Weekly Greeting - August 11th, 2023

Dear Bethlehem Family,

Father Charles Strobel, beloved priest and advocate for the homeless, died this past Sunday.  He was 80 years old.  Many of us know Father Strobel through the Room in the Inn ministry which he began in 1985 while serving as pastor of Holy Name Catholic Church in East Nashville.

Room in the Inn began with Father Strobel opening up his own church and then encouraging other churches to provide shelter for the homeless. Bethlehem has taken part in the Room in the Inn ministry for over 30 years.

Strobel was a huge baseball fan, so it is fitting that his memorial service will take place at First Horizon Park, home of the Sounds, this Friday at 10:00.

Room in the Inn announced Strobel’s death via social media on Sunday, referencing a passage from the Gospel of Matthew:

“‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’ It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our founding director, Father Charles Strobel.  Charlie passed away peacefully this morning.  We are so grateful for his life and for his legacy. May he rest in peace.”

Blessings,

Craig

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When I visited the Holy Land with a group of preachers some years ago, I was asked to preach on a boat out on the Sea of Galilee.  Pastors from several traditions and denominations were on board.  It was a great honor to be with them all.  I was to preach on the same body of water Jesus once sat on in a boat as he taught the multitudes.  I was very excited (and nervous).

As we made our way out to the site where I would be preaching, I began noticing the sound of the motor on the boat.  It was very loud.  I began to wonder if I could be heard over the noise of the engine.  Then, just as we arrived at the place where we held the service, the captain turned the engine off.  One crisis was averted.  It was as quiet as it could be.

The guide then looked out at those gathered on the boat and said, “From here we walk.”  Then as everyone broke out in laughter he added, “and now Pastor Goff will lead us in our service.”  It was a bit of a challenge to get everyone focused on listening to a message after such a good laugh.

The water we were on, the same water Jesus walked on as described in our text for this week from Matthew 14:22-33 was no different than any other body of water.  Maybe our text for this week is a reminder that whenever we feel overwhelmed, the One who once walked on water is never overwhelmed and is always with us.