The United Presbyterian Church of Lyndhurst

09/14/2026

09/14/2026

Today’s devotional: Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth (Colossians 3:2)

Every year on the summer solstice, there’s a yoga gathering in New York City’s Times Square. The event is called “Mind over Madness.” Thousands of people with their yoga mats gather all day in Times Square from 7:30 am to 8:30 to take a variety of free yoga classes.

Somehow all those people on yoga mats meditatively hold their yoga poses while cars are honking, subways are rumbling underneath, and pigeons are doing, well, pigeon-y things. It takes a lot of concentration to stay focused and to not be absorbed by the chaos.

If you find yourself in the midst of madness today, take the time to be still and meditate on Psalm 23:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

- Martha Day

My Shepherd (Psalm 23):

Aaron Shust’s song "My Shepherd (Psalm 23)" is one of 10 Psalms on ...

09/13/2026

Today’s devotional: “The Lord is the strength of my life” (Psalm 27:1).

Dr. Peale wrote this suggestion for people who feel overwhelmed, whatever the reason:

If your predicament looks hopeless, remember there is no situation so completely dark that something constructive cannot be done about it. Whenever faced with a minus, ask what you can do to make it a plus. Reject hopelessness; substitute faith; use intelligent, persevering effort.

The old advice is “Put some in.’ Put in some love, put in some help for someone, put in some kindness. At a minimum we will feel how wonderful it is to do something positive and loving. At a maximum… who knows!

- Kirk Woodward

“Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” (alternate tune)

"Love Divine, All Loves Excelling" was written by the great Methodi...

09/12/2026

Today’s devotional: The LORD made the Pleiades and Orion; He turns the shadow of death into morning and makes the day dark as night; He calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the face of the earth. The LORD is His name – Amos 5:8

Quite interesting that some constellations were named already in the first millennium B.C.; the book of Amos is believed to have been written in the seventh century B.C. I never thought about it before! After all, people of ancient days did not have the Hubble Telescope that stretches our vision into the galaxy, and beyond.

Amos knows that the waywardness of God’s people will result in them being conquered and their army wiped-out [the Assyrians accomplish this]; thus he warns them to turn from their wicked ways. Amos writes that The LORD indeed created the stars and other objects in the heavens. The LORD is not somewhere out there, but intimately involved in His creation. And, that He has the wisdom and power to do judge and destroy those who wander…it is within His control. Those who follow Him ought to repent to escape God’s devastating judgment.

Lesson for us today: when we falter or lose our way, repent!

- Linda Van Kampen

Creator Of The Stars Of Night (a Gregorian Chant):

Creator of the Stars of NightChristian Prayer: Hymn : Cr...

09/11/2026

Today’s devotional: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9)

At the 9/11 Memorial in NYC, two twin reflecting pools stand in the footprint of where the twin towers once stood. The reflecting pools are each nearly an acre in size. They feature the largest man-made waterfalls in North America.
And the names of those who died 25 years ago on 9/11 are engraved around the border walls.

The 9/11 Memorial, with its pools and environs, is a special place for reflection about our past, our present and our future. And like most things in our lives, they need to be cared for. Each weeknight, staff members climb inside the two pools to scrub them from top to bottom. The only way the pools can properly reflect is if they are regularly cleaned up.

On this 25th anniversary of 9/11, take the time to reflect on your past, your present, and your future. And if you see something that’s not quite right, God stands ready to help you clean up your life to give you a clean, clear, fresh start.

- Martha Day

Create in Me a Clean Heart:

“Create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me.” A...

09/10/2026

Today’s devotional: “What eye has not seen, what ear has not heard, what has not entered into human hearts – the glorious things that God has prepared for those who love God” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Looking up in the evening at a Manhattan apartment building, I saw an interesting sight. There was a room on the ninth floor with two corner windows at a 90-degree angle to each other. They offered a panorama of the city outside and below.

How had the residents of the apartment used this marvelous view? They had placed a giant TV set straddling the two windows, so their view was blocked by the screen! The marvels of a great city were replaced by… programming!

I felt bad for those people, and for us. Surely it’s good for us to participate in our environment, with all its marvels, as deeply as we can. Technology is by no means the best part of that environment! We can ask God to remove from us the things that block us from full appreciation of God’s world… and maybe even relocate that TV set.

- Kirk Woodward

“Open My Eyes, That I May See”

This is a performance of "Open My Eyes, That I May See." Our church...

09/09/2026

Today’s devotional: O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You ― 2 Chronicles 20:12

King Jehoshaphat narrowly escapes death in a battle. Now word has come that the enemy is approaching. Clouds of dust swirl into the air as a massive army comes in full force against the Israelites. People from Moab, Ammon, and others!

What does King Jehoshaphat do? He proclaims a fast and gathers the people of the nation of Judah together. And, he prays. I have not read about too many Kings or other rulers having gathered their nation together to pray. But, King Jehoshaphat leads the assembly in prayer. He confesses that Judah is not as mighty as this vast army that is approaching. Yet he declares that God’s chosen ones put their eyes upon and trust the one true God!

This is an example of what leaders should do in a crisis: pray! Pastors should do it. Leaders should do it!

- Linda Van Kampen

It’s Time to Pray:

“It’s Time to Pray” features The Dick Bolks Singers with this great...