Here is money used in Jesus' day--all coins, as there was no paper money then. Jesus referred to coins in several of his parables, and of course coins were used in his betrayal. As is true in our own age, value was measured in monetary means. How do we measure value, and how can coins remind us this Lent?

Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for March 14, 2021 for further thoughts. We worship at 10 AM this Sunday. You have three options to attend. Place your reservation to attend worship in the Sanctuary (limited seating because of social distancing), or tune in on Facebook Live or connect on Zoom with your phone, computer, tablet, or whatever other device works for online connecting.

Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce

Many of us have bread at nearly every meal. When we do, how can we be reminded of Jesus, especially in the season of Lent?

Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for March 7, 2021 for further thoughts. We worship at 10 AM this Sunday, and will celebrate Holy Communion. Please be in touch (email pastorbruce@mcknightumc.org or call or text 412-952-4457 if you would like to receive the elements in advance of worship). You have three options to attend. Place your reservation to attend worship in the Sanctuary (limited seating because of social distancing), or tune in on Facebook Live or connect on Zoom with your phone, computer, or tablet, or whatever other device works for online connecting.

Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce

Shoes are pretty essential for those of us living in the Northeast. But what do our shoes remind us of as relates to God's call on our lives?

Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for February 28, 2021 for further thoughts. We worship at 10 AM this Sunday, and you have three options to attend. Place your reservation to attend worship in the Sanctuary (limited seating because of social distancing), or tune in on Facebook Live or connect on Zoom with your phone, computer, or tablet, or whatever other device works for online connecting.

Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce

When we share together in worship this season of Lent, the next ten times we will be considering "Objects that Remind Us" of the journey of Jesus to the cross. We will consider how these common, everyday objects can also remind us of what this season of reflection is about. The objects are dust, cross, shoes, bread, coins, oil, coats, towels, thorns, and--finally, on Easter--stones. Find the objects in and around your own home and meditate on them in this time leading to Easter.

Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for February 17, 2021 for further thoughts for Ash Wednesday/. Our Ash Wednesday worship will be at 7:30 PM this Wednesday, and you have three options to attend. Place your reservation to attend worship in the Sanctuary (limited seating because of social distancing), or tune in on Facebook Live or connect on Zoom with your phone, computer, or tablet, or whatever other device works for online connecting.

Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce

When we look at the world around us, do we remember that it all was created through Christ? Recalling that can affirm for us that Christ is ever with us--and as the song says, holds the whole world in his hands. Including each one of us.

Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for February 14, 2021 for further thoughts. We worship at 10 AM this Sunday, and you have three options to attend. Place your reservation to attend worship in the Sanctuary (limited seating because of social distancing), or tune in on Facebook Live or connect on Zoom with your phone, computer, or tablet, or whatever other device works for online connecting.

Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce

Prayer is always happening. We may plan and follow through on a particular time. We may "pray at all times"--spontaneously speaking to God. We may find it the "Oh my God!" primal scream when something surprising happens. But it is always there, and Christ is with us in it.

Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for February 7, 2021 for further thoughts. We worship at 10 AM this Sunday, and you have three options to attend. Place your reservation to attend worship in the Sanctuary (limited seating because of social distancing), or tune in on Facebook Live or connect on Zoom with your phone, computer, or tablet, or whatever other device works for online connecting.

Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce

We need friends. Sometimes we may find them to be frustrating and disappointing. Sometimes they may find US to be frustrating and disappointing. Sometimes we get it right and we are Christ to one another.

Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for January 31, 2021 for further thoughts. We worship at 10 AM Sunday on Facebook Live and Zoom. Until further notice we will NOT be worshiping in person.

Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce

Sometimes we think about the church as "my church"--and what we want is what it's about. Well, to a certain extent that's true--but there is much more to it than that. .

Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for January 24, 2021 for further thoughts. We worship at 10 AM Sunday on Facebook Live and Zoom. Until further notice we will NOT be worshiping in person.

Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce

Anyone we haven't already met is by definition a stranger, and yet the Scriptures are clear in a number of places that we meet Christ in the stranger. Anyone we help in time of need--even those we haven't met before--means we are helping Jesus--and loving our neighbor.

Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for January 17, 2021 for further thoughts. We worship at 10 AM Sunday on Facebook Live and Zoom. Until further notice we will NOT be worshiping in person.

Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce

Jesus both began and ended his public ministry with events that we in the Church continue to celebrate as Sacraments--moments where symbolism and deep meaning happen, and where we can encounter Christ. We will look at Baptism and Holy Communion, those holy moments, this Sunday.

Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for January 10, 2021 for further thoughts. We worship at 10 AM Sunday on Facebook Live and Zoom. Until further notice we will NOT be worshiping in person.

Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce

The above photo was taken by a high school friend on December 21 in Austin, Texas. It is Jupiter and Saturn appearing to be joining together in "The Great Conjunction". The last time this happened was 1623, according to NASA. If I hadn't heard about it in the news, I wouldn't know that this was such a rare thing.

How much about the star that the Wise Men saw did most people in those days know, if anything?

Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for January 3, 2021 for further thoughts. We worship at 10 AM Sunday January 3 on Facebook Live and Zoom. Until further notice we will NOT be worshiping in person.

Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce

We think we know the Christmas story, and what God was doing, and who Mary the mother of Jesus was as an example for mothers everywhere. However, Mary's own words challenge us on how we usually understand that last point.

Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for December 20, 2020 for further thoughts. We worship at 10 AM this Sunday, and will ONLY be worshiping on Facebook Live and Zoom. Until further notice, we will NOT be worshiping in person.

Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce

Maybe the point of Christmas isn't the big things. Maybe it's the small things, and the seeming insignificance of how that first Christmas even happened.

Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for December 24/27, 2020 for further thoughts. We worship on Christmas Eve at 5 PM (family service) and 7:30 PM, and 10 AM Sunday December 27 with a "Service of Lessons and Carols". We will ONLY be worshiping on Facebook Live and Zoom.until further notice, and will NOT be worshiping in person.

Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce

The last few months have felt like we've been put on hold. At least it felt like that at first. Now it feels like the call has been dropped and we have to start all over again. The fuller story of the first Christmas has some insights for us.

Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for December 13, 2020 for further thoughts. We worship at 10 AM this Sunday, and will ONLY be worshiping on Facebook Live and Zoom. Until further notice, we will NOT be worshiping in person.

Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce

A very different preparation for Christmas is coming up this Advent season. We may not get to do what we usually do. This might be a good time to consider what God has always been desiring us to "get" about preparing for Christmas.

Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for November 29, 2020 for further thoughts.

We worship at 10 AM this Sunday, and will ONLY be worshiping on Facebook Live and Zoom. Until further notice, we will NOT be worshiping in person.

Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce

God is about big things at Christmas. But God's big things happen through unlikely participants, a reminder that we, too, are part of God's plans.

Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for December 6, 2020 for further thoughts.

We worship at 10 AM this Sunday, and will ONLY be worshiping on Facebook Live and Zoom. Until further notice, we will NOT be worshiping in person.

Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce

The Rev. Barry L. Lewis will be our guest preacher this Sunday, November 22. His sermon will be "Behavior in the Neighborhood of Make Believe" from Matthew 22:1-14 (and incorporating Matthew 25:31-46).

Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for November 22, 2020 for further thoughts. We worship at 10 AM this Sunday, and you have 4 options to attend. PLEASE make a reservation by Friday if you wish to attend worship in the Sanctuary (limited seating because of social distancing) or the parking lot, or tune in on Facebook Live or connect on Zoom with your phone, computer, or tablet.

A reminder--the church phone number is 412-364-7132 if that is how you are making your reservation.

Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce

The Rev. Dr. Donald G. Scandrol will be our guest preacher this Sunday, November 15. His sermon will be "A Matter of Talents" from Matthew 25:14-30.

Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for November 15, 2020 for further thoughts. We worship at 10 AM this Sunday, and you have 4 options to attend. PLEASE make a reservation by Friday if you wish to attend worship in the Sanctuary (limited seating because of social distancing) or the parking lot, or tune in on Facebook Live or connect on Zoom with your phone, computer, or tablet.

A reminder--the church phone number is 412-364-7132 if that is how you are making your reservation.

Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce

Why bother reaching out in concern and care for others? We are likely to discover that we get something back when we give..

Follow this link to the Pastor’s Ponderings for November 8, 2020 for further thoughts. We worship at 10 AM this Sunday, and you have 4 options to attend. PLEASE make a reservation by Friday if you wish to attend worship in the Sanctuary (limited seating because of social distancing) or the parking lot, or tune in on Facebook Live or connect on Zoom with your phone, computer, or tablet.

A reminder--the church phone number is 412-364-7132 if that is how you are making your reservation.

Grace and Peace, Pastor Bruce