Weekly Greeting - May 15, 2026
On Thursday, I had the opportunity to welcome this year’s graduates, their parents, grandparents and well-wishers to the Bethlehem Preschool Graduation. It was a true honor to welcome them on behalf of you, the congregation, that provides a welcoming home for our daytime children’s program. It was an honor to stand with Kim Wixted, the preschool director, and April Jackson, our children’s ministry director, because they both bring such accomplished leadership to this and other children’s ministries in our church.
The staff and congregation members who are at the church on weekdays have seen the children and their teachers walking happily in the corridors and playing joyfully on the playground and in the gym. They bring such joy to us and their energy is contagious.
It occurred to me that whether these children ever become members of Bethlehem UMC or not, they are being imprinted with the morals and values of our congregation. They will long remember the Wednesdays when they sat in the big sanctuary and Ms. April told them stories about loving one another and about God who loves them. They will long remember their teachers, assistants, and directors who spent their days with them carefully helping them to discover and learn the things that will support them when they leave to enter kindergarten and higher grades. That will be their happy memory of our church.
So, I want you to know how far you reach, even when you are not thinking about your church at work. You, Bethlehem, by your prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and especially your witness, are fulfilling the Great Commission of Christ, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt 19:19-20)
Thanks be to God for your faithfulness,
Rev. Terry Carty