May 2, 2016 - Sunday was the 6th Sunday of Easter. Next Sunday, along with Mothers’ Day, Christians will celebrate the Ascension of Jesus and the 7th Sunday of Easter. Easter Season then ends, followed by Pentecost, when we celebrate the birth of the Jesus movement. Pentecost is the last major holy day for both Jews and Christians until next fall. We enter a time on the church calendar that is referred to as Ordinary Time. The older I get, the more I enjoy ordinary time! The word “Christianity” is not found in the New Testament and the word “Christian” is found only twice. Those who followed Jesus we called Followers of the Way.
Our Gospel Lesson comes from John 14: 23-29, part of the last discourse Jesus has with his disciples before that fateful week. Jesus tells them that his time on earth is coming to an end but promises that the Spirit of God will always go with them. The disciples soon realize that they must get on with their lives, but they also know that they have been altered forever because they followed Jesus.
We had a great Sunday school lesson today on faith. The author of this quarter’s lessons adds so many new ways of understanding that just reading the lesson helps build faith. We had a small crowd this morning. We all miss Lillie and Carolyn, and we hope to see them one of these Sundays. Joy said she was feeling some better, which was good to hear.
Today is also the first day of May. The first Sunday of each month is when Paxton Methodists celebrate Holy Communion. During the month of May we will be collecting cans of fruit for Community Christian Services. This Monday will be our ministry at Green Acres starting at 2:00. Later in the month we will visit Holiday Nursing Center and Lakeside Village.
Last Thursday we gathered at Lakeside Village—the assisted living place on the Loop in Center. Ms. Hilda invited Joyce Hughes and Emily Taylor, members of Project String’s Super Group String Orchestra, to perform for the folks there. Both played the harp and piano. Everyone had a great time listening and also singing congregationally. Nora and Gene offered specials—beautifully as usual.
“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 9:15 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!
Happenings at Paxton United Methodist Church, May 2nd
