Pastor’s Meditations of the Heart
Jeremiah writes to the Israelites who have been taken captive by the Babylonians and forced to live in exile in Babylon. I can only imagine how they felt—the fear, the anger, the longing for what once was, the despair and hopelessness. I wonder if this feels all too familiar to us today.
At times, it may feel like we are living in our own exile—our own Babylon—wandering through the wilderness—living in a state of high anxiety that manifests as grief, anger, hostility, sorrow, mistrust, and division—in a post pandemic and post Christendom world. We aren’t too different from the Israelites as we too long for the way things once were—to go back home– to see the church pews full and overflowing—when the church was the center of our communities. This is neither good nor bad or right or wrong, rather it is just part of being human.
With any kind of loss, it is always important to create space to grieve, mourn, to bless and celebrate what once was. However, If we are not careful, we can get so caught up in the past or future that we forget to live in the present moment or lose sight of what is important—our purpose and mission.
Jeremiah shares with them a message from the Lord—a message of how to be present and live in exile. They are to “Build houses and settle down, plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have son and daughters...increase in number there. Also seek the peace and prosperity of the city...
For the Israelites, this was to be taken literally, and it may even be so for us today. However, I wonder what it would be like to allow these images to provoke our imaginations and creativity—to kindle a renewed sense of hope and offer a sense of vision for us today.
Over the past 3 1/2 years, I have witnessed FRCB build, plant, eat, celebrate marriage, baptize, and work towards peace and prosperity. If you want to hear more about the growth that has happened in this congregation, watch the interactive sermon for Sept. 28, 2025 on our church website or Facebook. Here is a link: First Reformed Church of Bethlehem | Services & Sermons If you are unable to do that, the elders and I would love to share that with you when we next visit you!
At times, it may seem like there is little to no growth; however, it is happening just not at the rate we want it to. My wise spiritual coach once told me, “you did not get this way over night, and you won’t get out of it overnight.” To me those are words of compassion and grace—words to remind ourselves when we become impatient or worried about the pace of growth. Also, remember that old saying, “slow and steady wins the race.” Our growth may seem slow, but I believe we are creating sustainable growth.
So I wonder as we move into the unknown future....
What are we building?
What are we planting?
How are we creating new life?
How are we seeking peace and prosperity in our city?
The congregation started imagining and visioning this together on Sunday Sept. 28th during the interactive sermon. If you have suggestions or thoughts on how we can live into these questions—into our purpose and mission more fully, please contact a consistory member and share your thoughts with them or leave your suggestion on our vision board in the fellowship hall.
Let us not forget and find hope in the Lord’s declaration to His people, “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and future.”
Shalom,
Pastor Jenn