Reconciling the creation of God
Posted inBiblical Reflection Content Prayer

Reconciling the creation of God

Every year around the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, many churches gather for one of the most joyful, and probably least predictable, traditions of the year: the Blessing of the Animals. Usually, the dogs arrive pulling on their leashes, the cats arrive clearly wishing they were somewhere else, the cows may very well finish whatever grass is left beside the parking lot, and I am sure the raccoons are already making plans for coffee table!
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The key word is: ‘Prevention’
Posted inContent Society

The key word is: ‘Prevention’

September is Suicide Prevention Month, and perhaps the most important word in that phrase is 'prevention.' Suicide should not be something we speak about only after a tragedy has happened. Prevention invites us to talk, to listen, to learn, to notice one another, and to remind people that help is available and that no one should have to carry overwhelming pain alone.
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We remember
Posted inBiblical Reflection Content Prayer

We remember

We remember. In our hearts, the lives lost and forever changed on September 11 inspire our prayer today. Receive our sorrow, our lament, the honor with which we hold their memories, and the grief that still remains in so many families and communities.
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Hundreds of smiles made us shine!
Posted inContent News Society

Hundreds of smiles made us shine!

What a wonderful afternoon! Today, August 13th, we had the joy of participating in the Pop-Up Schoolhouse at Kuser School, bringing the results of Groveville UMC's Annual Back-to-School Supply Drive directly to children and families in our community.
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A walk to remember
Posted inBiblical Reflection Content Society

A walk to remember

It was June 19, 1865, when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, finally heard the news that they were free. The Emancipation Proclamation had been issued more than two years earlier, in 1863, but that promise of freedom had not yet become real for many enslaved people in Texas because the message, and the enforcement of that freedom, arrived late
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What future is possible for our churches?
Posted inBiblical Reflection Content Ecclesiology

What future is possible for our churches?

...The future of Groveville and Crosswicks may very well depend on our willingness to learn how to “speak the languages” of the people around us, not merely linguistically, but spiritually, emotionally, and relationally. We are surrounded by people speaking the languages of loneliness, grief, anxiety, exhaustion, economic uncertainty, spiritual hurt, isolation, and longing for meaning
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Memories, fire of the Spirit, and hope
Posted inContent News Society

Memories, fire of the Spirit, and hope

On Memorial Weekend's Sunday, our two communities, Groveville UMC and Crosswicks UMC, shared together a beautiful and meaningful Joint Memorial & Pentecost Sunday Service. It is difficult to fully describe everything we experienced together, because every part of the morning carried its own spirit of reverence, honor, beauty, and hope.
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156 years of memory and community
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156 years of memory and community

Despite the rain, gray skies, and even the threat of thunderstorms, this past Monday, May 245th, 2026, the Groveville-Yardville Memorial Day Parade continued once again with strength, dignity, love, and deep community spirit. For long times, this beloved tradition has carried on, becoming the oldest Memorial Day Parade in the State of New Jersey, and this year was no exception.
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We remember
Posted inContent News Society

We remember

On this Memorial Day, we come together carrying memories of sacrifice, service, courage, and love. We remember women and men who gave their lives believing that future generations might continue living in freedom and peace.
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Mom
Posted inBiblical Reflection Content Society

Mom

...However, this is not the only way the Bible speaks about motherhood. I find it very interesting that the Scriptures do not idealize it. At all.

Actually, the Bible holds space for a wide range of experiences, including those that are difficult to name.
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The strange way of Jesus | Part 2
Posted inBiblical Reflection Content Society

The strange way of Jesus | Part 2

... Some began to see the one they had called the “King of the Jews” as a disappointment. How could he ask them to forgive Rome? How could he speak of loving enemies when the people were suffering under oppression? A disappointed crowd can easily become a dangerous crowd, especially when religious leaders know how to manipulate emotions...
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