December 5, 2016 - Sunday was the Second Sunday of Advent. Last Sunday the theme dealt with hope and the need to be a hopeful people. Advent is certainly about hope and anticipating a better world with Christ coming into it. This Sunday the theme was peace—God’s peace—shalom. As one of the writers I read in preparing my sermon said, the coming Kingdom of God cannot engulf our world while there is so much fighting and hate in it. The Old Testament Lesson was Isaiah 11: 1-10 where we see the prophet promise that a shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse. Jesse means “from God.” We Christians see this shoot “from God” to be the Human One—Jesus the Messiah. In our Gospel Lesson we hear John the Baptizer calling on everyone to repent and get prepared because the Kingdom of God is near. Like Isaiah, John is a voice in the wilderness calling for everyone to prepare the way for the Lord—to make straight the path for him.
In preparing for my sermon for the Second Sunday of Advent I came across this statement by Jack Rimer. Jack Rimer, Jewish theologian, in his book Likrat Shabbat, states that we cannot ask God in prayer to do something which is within the power he has already given us, so as to spare us the chore of doing it. That makes sense. It also tells us to not just be people of words but also people of deeds.
We started a new quarter in Sunday school, which means a new writer and a different theme. In keeping with Advent and Christmas, the first unit’s theme is The Savior has been Born. Fannie, using the story of the annunciation, stressed how Mary, just a young peasant girl, saw herself as the Lord’s servant. Her servant role is something that has been celebrated for over 2,000 years.
The Paxton Christmas Party is this Tuesday at 6:00, and we hope that many of our Paxton neighbors and other friends will join us for songs and stories. After the program will be finger foods. This year Joaquin First Baptist is organizing Christmas gifts and clothes for area kids. This is the first year that Community Christian Services will be heading up the Christmas effort after 25 plus years that Gayle and Christian Services have brought Christmas cheer to so many. Next Saturday, the East Texas Chopper guys will head up a toy drive and fundraiser at First Methodist at Joaquin.
Monday afternoon will be our ministry at Green Acres in Center. I have a doctor’s appointment in Shreveport, but I know that there will be many volunteers bringing songs and cheer to the residents of Green Acres. Later this month we will head to Holiday (Tuesday December 20th) and Lakeside (Thursday December 22nd). All the programs begin at 2:00.
In fine, organized Methodist fashion churches are preparing the “End of Year” Reports for the District and Conference. All United Methodist Churches, large or small, must fill out pages of numbers. I have really good help from the Paxton folks. Gene is our treasurer and keeps close tabs on the monies. I really appreciate him filling out all those questions dealing with finance. I was not raised Methodist and didn’t know anything about charge conferences and end-of-year reports, but after seventeen years of ministry I have gotten used to them—not liking them but used to them. On January 3rd I will have my yearly meeting with the District Superintendent. Our new DS is the Reverend Tony Vinson.
“Whoever you are, in whatever faith you were born, whatever creed you profess; if you come to this house to find God you are welcome here.” Paxton United Methodist Church is an inviting church that takes to heart the idea of “Open Doors, Open Hearts, Open Minds.” Sunday School starts at 9:30 and Worship begins at 10:00. Our email address is paxtonumc@yahoo.com. If you would like the weekly email newsletter about Paxton Methodist you can send me your email address to the Paxton email address and I will add you to the list. God’s Speed!
