Category Archives: In A Nutshell

Let Us Break Bread at a Table Where All Are Welcome  Communion is a holy and sacred sacrament in our church and in thousands of other churches across the country and around the world, but it is not without controversy.  As members of the United Methodist Church, we believe that all are to be welcomedContinue reading “In A Nutshell | September 30, 2022”

Words That Will Never Pass Away  The slow and agonizing decline of our community newspaper is a sad story indeed. The Daily Record has faithfully appeared on our doorstep, first in the afternoons and then in the mornings, for more than a century, but the publication now appears to be on the critical list. TheContinue reading “In A Nutshell | September 23, 2022”

Discover the Sanctity of the Great Outdoors This Sunday    Your pastor went to great (and perhaps dangerous) lengths to illustrate ways in which we can (and cannot) grow closer to God by climbing the scaffolding in the sanctuary two weeks ago. What we learned (and really already knew) was that physical elevation has no impactContinue reading “In A Nutshell | September 16, 2022”

All’s ‘Fair’ in Wayne County This Week I had never been to a county fair before I moved to Wooster nearly 40 years ago. Since that time, I have observed the far-reaching impact of this all-consuming event, from animal auctions to school projects to marching bands to some of the best palate-pleasing delicacies around. DuringContinue reading “In A Nutshell | September 9, 2022”

An Invitation to Visitation One of the most important, but often underserved, responsibilities of those in ministry is visitation, particularly to people who are hospitalized, housebound, or in long-term care facilities.  Even though I sometimes put visitation off and fill the time with some other activity or obligation, when I finally get around to visiting,Continue reading “In A Nutshell | September 2, 2022”

Timing is Everything in God’s Universe   Timing is everything — in both heaven and on earth. We have no control over God’s timing, but we do try to manage our time in this life as best we can, even though that can be a major challenge.  For example, police officers, firefighters, and paramedics must respondContinue reading “In A Nutshell | August 19, 2022”

Neutralizing Bullying Behavior This world has far too many bullies, and most of us have come face-to-face with at least one of them in our lifetime. My most memorable (and most unpleasant) encounter came on the playground of St. Bartholomew Elementary School in suburban Pittsburgh when I was in sixth grade, circa 1968. Our residentContinue reading “In A Nutshell | August 5, 2022”

Our church has been hit rather hard this month with the passing of two longtime and respected members of our congregation. Christy Rickard, was the chair of our Membership Care committee, and she really embraced that role, reaching out to those in need and making everyone who entered our doors feel welcome.  Arden Boyer wasContinue reading “In A Nutshell | July 29, 2022”

Let Us Be Cautious About the ‘Junk’ We Consume You may think that you have heard it all, but chances are you have not heard this: Our country now has a day set aside to recognize the not-so-healthy snacks we consume. It’s called “National Junk Food Day,” and it has been designated as such byContinue reading “In A Nutshell | July 22, 2022”

In Pursuit of Spiritual Wealth  Can you believe how much money professional athletes are demanding from their respective teams these days? Neither can I! One has to wonder when this insane escalation of salaries will come to an end. Well, the answer might be “never,” or at least “not anytime soon.” This same discussion hasContinue reading “In A Nutshell | July 15, 2022”