Byfield Parish Church

10/26/2026

Hello All,
Friday night I was at a high school football game. I went over to the concession stand to grab some food. While ordering I noticed they had Nerds Gummy Clusters. Many of you may not be familiar with this candy product. It only came into existence a few years ago. The candy consists of a gummy encased in small Nerds which have been around forever. I wrestled with whether or not to get candy for myself that was designed for an 11 year old’s tastebuds. After some mental wrestling I walked away with the candy. When I opened the package I realized what I had purchased was a further development of what I thought I was getting. My candies were “juicy”. They were even more tasty than I expected.

The modern world we live in has an astounding ability to give us access to things we never would have even known were desirable. There are people with advanced degrees sitting in labs trying to figure out how to improve further on the Nerds Juicy Gummy Clusters. While it is hard for me to believe this is possible I have no doubt the effort will be made! The development of enticing foods, experiences, belongings, and ideas is not new, but it is in a state of overdrive in our decadent society.

That which we desire is often not good for us. That is certainly the case with Nerds Juicy Gummy Clusters. One pack at a football game is not going to ruin my life, whereas if I ate a pack everyday, which I would like to do, eventually would. Anyone who wants to live well in the present has to learn to limit how much they ingest of all the tasty bits offered to us. This is true not just of various candies, it is also true for all the options in the world that can be purchased with our money or time.

Meditation Verses: Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

In Christ,
Brent

10/26/2026

If you want to listen to yesterday's sermon follow the link in the comment.

10/20/2026

Pastor's Corner

Hello All,
A couple of weekends ago my wife, Ann, took my third son, Micah, to New York City for the weekend. She did the same thing with our two older sons when they were 14. She will do so for the final time with our youngest when he is a teenager. The goal of this weekend is for mother and son to have an enjoyable time creating some memories. The memories Ann has made with each child vary. The variation is partially the result of Ann not wanting to do the exact same trip repeatedly. More so it is a product of each kid being different.

Ann predicted that her most recent trip with Micah would be more food focused than the prior two trips were. Micah loves food. Sure enough, the weekend did include a lot of food. Every time Micah’s energy started to flag, they would find a tasty treat. Micah came home excited to tell me about all the places he had eaten.

Loving anyone well requires knowing what they care about. Too often we love people in our lives in ways that are not as important to them. This can lead to frustration that our efforts are not appreciated. If you want to love someone well, you will make the effort to take into account to find out what is important to them. This is what God does for us in his love.

Meditation Verses:Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

In Christ,
Brent

10/19/2026

Sunday's Sermon Link in the comments.....

"Work" based on John 6:27-34

10/13/2026

Pastor's Corner

Hello All,
On Sunday evening, I had to pick up Levi, my 16-year-old son, from an event in Lawrence. The weather was bad—dark outside with heavy rain falling. Levi asked if he could drive. I said he could once we got out of the city, though I was not happy about this decision. Levi is a good driver, but the conditions were less than ideal even for an experienced driver. Despite my reservations, once we got to I-495, I pulled the car over for Levi to drive.
My reasons for not wanting Levi to drive in bad weather were pretty obvious: I didn’t want him to wreck the car, I care about his well-being and I care about my own personal safety. Despite these concerns, I let Levi drive because he is getting his license soon and needs experience driving in bad weather. As he drove my knuckles were white. I intentionally gave him the opportunity to drive so he could gain the experience he will need down the road.
God, as our heavenly Father, at times allows us to experience adversity as well. He exposes us to the storms of life to prepare us for future trials. While this is not the only reason adversity occurs in our lives, it is certainly one of them.

Meditation Verses: Romans 5 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith[b] into this grace in which we stand, and we[c] rejoice[d] in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

In Christ,
Brent

10/12/2026

This week's sermon is available in the comments.

10/05/2026

Sermon Download Available: https://www.byfieldparish.org/content.cfm?id=213&download_id=319

This sermon explores the theme of fear through the lens of a personal backpacking memory and the biblical account of the disciples encountering Jesus during a storm on the Sea of Galilee (John 6:16–21). It notes that while fear is a natural and sometimes protective response to physical dangers or the spiritual unknown, humanity remains incapable of overcoming the deeper chaos and destructive forces of the world on its own. Ultimately, the sermon encourages believers to trust in the supreme power and presence of Jesus Christ, who transcends worldly storms and offers enduring comfort, assuring us that transient earthly fears will pass while His love and power remain.

This sermon explores the theme of fear through the lens of a personal backpacking memory and the biblical account of the disciples encountering Jesus during a storm on the Sea of Galilee (John 6:16

10/05/2026

Elder's Insight-

It can be a bit shocking to hear that God hates.  However, it becomes a little less of a surprise when we read the list of the things that He abhors.  Then the sinking feeling begins as we realize that we have done what God hates.  Come to Jesus for forgiveness and follow in repentance.  Now let...

09/28/2026

Pastor's Corner-

Hello All,
Last week I was looking at a map of the area surrounding Byfield Parish Church. I noticed something that I had never considered before. The wetlands that I assumed were natural have been shaped by prior generations of people in significant ways. The changes made are not obvious from ground level, or at least not to me. I regularly drive north on Route 1 towards Newburyport from Byfield past the tidal creeks that feed into the Parker River. I have often marveled that this land has never been developed.

However, if you look at a map there are telltale signs that the land has been modified. Many of the creeks are straight lines on the map. I assume these straight waterways were cut into the estuary to make farming easier. The landscape looks natural to me as I drive past because I lack a trained eye, am not intimately aware of the area's farming history, and am used to how it presently looks.

There are many aspects of our world that seem natural to us that are in fact artificial. This is true of the physical landscapes we traverse on a regular basis. It is likewise true of the moral landscape we inhabit. We assume the world we live in is aligned with God’s design in ways we are not even aware of. A lack of perspective results in short sighted assumptions. God gives his Law in the Bible to give us perspective. Through it we can identify that which is an artificial creation for human convenience, and that which is in keeping with God’s design.

Meditation Verses:

Psalm 19:1The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
4 Their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,
5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them,
and there is nothing hidden from its heat.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.

In Christ,
Brent

09/28/2026

Bill Richards preached on Jonah-

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