Isaiah 43:18-19 The Lord says, “Forget the former things; and do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive of it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wastelands…”

It’s time to get creative! It’s time to listen and listen closely for what God is trying to tell the church. This is no easy task. We are being challenged to move beyond the ways we have always done it, and move forward in new directions. God is doing a new thing and it is hard to perceive what is going on.

As I continue to age, I find myself often looking back through the years. I think of my childhood where it seemed everyone not only belonged to a church — they attended weekly. I remember knowing who on my childhood street was Catholic and who was Protestant. I actually thought the Protestants were one political party and the Catholics were the other. I just can’t remember which one was which.

Although I can’t clearly remember a lot of the theological issues of that day, I knew somethings were never expected to change — and yet they did.

I never dreamed of becoming a pastor. Girls were not meant to be pastors or leaders. Who knew God would call females into ordained?

Flash forward to the 2020s. It surely is a very different day. So many things have changed and the church continues to go in new directions.

God is calling gay, straight, male, female, rich, poor, Black, white to lead. Ecumenism, the movement to restore unity among all Christians, is now moving forward. There have been so many changes — God certainly is doing a new thing in our midst.

New things can be good. They are just different. When change occurs we need to allow ourselves to think them through and pray about the changes. We need to open ourselves up to the ways we can build up the faith and teach the Word to our upcoming generations. We need to find ways to be kinder, caring, loving and just.

Since June 2025 I have been serving as an intentional interim pastor for three churches that have come together. Two of the congregations came to the conclusion they could no longer support their church buildings. Membership had declined and the congregations were aging. After much prayer and discussion two church buildings have been sold/closed/torn down. A legal merger took place and the three congregations are now worshipping as one.

In many ways it was a painful process. These beautiful church buildings are the places of family baptisms, confirmations, weddings, funerals — along with Christmas pageants, Cantatas, Egg hunts and more. Decades of memories. Now they all worship together as one at St. Thomas.

Twenty, even 10 years ago, I would have said this merger stuff would never work. But, with God, all things are possible.

Churches may or may not be of the same denomination but they still have unique parts to their celebrations. Communion ware, hymnals, paraments, statues were gathered and brought to the new church. What mattered most was the warm greetings that were issued and received. New friendships formed. Merging three churches meant more children, families, resources, ideas.

This story of three United Church of Christ congregations is filled with miracle happenings. Fun events were planned. Mission projects took place. This new church actively welcomes everyone.

Church of the Manger, Trinity, and St. Thomas have now become one. They are now St. Thomas, known as a place with lots of activities, great music and the best ever Shoefly pies.

Three became one.

Today religious communities are looking at how to cut expenses, share pastors and more. We are looking at ways to teach and share the gospel of Jesus Christ in ways to will encourage growth in faith and a better world.

We know the process of closing a church is extremely painful, but if it is of God, it will be preparing for a better Spirit-led future. Churches merging is only one of many new things God is doing in our midst.

Today is a new day. New ideas are on the forefront. God IS doing a new thing in our midst. Are we, the followers, able to perceive of it? Are we able to trust that if we are faithful and following the teachings of Jesus Christ, then we will see that? Thanks be to God, a new day is ahead.

This is a contributed opinion column. The Rev. Dr. Becky Beckwith is intentional interim pastor at St. Thomas United Church of Christ, Bethlehem.