Lebanon United Methodist Church

REV. RICH’S RITTINGS … MAY 29th, 2026
“Good news or bad news first?”
It would be easy to give you the bad news first since all one has to do is look at headlines from any news source and you can find plenty of headlines that show the darker side of politics and human nature. I would rather focus on some good news today. 😊 On the lighter side of recent events was a group of 100 seniors who “senior pranked” their principal the night before graduation. Working with the principal's family they were able to sneak into the house at 3:00 AM gather in the den and started singing “Pomp and Circumstance” (The song played at every high school graduation)! As the principal came down into his den you could tell that he was laughing at the prank and appreciated the effort his seniors had put into it. It was obvious that these seniors and their principal had a special relationship what you rarely get to hear about in the news. What a special moment for all that they will always remember and the fact that teenagers were willing to get up in the middle of the night to pull off this prank says a lot about humor, personalities, and love. We need to celebrate those moments that remind us there's so many good things that happen that don't make the news and aren't in the headlines. The same can be said about the Bible. There is a reason the New Testament is known as the Good News. From the Christmas story to the Easter story, from the parables to the Beatitudes, from Jesus’ interaction not just with his disciples but with the people that he encountered throughout his ministry, we're reminded of the good news. We are reminded that the “real” good news is that the Lord loves you, His grace covers you, and he walks with you in the valleys and mountaintops of our lives. 😊 If you're having a rough day or the events of the world seem to be dragging, you down remember that there is a lot of good news out there. It's not just the news of a high school principal and his seniors sharing a special moment it is the good news that the Lord loves you and we'll give you peace wherever you find yourself. Now to me that is really good news! 😊
Rev. Rich

THIS COMING SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE – 206th HOMECOMING! 😊
This Sunday is HOMECOMING! (May 17th ). THERE IS NO SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS. The Rev. Jack Colenda is our guest preacher. Jack was the student pastor at Lebanon from 2014-2017. Jack’s sermon this Sunday is “Homecoming” and his scriptures are Psalm 8 & Isaiah 52:7-10. There will be special music provided by Michael Scarlett. Come join us for a wonderful time of faith, fellowship and memories. Lunch will be in the fellowship hall immediately following the worship service. Hope to see all of you as you see old friends and make new ones! 😊

REV. RICH’S RITTINGS … APRIL 20, 2026
HOW IS GOD EVERYWHERE?

Throughout my life I have always chuckled when there's been an archaeological discovery that proves something from the Bible that until that archaeological find was declared to be a myth. One of the interesting facts for Christians is that in the history of archaeology no one has ever found anything that disproves a claim in the Bible! Think about that for a minute. As much as the Bible is attacked and criticized and ignored by those who are atheist or agnostics, the words in the Bible are proven time and time again by Archaeological finds in the Holy Land! Recently there has been a discovery in physics that Continues this trend and has caused scientists to scratch their heads as they explain that while it's not possible it is happening. It is called” quantum entanglement” and it is a physical phenomenon where pairs or groups of particles are inexplicably linked, sharing a quantum state regardless of the distance separating them. In normal everyday language what that means is as a particle here on earth experiences something it is shared INSTANTANEOUSLY with a particle at the other end of the universe! It means that scientists have found something faster than the speed of light. It is the same concept as an omnipresent God! In other words, scientists have discovered what Christians have believed all along that God can be everywhere at the same second. The word omnipresent literally means that “God is fully present at every point of space and time simultaneously maintaining the natural order while remaining distinct from creation”! While all these sentences may be difficult to comprehend for many of us it simply means that God is who He said He is and the Bible is right, truthful, and amazing! 😊

Rev. Rich