The First United Methodist Church of Belen

06/09/2026

Finding Hope: Nurturing the Child Within

I want to put something out in the universe with the hope that offering what I have will be a way of hope to those who struggle with trauma. I do not intend to write a tell-all book. That is not my intention. My goal is to offer a resource for those like me who faced overwhelming odds in becoming the person I am today....

     I want to put something out in the universe with the hope that offering what I have will be a way of hope to those who struggle with trauma. I do not intend to write a tell…

04/30/2026

Building God’s Kingdom: The Importance of Community

“You yourselves are being built like living stones into a spiritual temple. You are being made into a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5 CEB). This morning, I am drawn to the idea of belonging to something bigger than myself. I think of the many shows I performed in, choir concerts, and teaching experiences....

“You yourselves are being built like living stones into a spiritual temple. You are being made into a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Chris…

03/13/2026

Recipe of the Week!

San Francisco Chops

4 pork chops
1 T oil
1 clove garlic, minced

Sauce:
2 t oil
4 T dry sherry OR broth
4 T soy sauce
2 T brown sugar
¼ t crushed red pepper
2 t corn starch
2 T water

Trim pork chops of excess fat.
Heat oil in skillet. Brown chops on both sides.
Remove and add a little more oil if needed

Saute garlic for a minute
Combine oil, sherry or broth, soy sauce, brown sugar and red pepper.
Place chops in skillet,. Pour sauce over them, cover.
Simmer over low heat until chops are tender and cooked through. (30-35 min), turn once.
Add a little water 1-2 T if needed to keep sauce from cooking down too much
Remove chops to platter. Stir in cornstarch dissolved in water until sauce is thickened.
Pour over chops and serve.

01/27/2026

Finding Balance Through Intentional Gratitude

Diana Butler Bass’ book Grateful highlights the idea that gratitude is not simply a feeling, but an intentional state of being in the world. In other words, we must choose to practice gratitude as a spiritual discipline. It is important to remember that we are not perfect people, and as such, we make mistakes along the way. When we fall, we get back up and continue the journey....

Diana Butler Bass’ book Grateful highlights the idea that gratitude is not simply a feeling, but an intentional state of being in the world. In other words, we must choose to practice gratitude a…

01/25/2026

Due to the forecast of snow and a high chance of a dangerous, icy parking lot, we will not be holding service tomorrow. We're sorry to miss you, but you'll all be in our prayers! Have a blessed week and we look forward to seeing you on February 1.

If you have prayer requests, you can pass them along here or contact the church office and we'll get you on the prayer chain. God bless and stay safe in this weather!

01/22/2026

The Road to Rest: Insights from Audiobooks and Faith

Today marks the start of a week spent visiting family, celebrating my birthday, joining a retreat in Austin, and taking time to sit quietly and connect with God. Since I spent much of the day traveling by car, I started listening to two audiobooks: The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery and Richard Rohr's The Tears of Things: Prophetic Wisdom for an Age of Outrage....

Today marks the start of a week spent visiting family, celebrating my birthday, joining a retreat in Austin, and taking time to sit quietly and connect with God. Since I spent much of the day trave…

12/24/2025

Preparing for the Christ Child: A Night of Celebration

Today is our final day of preparation. We know that Jesus comes in the night, a time symbolizing anticipation and divine mystery, and we sing and celebrate the One for whom we took our time to prepare. We observe the sacredness of the night to light candles, sing hymns of our faith, and welcome the Christ child in. This is the day that both raucous joy and peace converge to make the night one that we can never forget....

    Today is our final day of preparation. We know that Jesus comes in the night, a time symbolizing anticipation and divine mystery, and we sing and celebrate the One for whom we took ou…

12/23/2025

Journey of Grace: Cleaning Away Regrets This Christmas

As we draw closer to Christmas, the time for cleaning is about done. We know the guest will arrive shortly. In looking back over this year’s season of Advent, I discovered some unexpected surprises. Some areas exposed regret that needs more work. At first glance, I did not see any remaining damage to clean. As I kept cleaning, I returned to view the places that I had scrubbed and worked on for days, weeks, maybe years, to remove from my life....

    As we draw closer to Christmas, the time for cleaning is about done. We know the guest will arrive shortly. In looking back over this year’s season of Advent, I discovered some unexpe…

12/22/2025

Feasting with Friends: Embracing Joy and Faith

Last Saturday, Cazandra and I hosted an open house party for our church family. Gathering outside the church grounds invites a sense of relaxation and a chance to get to know people more deeply. Everyone loved the decorations and brought more food than anyone might eat in a lifetime. Laughter filled the background music, and my pastor’s heart felt content and complete....

    Last Saturday, Cazandra and I hosted an open house party for our church family. Gathering outside the church grounds invites a sense of relaxation and a chance to get to know people m…

12/21/2025

A Spirit of Joy Pervades the Air

As the congregation of my church stood singing carols, I want to express my gratitude for the customs that are part of my United Methodist heritage. Recognizing these traditions helps me feel connected and thankful for the community's shared faith journey. When I broke ties with the Southern Baptist church and embraced the United Methodist faith, I discovered the importance of the church year and its seasons....

As the congregation of my church stood singing carols, I want to express my gratitude for the customs that are part of my United Methodist heritage. Recognizing these traditions helps me feel conne…