Merry Christmas!

December 26, 2022 - Grace and peace from our brother Jesus, Amen. We at Paxton Methodist hope everyone has a joyful Christmas holiday. We don’t have a “white Christmas” but it’s sure a cold one! Most people on the Joaquin water system as well as other water systems that depend on the Joaquin system are without water. So many people are not only without water but also electricity. It is suppose to get above freezing again so maybe the hard-working crews can get things going again.

November 27, 2022 - Grace and peace from our brother Jesus, Amen. We at Paxton Methodist hope everyone had a joyful Thanksgiving. Reports from the pews show that Thanksgiving was a good time with plenty of food, football, and fun. As a church, we began the season of Advent, which sees another year go by on the Christian calendar and we prepare ourselves for the coming of the Christ child. Because the preacher is about a week behind, we also celebrated Christ the King Sunday. Now begins our time to worship the hope and promise coming that blessed morning.

October 31, 2022 - Grace and peace from our brother Jesus, Amen. We finally got some much-needed rain, but it will take a lot more to break this drought. This will be my last article and weekly newsletter for a while because I am having hand surgery next week. I don’t know what restrictions my doctor will give me, but I know I won’t be typing for awhile. And like that old joke, if I knew how to play the piano, I wouldn’t be able to do that either!

October 17, 2022 - Grace and peace from our brother Jesus, Amen. I didn’t submit a news article or write my weekly newsletter last week because I was out of town visiting family. I had a great time with my son and daughter, as well as visiting with my brother and sister-in-law. Last week we had a Gideon speaker, so he took over the sermon part of the service, while Larry and my wife did the rest. Sue reported that David was an interesting speaker and a very nice person. Fannie and I attended the Gideon banquet on Thursday evening, which featured a program and an excellent meal.

September 26, 2022 - Grace and peace from our brother Jesus, Amen. Our church service began with a Gathering Hymn today: “Morning Has Broken,” sung by Cat Stevens. This beautiful hymn is often used in the spring around Easter, but we enjoyed it just as much in the newly cooler fall. Our Gathering Words were based on Psalm 91, with the poet wondering who will live in the shadow of the Most High. The tormented picture on the front of the bulletin I assumed was Lazarus from the Gospel story, living in hunger and poverty.