Jamaica Community Church, Jamaica Vermont

Jamaica Community Church, Jamaica Vermont In person worship services at 10:00 am during the winter months

06/17/2026

A Devotion June 17, 2026

An elderly husband was wondering if his wife had a hearing problem. So one night, he stood behind her while she was sitting in her lounge chair.
He spoke softly to her, "Honey, can you hear me?" There was no response.
He moved a little closer and said again, "Honey, can you hear me?"
Still, there was no response.
Finally he moved right behind her and said, "Honey, can you hear me?"
She replied, "For the third time, dear-- Yes!"

Hearing loss is defined as diminished acuity to sounds which would otherwise be heard normally. The terms hearing impaired or hard of hearing are usually reserved for people who have relative inability to hear sound in the speech frequencies. The severity of hearing loss is categorized according to the increase in intensity of sound above the usual level required for the listener to detect it. Hearing loss may occur in one or both ears and can be temporary or permanent. As of 2013 hearing loss affected about 1.1 billion people to some degree. It causes disability in about 466 million people (5% of the global population), and moderate to severe disability in 124 million people.

First, a passage from scripture about hearing, then a devotion.

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” -- James 1:22-25

Devotion:

James presents us with two vivid pictures. First, he speaks of those who go to church meeting and listen to the reading and expounding of the Word, and who think that by simply listening they are automatically Christians. They have shut their eyes to the fact that what is read and heard in church must then be lived out. It is still possible to identify church attendance and Bible-reading with Christianity, but this is to take ourselves less than half way; the really important thing is to turn that to which we have listened into action.

Second, James says such people are like those who look at themselves in a mirror—ancient mirrors were made not of glass but of highly polished metal—sees the smudges which disfigure their faces and dishevelment of their hair, and go away and forget what they actually look like, and so fail to do anything about it. Listening to the true Word reveals to individuals what they are and what they ought to be. They see what is wrong and what must be done to put it right; but, if they are only hearers, they remain just as they are, and all the hearing has been to no avail. James does well to remind us that what is heard in the Holy place must be lived in the market place—or there is no point in hearing at all. -- William Barclay

Thanks for listening.

Peace.

Pastor Pete Carlson

06/11/2026

“Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.”--Psalm 85:10

“Love is All Around” was a hit song in 1967. Love is definitely all around, it’s just that we may not recognize it when we see it, for many reasons, some of which may be that we’re too busy, or we’re in a bad mood, or we’re just not looking for it. The Bible tells us that God is all around; it also tells us that God is love. So, if God is in the sun and moon and stars, and in flowers and animals and meadows, and in people we know, young and old, and even strangers, then we can see love—the love of God. And we can certainly encounter love in unexpected places, even when we’re not looking for it.

Devotion:

It was a beautiful April day, and I hoped to find tulips in full bloom at Conservatory Garden in Central Park. Only the yellow ones obliged, but in front of them and all the green stalks stood a tall young woman in a floor-length, lemon-colored dress. She was posing with a young man who had set up his smartphone on the ground to take a picture of them together.
I asked if they wanted me to take the photo. I took several and was about to leave when the young man asked me to take one more. He took something from his bag and dropped to one knee. As he proposed and gave the young woman the ring, I snapped away with moistening eyes. — Kathleen Brady

Peace….and Love ❤️

Pastor Pete Carlson

05/29/2026

This hymn is typically sung at harvest time, which is many months away. But it really is a wonderful hymn that can be sung in any season, for it reminds us of God’s providential and divine care. As it says in Psalm 144:13-15, “Our barns will be filled with every kind of provision. Our sheep will increase by thousands, by tens of thousands in our fields; our oxen will draw heavy loads. There will be no breaching of walls, no going into captivity, no cry of distress in our streets. Blessed are the people of whom this is true; blessed are the people whose God is the Lord.”

“We Plow the Fields and Scatter the Good Seed”

We plow the fields and scatter the good seed on the land,
But it is fed and watered by God’s almighty hand.
He sends the snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain,
The breezes and the sunshine, and soft refreshing rain.
Refrain:
All good gifts around us are sent from heav’n above;
Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord for all His love.

He only is the maker of all things near and far;
He paints the wayside flower, He lights the evening star.
The wind and waves obey Him, by Him the birds are fed;
Much more to us, His children, He gives our daily bread.
Refrain:
All good gifts around us are sent from heav’n above;
Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord for all His love.


We thank You, our Creator, for all things bright and good:
The seedtime and the harvest, our life, our health, our food.
Accept the gifts we offer for all Your love imparts;
Accept what You most welcome: our humble, thankful hearts!
Refrain:
All good gifts around us are sent from heav’n above;
Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord for all His love.

Peace.

Pastor Pete Carlson

05/28/2026

“A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all” --Psalm 34:19

In many ways the problem of suffering is more difficult for Christians to deal with than for non-Christians. Why? The Christian believes that nothing happens apart from the will of God, that He is sovereign and all-powerful, and— bottom line—that God is good, loving and kind. The non-Christian dismisses the intervention of God in the affairs of our world—at best, considers Him only to be a disinterested spectator, either too weak or too remote to do much about the problem of pain.

When suffering strikes, you as a Christian are apt to think, “God, why me? I’m your child. Don’t I deserve better than this?” We often forget that history tells us some of God’s choicest servants suffered, from Old Testament days to the present, that God hasn’t really cut a deal with you that says, “OK, if you follow me, I’ll deliver you from the pain which inflicts people and puts them flat on their back in bed.”

The problem of pain is further compounded by a mind-set which is as old as the book of Job, which goes, “Prosperity and blessing mark the godly, poverty and suffering are a curse upon the wicked!” If you have grown up with that teaching, you feel guilty and abandoned by God when the doctor says, “You have an inoperable cancer,” or you get word that your son was involved in a serious automobile accident, or your husband has been laid off work.
There is a truth that needs to be a foundation stone of your life, an anchor to your soul, and a compass for your feet. Simply put it is this: that suffering is not a curse and prosperity is not necessarily a reward bestowed upon the righteous. An equally important truth that flows from the bedrock of God’s nature and character is that He is not indifferent to your pain and does not ignore your plea for help when you hurt.

So how do we know this? Two ways: First, the solid testimony of Scripture which has comforted God’s people in times of trial for two thousand years plus. It tells me God is not indifferent to my pain and my suffering. Make a note of these, which are but a small sample of the many statements found in the Bible. Start with the book of Psalms, the hymnbook of ancient Israel. Read Psalm 27, Psalm 34, Psalm 55. “In the time of trouble, He will hide me,” said David. “A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all” he adds in Psalm 34.

Isaiah 53 talks about the terrible suffering of Jesus the Messiah, and the writer of Hebrews uses that to express the tenderness and compassion Jesus has for those who suffer—He’s been there, He’s experienced it (See Hebrews 4:15-16). Read Hebrews 11, then Peter’s letters, which he devoted to the undeserved suffering of God’s children. Pointedly he says, “Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in His steps” (1 Peter 2:21). Could it be clearer?

There is a second way that you can know God is not indifferent to your pain and suffering. Listen to the testimonies of some of God’s choicest servants who have been there.
Read C. S. Lewis; Phil Yancey; Joni Erickson Tada, whose remarkable life is a picture of grace painted on the backdrop of pain. Learn about F***y Crosby, the blind songwriter who gave us more than 9000 beautiful songs. Find out about John Bunyan, who spent seven long years in a Bedford jail, and read Pilgrim’s Progress, the book that flowed from his experience. You will discover, God cares and He is not indifferent, and He will walk with you through your pain. --Dr. Harold J. Sala

Peace.

Pastor Pete Carlson

05/25/2026

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” -- John 15:13

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”—Isaiah 43:1



In honor of Memorial Day, I would like to visit the Tomb of The Unknowns in Arlington, Va.

On November 11, 1921, three years to the day after the armistice that ended World War I, President Warren G. Harding presided over the dedication of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. It was an emotional affair for Washington and the nation. Three weeks before the dedication, four unidentified Americans were exhumed from French graveyards, and moved to Chalons-sur-Marne for a selection ceremony. On Oct. 24, one American was selected at random by Sgt. Edward F. Younger, and the other three caskets were returned to their resting places in France.
The unknown soldier was brought back from France aboard the USS Olympia with an honor guard of eight French ships.
When the soldier arrived in Washington on Nov. 9, he lay in state in the Capitol Rotunda, and an estimated 90,000 visitors came to pay their respects. George Rothwell Brown described the feelings of many in The Washington Post: “No man had ever given more... Youth, fortune, love and fame, his very identity flung away for the county’s sake at the cannon’s mouth, and in exchange an immeasurable immortality, the laurels of the victor, the veneration of the world, the homage of civilization.”
On Nov. 11, the soldier’s casket was solemnly paraded from the Capitol to Arlington Cemetery, accompanied by an honor guard of eight World War I veterans. When the casket arrived at the new memorial, President Harding addressed the large crowd in attendance: “He might have come from any one of millions of American homes… hundreds of mothers are wondering today, finding a touch of solace in the possibility that the nation bows in grief over the body of one she bore,” noting that the memorial was not just about this one man and his unknown family, but the many more who returned without a name.
Right Reverend Charles H. Brent, who had been the Senior Chaplain of the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I, read the burial service. Various luminaries laid wreathes and offered tributes as the casket was lowered into the crypt. When the bugler finished sounding taps, soldiers fired a twenty-one gun salute in final tribute. The Washington Post called the two days of dedication, “an overwhelming manifestation of love and adoration such as this republic has never seen before.”
Originally, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier consisted of a simple marble slab. During its early years, thousands of visitors came to Arlington National Cemetery to mourn at the Tomb and to pay their respects to the Unknown Soldier and the military personnel he represented. The Tomb sarcophagus is decorated with three wreaths on each side panel (north and south). On the front (east), three figures represent Peace, Victory and Valor. The back (west) features the inscription: “Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God.”
Today, thousands of people visit the Tomb of the Unknowns every day (the memorial has never been given an official name), to pay their respects and observe the changing of the military guard that protects the tomb 24 hours a day. Since 1921 three more crypts were added to include unidentified dead from the Second World War, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. (Thanks to DNA testing the Vietnam soldier was identified as United States Air Force First Lieutenant Michael Joseph Blassie and his remains were returned to his family in 1998.)
The Tomb remains a powerful reminder of those whose lives passed on in anonymity in service of their country.

A prayer:

“Lord God, this day we call Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for our country,
for today we pause to honor the memory of the men and women who for generations have sacrificed life and limb so that we may remain a free nation. We praise them for their courage that they never turned back and never gave up, despite overwhelming odds, but always persevered, so that future generations of Americans and citizens of nations where Americans fought and died might live free. Compared to other countries around the world, America is the new kid on the block, yet we have a rich heritage of liberty and freedom. We enjoy rights and privileges unheard of in many parts of the world, and for this we give You thanks.
May we never forget how costly our freedom has been—for the cost of our freedom is buried in countless graves, marked and unmarked, and oceans and jungles and deserts around the world. So, bless us this day, Lord God, and bless all who gather this day to remember those who served and sacrificed.
May we never take for granted your Providential care for us, and as our national motto is “In God We Trust”, may we learn to transfer this motto from our currency to our hearts. May God bless America!”
“Amen.”


Peace.

Pastor Pete Carlson

05/22/2026

“He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’--Job 37:6

Sparkling snow blanketing prickly saguaros was not what I expected that morning in the desert. I had predicted how God would act, only to find He had different plans, offering me a greater glimpse of Him.
The night before, my young daughter had ended her prayers with one last request: “And please let us have a snow day tomorrow.”
My immediate response to her was, “Just so you know, that will probably never happen in Tucson, Arizona.”
Yet that next morning, I woke to a message from her school letting me know snow had made the roads too icy. School was canceled. I glanced outside and saw everything covered with snow.
Though I’d presumptuously prepared my daughter for a “no” answer to her prayer, I now saw the joy on her face when she looked outside. And I was humbled. I was reminded of how God often reaches us with a touch of His creation just when we need it.
Job 37:5-6 proclaims, “God’s voice is glorious in the thunder. We can’t even imagine the greatness of his power. ‘He directs the snow to fall on the earth and tells the rain to pour down.’” Through all of creation, a loving, caring God is telling us He is here listening. His reminders are everywhere.
I find myself spiraling into worry about the future, only to look out and see the tiniest, most vulnerable-looking bird hovering around, reminding me God cares for all creatures, including me. Psalm 84:3 states, “Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow builds her nest and raises her young at a place near your altar.”
I feel fearful about present circumstances. Then I walk out and see a line of baby quail scurrying after one parent while the other parent remains nearby, scouting for danger. This helps me remember Psalm 91:4: “He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.”
When was the last time you gave yourself permission to embrace your child-heart, trusting God to reach out to you through the awe of all He has created? When did you last look up to the sky, allowing yourself to believe a miracle is on its way?
Sometimes the world just seems too heavy. And we are weary. But the designer of intricate DNA and infinite galaxies cares about our struggles and is reaching out to us.
So today I will allow myself to feel wonder at even the tiniest glimpses of His artistry. Because He is waiting to open my eyes to all the miracles falling into my life like snow in the desert on an extraordinary day. --Judy Thresher

Peace.

Pastor Pete Carlson

05/14/2026

“Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so.” --Genesis 1:14-15

I have always been fascinated with the universe. Planets, galaxies, comets, meteors, stars, the Aurora Borealis—all of these things have held my attention since childhood. They are so wonderful, so beautiful, and at the same time they are so mysterious. Unfortunately, a lot of us don’t look up to observe the heavens often enough, and we can miss out on so much of God’s creation. In observing the heavens, we witness God’s infinite power and His eternal nature. An even more awesome thought is that God, who created the universe, also knows every detail about you and loves you completely. The thing is, you don't need expensive equipment to experience God’s wonders, you just step outside with just your eyes (of course, a telescope or binoculars can sharpen your view.) The Bible says God created the sun and the moon and the stars on the fourth day of creation. What an awesome day that was!!

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” --Psalm 19:1

Devotion:

I was walking out of Central Park on a cold February evening when a woman who couldn’t have been five feet tall approached me. “Have you seen the moon?” she asked. I tried to brush her off, but she repeated herself. I turned to see the most brilliant full moon shining above the park. It stopped me in my tracks on a day when I had been in constant motion. I turned to thank the woman, but she was gone. It was as if the moon herself had come down to demand attention and had left as soon as attention was paid.— Rebecca Falcon

Peace.

Pastor Pete Carlson

05/11/2026

“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.” “Amen.”-- Matthew 6:9-13 (KJV)

When I first met my future step-dad, William Eckhardt, he was dating my mom. Bill was a Navy man, and had sea water in his veins. He owned a sailboat that he kept at a local marina, and he would take my mom and me and my brother and sister sailing out on Long Island Sound. Over time, my mom and Bill married, and we continued to go sailing in the summer, though he eventually purchased a much larger boat than his original one (I’m guessing because of the size of the “crew.”) I learned a lot about sailing, and about boats. One thing I learned is that you can get wet on a boat, and the boat can get water inside it, which for a landlubber can be a bit unnerving! That is why almost all boats have a bilge pump. The bilge of a ship or boat is the part of the hull that would rest on the ground if the vessel were unsupported by water. The "turn of the bilge" is the transition from the bottom of a hull to the sides of a hull. Bilge water is water that does not drain off the side of the deck or through the scupper (a hole in a ship's side to carry water overboard from the deck), and is typically caused by rough seas, excess rain, or untreated leaks in the boat's hull. This is normal and should not be a cause for concern as long as the water does not keep entering the boat.

Devotion:
In our lives we are continually contracting what daily needs forgiveness. Those who are baptized and forthwith depart this life, come up from the font free of debt, and leave this world free of debt. But those who are baptized and are still imprisoned in this life, by reason of human frailty contract certain impurities, which even though they may not involve shipwreck, yet make it necessary to get rid of the bilge water. Otherwise, if it is not pumped out it seeps in little by little, until the whole ship is in danger of sinking. The offering of the Lord’s Prayer may be compared to the pumping out of bilge water. --St. Augustine

Happy sailing!

Peace.

Pastor Pete Carlson

05/06/2026

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”--Psalm 46:1

I ride my bicycle 99 percent of the time. It’s just me and the city. I move fast enough to keep things interesting, but slowly enough to catch the weather changing or feel the mood of the people on the sidewalks. Every so often, I have to take the train. On very rare occasions, it’s me, the train and my bike, a combination no one ever seems thrilled to encounter. Because I know this, I try to shrink myself into an apologetic bicycle origami project once I’m on the train. I fold. I hover. I whisper “sorry” to people who haven’t even seen me yet.
On one such evening, I was trying to avoid anyone’s shins while hauling my bike up a flight of stairs after getting off the train, when I felt someone close behind me. Terrified that I’d clipped someone, I whipped around to see a smiling woman who had one hand casually gripping the back of my bike.
“I got you,” she said, like we were old friends moving a couch.
I told her I had it under control.
“Two hands are better than one,” she said. “I got you.”
So we climbed the stairs together: me, my bike and a total stranger, moving in perfect, unspoken coordination. At the top, she let go, nodded and vanished into the crowd. --Evan Abel

Peace.

05/05/2026

Greetings,
If you are planning on attending either the Wardsboro Methodist Church or Jamaica Community Church worship services on Sunday, May 10, 2026, please bring a photo of your mother, step-mother, or adoptive mother (even grandmothers and great-grandmothers!) to share with the congregation. ❤️
Pastor Pete

Address

PO Box 54; 7 Depot Street
Jamaica, VT
05343

Telephone

+18028744181

Website

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