January 23rd, 2026 | Rev. Rachel Williams

Friends,

I am sure you have heard the phrase “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” It is a phrase that we use to express that we all find different things beautiful or aesthetically pleasing.

I’m curious what you find beautiful in your life. I could say the obvious- the smiles of my children and my husband- but I’ll tell you I am also keen to enjoy almost anything in nature and things filled with color or sparkle. Beauty also comes in words we read or music we hear or art we enjoy. There are so many ways that we experience that which often captivates and enthralls us. 

This Sunday, we begin a four-week series where we explore beauty and the divine. Each week we will encounter a variety of images, authors and artistic mediums to engage our God-given senses in contemplation of God’s glorious creation. An accompanying class called “Beauty: A Pathway to the Divine” will begin on Thursday afternoons at 3:00PM in the choir room on January 29th. Finally, for the full immersive experience please join us for the Beauty retreat at Riverside Park UMC on February 7th from 10:00AM to 3:00PM. You can receive more information by calling the church office. It will be a wonderful day of workshops alongside other churches in the district. 

I look forward to hearing all of the ways the Spirit moves in you in these next weeks! 

With grace and love,

Pastor Rachel