+ Church Directory
+ Read the Bible Online (Link)
Contributing Writers: Mike Mills, Spring Hill Church | Doug Fincher | Pastor Randy and Sue Smith | Mike Belgard | Tim Perkins
Faith
September 14, 2020 - FBC Kids – a Wednesday evening event for children at First Baptist Center – begins with a Pizza Party in the Gym Wednesday, September 16, 6-7pm.
FBC Kids is for 3yrs – 6th grade, happens every Wednesday during the school year, and features music, crafts, activities, and “hands-on” Bible study.
Call 936-598-5605 for more info. First Baptist Center is located at 117 Cora – across from the historic courthouse.
September 14, 2020 - Grace and peace from our brother Jesus, Amen. Sunday was the twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. It seems like just the other day Hurricane Laura was threatening the coast of Louisiana and the Gulf. Now we are watching Sally, hoping for the best for our neighbors to the south of us. I sure was disappointed that the promised “cold front” didn’t quite make it to our area. But the mornings have been pleasant, even though we are still in that summer weather pattern in Texas. Here we are, half way through September, with a start-stop-start school year and two weeks of high school football.
Paxton Methodist Church is still meeting each Sunday wearing masks and practicing social distancing. It is easier for us than many other churches because we are really small—but this last Sunday we had six extra people! We limit our music to piano and CD solos, hoping not to spread droplets of whatever! During the month of September we are collecting macaroni and cheese for Community Christian Services. I delivered the August collection along with three checks, and it was really good to see friends giving others a helping hand.
In fine Methodist tradition, Paxton Methodist will have its yearly Charge Conference. We don’t have the technology to do Zoom so our District Superintendent is coming to Paxton on Saturday, November 21st. This will give us some time to get all the reports and evaluations completed, voted on, and sent to the District Office.
There was a short article before the Sunday School lesson about simplicity. Our author says we embrace simplicity by cleaning out all kinds of clutter. I know that our houses are full of stuff—some we treasure and some junk that is just that—junk! Our lesson scripture was from Romans, where Paul’s words are difficult. He speaks of us as enemies of God with a need to restore a relationship to the holy and divine. I agree with half of that: Despite my weak faith and questioning nature, I don’t see myself as an enemy of God. But Paul speaking about forgiveness and the reconciliation which comes after is something we can all embrace.
As we finished up Sunday School, we had several special folks come in for church. Lillie, Liz, and Mike were at the farm and joined us this morning. This was the first time in a long time that we got to see and visit with them. Lillie looked so good, after breaking her hip twice and doing the tough rehab. Mrs. Minnie also came this morning with her friend Hilda and even played piano for us. Minnie is a regular at our nursing home ministries, so we haven’t see her in a long time. Sue and Fred, Senior Center folks from Logansport, also joined us for worship. It was great to have all of them. We at Paxton Methodist are always excited when we are in “double digits.”
We have two birthdays this month. Our good friend Joe had a birthday Sunday, and we sure hope he is doing well and staying safe. Gene has a big birthday coming up this coming Sunday; family will join Gene and Joy for the celebration. We were saddened to hear of the death of our friend Carmelo Dominguez, the pastor whose congregation used to share our building. We have lost many dear people to this horrible pandemic.
My sermon dealt with the need not only to forgive, but to reconcile. Without reconciliation, repair of friendships is impossible. It does seem that we are way too often concerned with who is right and who is wrong and not on getting along. That requires respect and knowing that everyone deserves dignity—not to mention a touch of humility.
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, and Open Minds.” 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 your email address to the Paxton email address, and I will add you to the list. God’s Speed.
September 10, 2020 - When God asked Adam, “Where art thou?” if was embarrassing to him, because he was in the wrong place and had done the wrong thing. He had disobeyed God. When God asked Cain, “Where is thy brother?” is was embarrassing because of his sin. In the parable of the marriage feast, when the king asked the men who did not have on a wedding garment, “Friend, how camest thou in hither not having on a wedding garment?” the man was so embarrassed that he was speechless (Matthew 22:12).
We may have many excuses to offer now; but when we stand in the presence of the Great Judge and he asks us about our life, there will no longer be any excuses that we can offer.
Would it be embarrassing for others to know how often we read the Bible? Would it be embarrassing for others to know the level of concern we really have for the church? You know, there are many things we leave undone that we ought to do and there are many things we may do that would embarrass us among our friends. Yet, the real question is not what our friends and acquaintances think about the way we live, but how does Jesus feel about the way we live.
It’s something to think about… tbp
Center Church of Christ, 110 Hurst Street, Center, Texas or online at www.centerchurchofchrist.com.
September 9, 2020 - Huxley Helping Hands, a local mission group from the Huxley Community, are holding a Drive Thru Food Pantry for the residents of Shelby County. All recipients must show identification, wear a mask and be in line by 9:30am on Saturday, September 12, 2020.
Only one (1) box per household. There will be a devotion in the parking lot of Hillcrest Baptist Church, 901 Southview Circle, Center, Texas.
September 7, 2020 - Grace and peace from our brother Jesus, Amen. Sunday was the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. This has been a tough week for those in southwestern Louisiana as they are still digging out of the destruction brought on by Hurricane Laura. Most people in Shelby County finally got their power back on within the week. But many in those hard- hit parishes are still waiting for lights and some air conditioning.
September is here and tomorrow we celebrate Labor Day—the working man and woman. We are especially grateful for all those front-line workers who keep our country going and oftentimes do not earn a living wage or have health insurance for their families.
This was the first Sunday of the month, so we celebrated Holy Communion at Paxton. We are doing communion differently, trying to stay safe. Sue and I will deliver last month’s collection of checks and children’s underwear to Community Christian Services this week. During September we will collect macaroni and cheese.
With this new month, we also had new quarterly Sunday School books. Fannie had a really good lesson planned out and was able to tie many of the ideas in the main scripture—Acts 9: 1-20—to the present day. The scripture spoke of Paul’s conversion but also of his need to let go of the anger that had built up inside him. Our author said that one’s anger and the way one deals with it can serve as a test of spiritual maturity.
At church time, I continued looking at Paul’s letter to the Roman Jesus followers. One of the resources that I use in sermon preparation said that Romans serves as the textbook for Christianity. In this textbook the most important word is LOVE. Love here is seen as compassion, deep caring, and sense of belonging to one another—not passion or romance. The word “love” is so overused that we sometimes don’t realize how very central it is to our faith.
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, and Open Minds.” 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 your email address to the Paxton email address, and I will add you to the list. God’s Speed.
Randy & Sue Smith/Paxton United Methodist Church
September 3, 2020 - I read a story not long ago about a businessman, a man who was quite busy. He was harassed, discouraged, and overwhelmed with all the pressure he was under. He had deadlines to meet, projects to complete and a never-ending list of things he needed to take care of. Finally, in desperation, he decided to consult a psychiatrist. The good doctor immediately told him to slow down and work less. He also had some further instructions. He told the man to spend one hour every week in the cemetery. This puzzled the businessman and he immediately asked “why?" He was told to just go to the cemetery, look around and get to know some of the names of the permanent inhabitants located there. The doctor informed him that these people did not finish their work either. They went to the cemetery with tasks uncompleted. They had not accomplished all that they set out to do. No one does.
Are we in that story? Do we become so involved, obsessed, and burdened by the things of this life that we crowd the Lord out of our lives? Are we so “involved” with this world that we have no time to give faithful worship to God?
You see, some day, we will take time away from all the things that seem so important to us now – permanently. When we do, the world with go right on without us.
Perhaps it’s time to slow down and take the time to put God first in our lives.
It’s something to think about … tbp
Center Church of Christ
110 Hurst Street
Center, Texas
www.centerchurchofchrist.com
August 30, 2020 - Grace and peace from our brother Jesus, Amen. Sunday was the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time. What a wild weather week we have had! Hurricane Laura hit the coast of Texas and Louisiana and moved up the Sabine River, impacting our part of East Texas. We got about three and a half inches as Laura blew through our area. But the heaviest rains came the next day. We got four inches of heavy rain Friday morning. The devastation around Lake Charles is unbelievable. There is quite a bit of damage here in Shelby County and many people still without power. First responders have been out helping people and trying to get things as close to normal as possible.
All during the month of August we have been collecting children’s underclothes and socks. School has started in Shelby County and that includes football, of course. We wish the very best for the students and staff as they return to school during this horrible pandemic. In the month of September Paxton Methodist will be collecting macaroni and cheese. We haven’t started back with our nursing home programs and won’t until it is safe and we get the all clear. We certainly miss our friends at the area nursing homes and assisted living centers and hope they stay safe.
We all need to remember to wear masks. I saw something on TV that said wearing a mask is common sense and common decency. We also need to keep a safe social distance and wash our hands often. In addition, doctors recommend getting a flu shot before the end of October.
We finished up this quarter of Sunday School lessons. The title of Sunday’s lesson was “Great Mercy.” The scripture was Mark 5: 1-20, which spoke about a man demon possessed and pigs rushing into a lake and drowning. We all thought the choice of scripture was a little strange. But the author stressed the word “broken,” which he defined as fractured, shattered, splintered, crushed, not complete or full. He went on to say that every person is seen as having sacred worth by God. Jesus certainly demonstrated that in this strange scripture.
I used the Epistle lesson for this Sunday as my main scripture. The reading was Romans 12: 9-21, a continuation from last week’s scripture. In my sermon I spoke about how crucial Paul was to the early Jesus movement. It was Paul, his missionaries, and his followers who transformed Christianity from a small Jewish sect into a Gentile religion—that in four centuries would become the dominant force in the Western World. Paul’s letters were practical advice to these new and growing communities of faith: He stressed that faith must begin with humility, overcoming evil with good in our hearts and in our dealings with others. Paul also realized that the hunger for God can only be satisfied by a love that is face to face—person to person.
Paxton Methodist was saddened to learn of the death of our next-door neighbor, Minnie D. Smith, who just recently celebrated her 102nd birthday. We will miss her smile, her kindness, and her wit. Gene told us Sunday that there will be a benefit for the Parks family at Napa Auto Parts next Friday from ten until six. Barbecue plates will be sold.
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, and Open Minds.” 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 your email address to the Paxton email address, and I will add you to the list. God’s Speed.
August 27, 2020 - Fellowship MBC in Joaquin would like to announce their 81st annual homecoming, celebrating 181 years of consecutive service to Almighty God. Services will begin at 10:30 am on September 6, 2020. All are invited to come and worship and celebrate at the new building located at 2271 FM 139 in Joaquin. BBQ lunch will follow at the old location in the fellowship hall.
August 27, 2020 - By the time you are reading this, Hurricane Laura should have made landfall along the Gulf Coast. This storm has caused me think of an incident in the life of Jesus when he was in a little boat with his disciples on Galilee. We read in Mark Chapter 4 that a great storm of wind arose on the Sea of Galilee, the waves were beating into the ship and the disciples were afraid. Yet, in the midst of that horrific storm, Jesus was asleep in the back of the ship.
The storm with all of its fury could not wake Jesus up, yet the fearful cry of His disciples woke Him. They asked Him if it mattered to Him whether they died or not. When they woke Him up, Mark tells us that Jesus rebuked the wind and said unto the sea Peace, be still. We are told that the wind ceased and there was a great calm (Mark 4:39)
It was then that Jesus asked them, “Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith”? Let’s face it, storms are going to come in our lives. Storms of doubt, fear, temptation, sickness, and disease. Storms that threaten us with loss of health or loss of wealth. Whatever storm is blowing in our life, Jesus can calm that storm if we will make Him the Lord and Master of our lives. Remember, if Jesus is not Lord of all of your life, He is not Lord at all in your life. Resolve today, right now, to make whatever changes need to be made for Jesus to be Lord of your life all of your life!
It’s something to think about…..tbp
Center Church of Christ
110 Hurst Street
Center, Texas
www.centerchurchofchrist.com
August 24, 2020 - Grace and peace from our brother Jesus, Amen. Sunday was the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time. What pretty weather we have had! For August the temperatures have been reasonable and the humidity lower than normal. We don’t know what next week will be, as they are now predicting two hurricanes in the gulf. We certainly could use the rain here, but we worry about our neighbors along the coast.
I went on my first trip since the pandemic. My little dog Sam and I went to my daughter’s in Dallas. While at her house, I saw my son and my brother and sister-in-law. I really had a nice visit. Megan had the young man who mows her yard fill my truck with wooden fence, pavers, and pallets left over from having her back yard redone.
I lose track of time during the pandemic and didn’t realize that it is about time for the church’s Charge Conference. This is a yearly meeting with reports and budgets that we have with the District Superintendent. This year’s conference will, of course, be different because of the pandemic. I need to get busy working on reports and the budget.
Our Sunday School lesson focused on Matthew 15:21-28 and the Canaanite woman. This was the Gospel lesson for last Sunday and the scripture that I used then. This unnamed woman was determined to get a healing for her sick daughter. The disciples were put out with her as she kept shouting for help, annoying and embarrassing them. She was getting into what John Lewis would call “good trouble.” Jesus at first ignored her and seemed to deny her requested help, but was moved by her determination, healing her daughter after all. Our lesson said taking time to listen to another person’s story is an expression of concern for them and their situation. Being good listeners is part of the compassionate care we should show others.
I used as my scripture for Sunday the Epistle Lesson from Romans 12:1-8. In my sermon, I mentioned that some New Testament scholars refer to these verses as the Christian Torah. For the Jewish people, the Torah is the first section of their testament, what we Christians call the Old Testament. Torah means “pointing the way,” and that is what Paul is doing in Sunday’s scripture.
We are collecting children’s socks and underwear this month for Community Christian Services, part of Undie Sunday from so long ago. Next month is another kid-centered collection: macaroni and cheese. Our grand-niece, who just turned 13 today, loves that dish and has made it the top one of her cooking repertoire. When Sue asked what kind of cheese she uses, Ava replied, “Kraft.” Turns out that the only mac-n-cheese for her is that blue box with the powdered cheese!
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, and Open Minds.” Worship begins at 10am. Our email address is paxtonumc@yahoo.com. If you would like the weekly email newsletter about Paxton Methodist, you can send your email address to the Paxton email address, and I will add you to the list. God’s Speed.
Randy & Sue Smith/Paxton United Methodist Church
Pages
