooses to overlook the betrayers so that He can welcome us into heaven! As we get closer to Palm Sunday- don’t forget all that we really are celebrating! We are celebrating that Jesus chose US! He looked beyond our flaws- and saw beautiful souls in spite of their flaws! HE gives so that WE may be free! He walks into Jerusalem and rightfully so he has every reason to be welcomed with palm branches! Let us remember - he doesn’t choose the gold stallion to enter in! He chooses a humble servant, a colt to enter into our space and remind us of HIS power and love for US! Continue to be in this season of grace and mercy! 

-Pastor Danny

From Our Pastor / July 2025

Pastor Danny’s message

1 Corinthians 12 shares,  Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

I invited us to explore the power of prayer, community, and grace in these last weeks. Now I want us to shift a bit- what gifts do you bring to the table? For the Scripture shares we all have one (or maybe more) and the Spirit blesses us with them. As we consider our future as the church- we will spend some personal time identifying our own! 

I want us to focus on three words in the month ahead: PRAYER, POWER,           and PURPOSE. 

What do each of these words mean to you as we think about our gifts? One thing that was shared with me recently is I have a gift for teaching and organization. I like to believe those do help me as I consider the church and even my classroom. The purpose? I like to help others and find connections. And we can consider gifts powerful, but I hope we realize that all good things come from the power of prayer and the power of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirt!  So again, I ask you this day- what POWERS do you have? Let us not think it was all self-made. We know the real power and it is complemented by prayer and knowing our purpose: We are called love one another. We are called to make disciples. How can we do this together as the church?         -In Him, Pastor Danny

From Our Pastor / June 2025

Pastor Danny’s message

John 2: "2 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” 4 “Woman,[a] why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.” 11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him."

This is a month of celebration. Graduations, pastors moving to new congregations, victories made in the last year of ministry together! If we read this Scripture- in celebration there is an invitation to do something new! I am thankful for where we have been to where we are now! As we enter 2025- 2026, my fifth year in ministry with you I want us to reflect on a few questions:

1. What are we doing well?

2. What opportunities are available to us? 

3. Where do we want to be in the future?

We are a church who has much to celebrate- always God calls us to continue the legacy of the “shoulders that came before us”. When we think about the shoulders of where we are and where we have been- what does God invite us to do differently in this next year of ministry? 

I call on the congregation June 8th to consider these three questions: What is Jesus asking us to keep? Where does Jesus want us to go? Do we believe in the power of miracles/ the power of the Holy Spirit as we move forward together?  

-Pastor Danny

From Our Pastor / May 2025

Pastor Danny’s message

Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God,” (Matt. 5:9).

We live in a world that consistently reminds us to choose our faith over the things that may distract us. Regardless of our decisions, God continues to remind us to find pathways to peace. Come, live in the light

Shine with the joy and the love of the Lord

We are called to be light for the kingdom

To live in the freedom of the city of God

We are called to act with justice

We are called to love tenderly

We are called to serve one another

To walk humbly with God

Come, open your heart

Show your mercy to all those in fear

We are called to be hope for the hopeless

So all hatred and blindness will be no more

We are called to act with justice

We are called to love tenderly

We are called to serve one another

To walk humbly with God.

There was a moment this week where I questioned my next steps and it was a reminder to stay humble… The change of careers, the change of places can make a huge difference. Remember who we are and where we come from and continue to walk humbly with our Lord Almighty!

-Pastor Danny

From Our Pastor / April 2025

Pastor Danny’s message

John 11:25-26: "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?'"

The question for all of us - Do we believe this? Do we believe in the power of the resurrection? Do we believe in the power of the Son who goes to the cross? Do we believe in the Father who loves us so much and CHOOSES to send each one of us out? That is the call! That is the goal as we enter our Easter season.  So Jesus did it all, or did He? Yes, he paid the price. Yes, he washed away our sins in his mighty acts, but he also worked alongside the disciples!

Resurrection can also mean, “the revitalization or revival of something.”

I think at the moment with have United Methodist Men, Raise the Roof, Prayer Ministry or Dinner Church we are continuing to move. As spring/ summer approaches these vital ministries will continue. As the weather gets warmer what can we do better? Now that we are not so focused on building repairs, what can be revived? And with others? We have our May BBQ where we could be present for many communities… What can we offer? Who can we be? I invite you to be your authentic self. Maybe this summer we offer free games as people get to know our church. Maybe offer a BBQ in the upper parking lot! I am in my fifth year in ministry and I truly believe it is time as a church we focus ourselves in outreach! While I know we have our connection to Salvation Army I want us to keep paying attention. Resurrection occurs when we see new possibilities for vision. As the church, do we still do that today? I invite us as we celebrate the resurrection to give God the praise for all He has done and continue to stay focused on His voice and new possibilities as present disciples of Christ!  

-Pastor Danny