March 19, 2018 - Sunday was the Fifth Sunday in Lent, with the promise of spring in the air. Next week is Palm Sunday—yes, already! This weekend I went by and visited with Roy and Judy at Sunshine Flowers. Roy always orders palm fronds for our Palm Sunday worship service. I also ordered some Easter lilies since we will be having Easter Sunday services at the church this year. Fannie and family had 30 glorious years of sunrise services, but they decided 30 was a good number to end on.
The Old Testament Lesson for this Sunday was Jeremiah 31:31-35. This short passage is a promise to Judah and Israel that a new covenant will be made after the nation, Jerusalem, and the Temple are destroyed. This covenant will not be centered on sacrifice and Temple worship but will be portable—written on the hearts of the people.
Both the Old and New Testaments are about covenant making and covenant breaking. The relationship between Jesus and his followers is intended as the newest covenant spoken about by Jeremiah, one for the here and now. This is not a last will and testament that promises us unwarranted rewards in Heaven but is a living covenant to govern us as we stumble, fall, walk, or run down life’s ways.
Our Sunday school lesson was based on 2 Chronicles 7:1-9, describing a scene of worship and sacrifice during the time of King Solomon. Worship is something that has also changed and evolved from the Temple worship with sacrifices to the home churches of the early Jesus movement to the imperial church of Constantine. Even today, worship has changed or been added to in order to reach a new generation of people. I guess the secret is holding to some of the traditions but adding new ways that enlarge our understanding.
We have two nursing home ministries this week. On Tuesday we head to Holiday Nursing Center and on Thursday, Lakeside Assisted Living. Both programs are at 2:00 PM. Because of so much sickness earlier this year, we missed the January and February programs. But here it is, springtime, and we’re rarin’ to go once again!
“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. Godspeed.
Randy & Sue Smith
Paxton Methodist Church
