Posts by Deb Uchtman

The Monastery

The Monastery Presbytery of Cincinnati Executive Presbyter, Lisa Allgood brings a message of the importance of being in loving relationship with God and one another...

A Song of Realities

A Song of Realities Chaplain Pat Reiber of Crossroads Hospice and Palliative Care gives a message of the realities of death with the hope that...

Because You Are Chosen

Because You Are Chosen Paul encourages Christians to remember that during times of stress and trial, God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit...

Rejoice! Do Not be Anxious, the Lord is Near!

Rejoice! Do Not be Anxious, the Lord is Near! Paul encourages Christians to realize that even in times of anxiety and conflict, they can rejoice.

Press On

Press On Paul encourages Christians to disregard the trappings of secular life and the things of the world that are considered important. Instead, Paul says...

A Life Worthy of the Gospel

A Life Worthy of the Gospel Paul invites Christians to consider the Gospel and if they are living a life that truly reflects the idea...

Can We Do Anything without Grumbling?

Can We Do Anything without Grumbling? Thinking about why, as long time Christians, we grumble about those who will receive their reward in heaven even...

Why Do We Judge and Treat Others with Contempt?

Why Do We Judge and Treat Others with Contempt? Considering why we judge, even though that is God's job and why we treat others with...

Love Does Not Harm

Love Does Not Harm Celebrating the church's 209th anniversary by recalling the ways in which the Gospel has been lived out within this beloved community.

Celebrating the Love of God in this Beloved Community

Celebrating the Love of God in this Beloved Community Taking a moment to consider how we are living out and sharing God's love in this...

Hope from Being Members of the Body of Christ

Hope from Being Members of the Body of Christ The apostle Paul reminds us that we can find hope in not being alone as we...

Hope from Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs

Hope from Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs The apostle Paul reminds us that we can find hope in Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs of the...

Hope from the Flood

Hope from the Flood The whole of Creation has been overrun with Corruption and God chooses to wipe it out with a flood, but still...

Hope from the Garden

Hope from the Garden The Garden of Eden is a place of beauty and danger. Even though the humans disobey God, the Good News is...

Paranoid?

Paranoid? The world around us can make us feel as if someone is out to get us, but we are called to a higher purpose...

Lemons or Lemonade?

Lemons or Lemonade? The parable of the wheat and tares challenges us to consider when encountering difficulties, do we focus on the bad or do...

Nothing Can Separate Us

Nothing Can Separate Us The apostle Paul tells us that as believers nothing that we have done in the past, even those things that we...

What Am I Doing?

What Am I Doing? There are times when we respond to situations out of fear, anger or anxiety and we do those things that we...

Interdependence Day

Interdependence Day The founding mothers and fathers of America had a deep conviction that they lived with interdependence on God and without God, there was...

Do You Take God Seriously?

Do You Take God Seriously? We consider if we are taking seriously the God has given us our hope in Jesus Christ and sustains us...

Promises and Hopes

Promises and Hopes We consider if we are laughing at or taking seriously the promises and hopes that God has given us.

On My Honor, Duty to God

On My Honor, Duty to God Honoring BSA Troops 53 and 1053 with a Homecoming to celebrate the ministry of Scouting in Bethel Murdoch Presbyterian...

A World of Dichotomy

A World of Dichotomy We think about how we can live a life showing that God's grace is sufficient even though we live in a...

Dramatic Reading for Pentecost

Dramatic Reading for Pentecost We experience the Pentecost story via Readers Theater and watch the events unfold. (Technical difficulties with audio)

Where is Your Hope Grounded?

Where is Your Hope Grounded? We are asked to consider where it is that we ground ourselves and encouraged to ground our hope in God,...

Whatever

Whatever We discover that whatever is going on in our lives, be it good or bad, God is always near, Jesus walks with us and...

Rock and Stone

Rock and Stone We are like rocks with broken edges from sin. Jesus smooths our rough edges God is our rock and salvation so we...

Abundant Life

Abundant Life Jesus came that we might have life and have it abundantly. Our challenge is to see when others are being robbed of abundant...

Are You a Fool?

Are You a Fool? An exploration of what the Bible has to say about fools and how we can learn from this understanding.

Hope - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

Hope - Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow As Christians, the hope we have is found in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ because Jesus...

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ as we hear God's Word and the Festival Choir sing of Christ's rising. Christ is risen....

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday We follow Jesus through the triumphal entry into Jerusalem to the Last Supper. We witness Judas' betrayal and Jesus' arrest and crucifixion..

Does Your Attitude Smell?

Does Your Attitude Smell? Our attitude can be made smelly by the negativity with which we surround ourselves. When we turn to Christ, we are...

Sharing the Light of God

Sharing the Light of God Even in the face of a disbelieving world, let us be ready to share our faith so that the light...

The Shocking Truth

The Shocking Truth Have you ever been shocked by Jesus? Like the woman at the well, we are offered the opportunity to drink from living...

Tempted? Always Say a Prayer

Tempted? Always Say a Prayer The way in which Jesus responds to the Devil's temptations is to refer to Scripture and pray; we too can...

The Scout Law

The Scout Law The Scouts of Troop 53 lead the people of God in worship on Scout Sunday.

Mine is Better Than Yours

Mine is Better Than Yours When we put anyone or anything in a position of authority over our lives, we have usurped God from the...

My Way or God's Way?

My Way or God's Way? We consider if we are living our lives to follow God's way of discipleship or if we are living self-centered...

Walk with God

Walk with God We explore the ways in which Christians walk a path of discipleship throughout their lifetime so that they may walk closely with...

Are You Selfish or Do You Share?

Are You Selfish or Do You Share? We are asked to consider if we freely share the Good News about Jesus and God's love for...

Stop, Look and Listen

Stop, Look and Listen We are challenged as believers to take the time to stop, look and listen for how God works in the world,...

Christ for the World

Christ for the World The love of God to all of the world is embodied in Christ's baptism by John. We have received the sacrament...

Strangers

Strangers Taking time to consider that the Holy Family were strangers in a foreign land to protect themselves and further God's plan for the world.

Sharing Pain, Finding Peace

Sharing Pain, Finding Peace Blue Christmas service with prayer and music speaks to the loss that humanity faces each day, but also the hope of...

Believing Brings Peace

Believing Brings Peace It is sometimes overwhelming to our sensibilities with all of the chaos in the culture. Our challenge is to set the chaos...

Live Into Hope

Live Into Hope Even in the darkest of time, we can be assured that our repentance opens us for God's hope that will be born...

Hanging of the Greens

Hanging of the Greens We hear the good news about the way in which we decorate for the season and prepare our hearts for the...

The King of Life

The King of Life On Christ the King Sunday we consider the kind of King Jesus is and discover that he is the King of...

Will You Share YOUR Testimony?

Will You Share YOUR Testimony Giving our testimony about what God has done for us can be with words, deeds or silence as we bring...

Stand Firm and Hold Fast

Stand Firm and Hold Fast Paul encourages Christians to stand firm and hold fast during the chaotic times of the world and our lives as...

Out on a Limb

Out on a Limb Even when we are at our lowest, Jesus calls us to invite him into our homes and our hearts to repent...

Are You catholic?

Are You catholic? As Christians we are called to be in the church catholic as in universal. The church universal transcends the boundaries of the...

Persistence

Persistence As Christians we are called to pray without ceasing, to do that we must be persistent in our prayer habits and in deep conversation...

Living a Life for God

Living a Life for God We were never promised an easy path when we became Christians, but we have the assurance that Jesus always walks...

Times of Trial

Times of Trial As human beings, we often face a time of trial. As Christians, we know that Jesus walks with us in those times.

Scripture and Song based on Psalm 146

Scripture and Song based on Psalm 146 Taking a moment to praise God through Scripture and the hymns of the church.

Wrestling with a Parable

Wrestling with a Parable Thinking about a difficult parable by considering the historical setting and situation may help shed light on Jesus' message to the...

Put Yourself in God's Hands

Put Yourself in God's Hands Things are always changing around us in our lives, homes, community and the world. The one thing of which we...

Always the Same

Always the Same Things are always changing around us in our lives, homes, community and the world. The one thing of which we can be...

Mountain of Fear or Mountain of Joy

Mountain of Fear or Mountain of Joy There are two mountains that people can choose upon which to live: the Mountain of Fear or the...

Put Yourself in God's Hands

Put Yourself in God's Hands Regardless of the ways in which our lives are malformed by sin and death, God can reshape each one of...

Sent Out from the Huddle

Sent Out from the Huddle While huddles are important for the team to receive instruction and get pumped up for the work they are called...

A Heart for God

A Heart for God We have all met someone who by their thoughts, deeds and words show that they have a heart for God. Having...

God's 9-1-1

God's 9-1-1 We respond to physical distress by dialing 9-1-1, but how do we respond to emotional or spiritual distress? We might find the solace...

Praying as Jesus Taught

Praying as Jesus Taught Prayer is communication with God and Jesus instructs us to pray without ceasing. We can sit with hands folded, kneel, or...

Martha or Mary or...?

Martha or Mary or...? We have always heard that Mary is right sitting at Jesus feet and Martha makes the incorrect choice working. Is it...

Listening, Observing, and Acting

Listening, Observing, and Acting We consider the ways Jesus listened, observed and acted so that we may listen intently, observe fully and act faithfully in...

Interdependence Day

Interdependence Day Humanity is not independent of God. The founding forefathers and mothers viewed the opportunity to dwell on this land with an interdependence on...

Will You Go Where the Spirit Leads?

Will You Go Where the Spirit Leads? We are asked to consider if we stay with the status quo because "it has always been done...

Experiential Scripture

Experiential Scripture We fully immerse ourselves in the scripture by using our imaginations and becoming the disciples who are with Jesus on his journey.

The Day of Pentecost - Encountering the Holy Spirit

The Day of Pentecost-Encountering the Holy Spirit While none of us experienced the birth of the church, we still encounter the Holy Spirit and are...

Come, Lord Jesus!

Come, Lord Jesus! Considering how it is that humans perceive time even as we try to remain faithful to God saying, "Come, Lord Jesus!"

Us and Them

Us and Them Considering how it is that humans create divisions among themselves and ignore how God considers all people to be God's children.

Hymn Sing!

Hymn Sing! Join us for an old fashioned hymn sing to praise God by making a joyful noise.

Who We Are and Whose We Are

Who We Are and Whose We Are Who are we? Children of God. Whose are we? The sheep of the flock of the Good Shepherd,...

Nourishment and Encouragement

Nourishment and Encouragement Jesus nourished and encouraged his disciples on a beach at breakfast to prepare them for ministry. How have you been nourished and...

Believe in Me

Believe in Me Imagine being a disciple following the death of Jesus hiding behind locked doors. Then Jesus appears to you. Will you doubt or...

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday We welcome Easter morning to celebrate that Christ is Risen! Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday We listen to Holy Scripture hearing the account of the Triumphal Entry through the arrest, trial and crucifixion of Jesus as we prepare...

Layer of Guilt

Layer of Guilt We consider if we feel we should carry our guilt or if we should ask for forgiveness because God in Christ has...

Stalled Growth

Stalled Growth We consider if a denial of our own sin which turns us away from God has caused a stalled growth in our faith.

Layer of Anger

Layer of Anger We consider if our anger has gotten out of control so that we must forgive those who have caused us to be...

Layer of Grief

Layer of Grief Grief can cause us to turn away from God instead of sharing our pain with and drawing nearer to our ever present...

Layer of Doubt

Layer of Doubt Satan tempted Jesus and continues to wreak havoc in human hearts and lives with his siren call to doubt Jesus is the...

Astonished!

Astonished! The Transfiguration of the Lord takes us to an astonishing experience on the mountaintop, then sends us down and out into the world to...

Scout Sunday

Scout Sunday The Scouts of Troop 53 and 1053 lead worship on Scout Sunday

Resurrection Doubts

Resurrection Doubts We are assured that when we die as believers, we will be resurrected in Christ because of the resurrection of Christ.

Hanging On!

Hanging On! Exploring how we are able to face each day of our lives and the challenges of living by listening to Paul's words telling...

Being a Prophet is Hard Work!

Being a Prophet is Hard Work! Biblical prophets were often challenged when they tried to share the Good News of God's love. We are called...

Good News: You Are The Body of Christ

Good News: You Are The Body of Christ Good news is only good news if we admit that we are living in a broken and...

The Time is Right

The Time is Right Timing matters and we discover that Jesus' first miracle was prompted by his mother, Mary because the time was right.

Baptism of the Lord

Baptism of the Lord As we celebrate the baptism of the Lord, we recommit to remembering our own baptism and choosing to work as Jesus'...

Three Ways to Make the Christmas Spirit Last

Three Ways to Make the Christmas Spirit Last Elder Mike Schepers provides three ways that can make the Christmas Spirit last in your life.

Lessons and Carols

Lessons and Carols We light the Christ candle welcoming our Savior to be born anew in our world and in our hearts on this Christmas...

Sharing Pain, Finding Peace

Sharing Pain, Finding Peace On the fourth Sunday of Advent, we engage in a Blue Christmas service acknowledging our pain and angst now and over...

The Joy of Rejoicing

The Joy of Rejoicing On the third Sunday of Advent, we explore joy that is not simply happiness, but something deep and sustaining that brings...

Peace Through Prayer: A Guided Meditation

Peace Through Prayer: A Guided Meditation On the second Sunday of Advent, we engage in a meditation to meet Jesus and find God's peace for...

New Year, New You

New Year, New You As we begin the new church year with the first Sunday of Advent, in what ways will you allow the gospel...

Listen to the Truth

Listen to the Truth Jesus is God's truth yet the religious and government leaders of the day would not listen to him. Will you listen...

Not One Stone

Not One Stone Jesus shares that we should be aware of those who want to spread doom and gloom; to keep our heads and not...

Worshipful Giving

Worshipful Giving Let us consider do we give to glorify ourselves, or do we give to glorify God from our gratitude for all that God...

That Your Days May Be Long

That Your Days May Be Long Elder Mike Schepers encourages us to remain faithful throughout our lives of devotion to God the Father, the Son...

How Far Away Is Close Enough?

How Far Away Is Close Enough? Rev. Jim Brazell shares with us some thoughts on how to come closer to God.

See?

See? Let us consider how we are blinded to the ways of the world through spiritual blindness instead of seeing the grace and love of...

We are Not in Control

We are Not in Control Let us consider how we are playing "Let's Make a Deal" with God, instead of admitting that God is in...

The Debt Collector

The Debt Collector Elder Mike Schepers wrestles with the parable of the unmerciful servant.

Born to Trouble

Born to Trouble The human condition suggests that we are born to have trouble in our lives; the good news is that we have a...

The Power of Prayer

The Power of Prayer A time to examine prayer: What is it? How do we pray? Is it effective?

Root of Conflict

Root of Conflict An examination of Paul Harvey's 1965 "If I Were the Devil" and his vision of a demonic future should make us seriously...

Taming the Tongue

Taming the Tongue What do we have in common with a fire breathing dragon? Let us consider the fiery damage we leave behind that has...

Picking Favorites

Picking Favorites Do we pick favorites based upon the world's vision of wealth? Or do we look through God's eyes and have no partiality of...

The Obstacle of Anger

The Obstacle of Anger Taking a moment to consider how anger is an obstacle in our relationships with God and one another.

Hymn Sing: Songs of Life

Hymn Sing: Songs of Life Join us as we make a joyful noise unto the Lord with the singing of hymns and spiritual songs as...

To Give Thanks

To Give Thanks An invitation to turn away from the things of the world and remember to be grateful for all that God has given...

Speaking Truth

Speaking Truth We must actively look for God and be aware of the pitfalls of this world in order to speak the truth about God,...

A Life Worthy

A Life Worthy Consider the echo-chamber in which you live - how does it help or hinder you to live a life worthy of the...

Rooted and Grounded in Love

Rooted and Grounded in Love An invitation to look beyond the material world and focus yourself upon the spiritual so that you may know God’s...

The Dwelling Place of God

The Dwelling Place of God Central to the understanding of being the dwelling place of God is that the church is a place of peace...

Faith: Considering Why You Have It

Faith: Considering Why You Have It An exploration of faith and the foundations of why we have faith in God, the Father, the Son and...

Show Me the Way to Go Home

Show Me the Way to Go Home Jesus redefines the understanding of home and instructs us to build our relationships with others to spread the...

To Give What You Have

To Give What You Have Consider the gifts God has given you and how you can give back to God by using those gifts for...

Storms Rage Around Us: Where is Our Help?

Storms Rage Around Us: Where is Our Help? A time to reflect if you are permitting the things of the world to overshadow and lead...

Living by Faith in the New Creation

Living by Faith in the New Creation An invitation to think about where you are on your faith journey to help you become a better...

Holy Spirit on the Move: Being Renewed

Holy Spirit on the Move: Being Renewed The Holy Spirit is active and moving in the world ready to renew us by breathing the breath...

Loved by God the Father, Saved by Jesus the Son, Led by the Spirit of God

Loved by God the Father, Saved by Jesus the Son, Led by the Spirit of God Trinity Sunday explores the three persons of God in...

Holy Spirit on the Move: Claiming Hope

Holy Spirit on the Move: Claiming Hope Pentecost celebration of the Holy Spirit's movement in our lives and how we claim biblical hope for our...

Living the Resurrection: Jesus Is With Us

Living the Resurrection: Jesus Is With Us Let us consider how it is that we are living the resurrection by knowing with certainty that Jesus...

Living the Resurrection: Listening When the Spirit Testifies

Living the Resurrection: Listening When the Spirit Testifies Let us consider how it is that we are living the resurrection by listening to the Holy...

Living the Resurrection: Loving One Another

Living the Resurrection: Loving One Another Let us consider how it is that we are living the resurrection by following the example set by Jesus...

Living the Resurrection: Keeping God's Commands

Living the Resurrection: Keeping God's Commands Let us consider how it is that we are living the resurrection by keeping God's commands to believe in...

Living the Resurrection: Turning Toward God

Living the Resurrection: Turning Toward God Let us consider how it is that we are living the resurrection with the reminder to turn away from...

Living the Resurrection: Walking in the Light

Living the Resurrection: Walking in the Light Let us consider how it is that we are living the resurrection as we are reminded to walk...

How Can We Keep Silent on Easter?

How Can We Keep Silent on Easter? Are you too afraid to tell of Christ's resurrection like the women who encountered the angel in the...

Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday Listen to the Gospel of John as we encounter Jesus' acts of service for his disciples and think about where you fit into...

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday It is on Palm Sunday that we thrill to Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem as we wave our palms. We witness the Last...

The Cross You Carry: The Music of Lent

The Cross You Carry: The Music of Lent The music of the Lenten season is beautiful and meaningful to people of the Christian faith. Our...

The Cross You Carry: The Secret You Keep

The Cross You Carry: The Secret You Keep Jesus tells us that we should pick up our cross and carry it if we want to...

The Cross You Carry: Works of Love

The Cross You Carry: Works of Love Jesus tells us that we should pick up our cross and carry it if we want to follow...

The Cross You Carry: Repent

The Cross You Carry: Repent Jesus tells us that we should pick up our cross and carry it if we want to follow him. Jesus...

The Cross You Carry: Prayer and Fasting

The Cross You Carry: Prayer and Fasting Jesus tells us that we should pick up our cross and carry it if we want to follow...