Bethany United Methodist Church

01/26/2026

01/06/2026

Who are the magi among us today—
those willing to cross borders for truth and love?

Who are the Marys,
holding the Christ child in fragile arms,
waiting for a knock at the door?

Who are the Herods,
terrified their illegitimate power might be exposed by the light?

In the face of fear, let us travel together.
Let us defy empire not with swords,
but with solidarity.

Let us kneel in awe,
not before the powerful,
but before the powerless Christ,
whose birth marks the beginning of God’s peace campaign.

Let us believe, with trembling hope,
that fear does not have the last word.

Because fear doesn’t stop us.
Love leads us forward.

—Rev. Dr. Boyung Lee, from her commentary on Matthew 2:1-12, 16-18 |

01/05/2026

When new threats derail our journey from the path we planned to take
We won’t let fear paralyze us, no we won’t stay locked in place
Staying nimble, we’ll move forward
Keeping safe by crossing borders
Move around the fear with grace
For we know we’ve seen God’s face

—from the hymn “We’ve Seen God’s Face” by Rev. Anna Strickland |

01/04/2026

For years, there has been a nasty practice of shaming indigenous practices, such as the usage of sage, when high church settings actively use incense in worship. We have come to a tension where anything that does not look like a particular type of Christian practice is perceived as pagan or satanic. For years, I have been reminding people that Jesus was gifted gold, frankincense, and myrrh by people who followed the stars to find him.

—from the artist statement for “King Tingz” by Rev. Nicolette Faison (.faison) |

01/03/2026

I will not tell you to buck up,
to tough it out, to ignore the fear
rattling around in your chest.
I will not tell you that all shall be well
or that morning will come quickly.
I will not ask you to march into danger
without first repeating your name in my prayers.

—from the poem “A Step Toward Home” by Rev. Sarah Speed |

01/02/2026

The Christmas story does not promise us a world without Herods,
but it does promise us Emmanuel—God with us—even when we’re running.

The presence of God does not remove the threat,
but transforms how we respond to it.

So this Christmas season, let us ask not only:
“What do I fear?”
But also:
“Whose fear am I called to notice?”

—Rev. Dr. Boyung Lee, from her commentary on Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 |

01/01/2026

The story of the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt takes new significance as I consider not only the experiences of dear ones around the world, but also my own ancestors. My piece focuses on a parent’s desperate grip of their child’s hand as they escape a despot’s fiery wrath, possibly in the dead of night. The colors subtly recall the Pan-African, Palestinian, and Sudanese flags. I remember those left behind, and the lower part of the composition depicts the anguish of mothers whose children were not spared.

—from the artist statement for “Stay With Me” by Rev. T. Denise Anderson () |

12/31/2025

Anywhere God’s children suffer, anywhere they live in fear
Anywhere oppression deepens, anywhere they sow in tears
Let us shine the light of justice, fueled by fear that had us bound
Hand in hand, proclaim God’s kin-dom ‘til we topple every crown

—from the hymn “Let the Fires of Justice Grow” by Rev. Anna Strickland |

12/30/2025

We often imagine fear as something to overcome or silence.
But here, fear becomes a catalyst for movement.
The Holy Family’s flight to Egypt is born of fear—
but it is also born of love,
of protection,
of resistance to unjust power.

Fear becomes fuel:
adrenaline that turns potential energy into action.
It doesn’t freeze us;
it propels us.

—Rev. Dr. Boyung Lee, from her commentary on Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 |

12/29/2025

When you are afraid, because this world is cruel and harsh,
or because humans are deported and shot without reason,
or because we cannot remember how to talk to each other civilly,
I will be your pack. I will stay by your side. I will run with you
until we reach the sun.

—from the poem “Until We Reach the Sun” by Rev. Sarah Speed |

12/28/2025

Luke’s story insists that the good news of God has weight and presence.
But it needs to be amplified. Proclaimed.

In a world where fear is curated and fed to us,
proclaiming good news is a countercultural act.

In a world that tells marginalized communities to be quiet,
that punishes joy and rage alike,
joy becomes resistance.

—Rev. Dr. Boyung Lee, from her commentary on Luke 2:1-20 |