June 17, 2019 - Love and peace from our brother Jesus. Sunday was Trinity Sunday as well as Fathers Day. Sue and I were in Missouri last Sunday, which was The Day of Pentecost. So I decided to preach on Fathers Day and Pentecost. We had a great trip to Louisiana, Missouri. Louisiana is a quaint little town right on the Mississippi north of St. Louis. Sue’s aunt Patsy died and I conducted the graveside memorial service. We stopped and saw some of our favorite cousins on the way up and visited the picturesque towns of Hardy, AR, and Hermann, MO. It was only in Hermann that we had to detour around flood waters. Parts of Louisiana, MO, were flooded, including my mother-in-law’s farm—which was under about three feet of water.
Last Sunday, Larry spoke at church. He has covered for me the last several times Sue and I have been out of town. He is quite the historian and has done extensive research of Tenaha and Shelby County. Bill O’Neil, who was the state historian for quite a while, came to hear Larry speak. The only bad thing about all this is that I never get to hear him speak. One Sunday when I was gone but Sue wasn’t, she told me how much she enjoyed Larry’s talk about Leon Hale, the longtime Houston columnist.
We had a good visit, but it was nice to get back home. We missed our four-legged buddies—Gunter and Sam—who were at All God’s Creatures, their home away from home. Our friend Teresa watered my garden while I was gone and kept everything looking so nice. I have been picking tomatoes and bell peppers and will have some zucchini soon—not to mention the sunflowers that are taller than I am.
Our Sunday school lesson was from Hebrews 9: 11-22, about blood sacrifices that had been part of the spiritual life of the Jewish people. Paul says that all changed and a new covenant based on the Christ gives us hope and promise.
I used a scripture that is often used for Pentecost and one usually for Trinity Sunday. Trinity Sunday is the only holy day dedicated to a theological concept rather than an event (like Easter or Christmas). We say that God is mysterious, and trying to understand the idea of the Trinity proves that point. We recited the ancient Nicene Creed which was the fourth century church’s attempt to explain God who is Father, Son, and Spirit.
Fatherhood like Motherhood is all about the circle of life. I don’t think there is a “one size fits all” definition of fatherhood. I don’t even think you have to be a dad to be a father to someone. Fatherhood is about one’s soul. The late columnist Erma Bombeck suggested that fatherhood may have nothing to do with biological function, but is more a generic term. Father, she wrote, is a term for people who enrich other people’s lives, who make a difference in the lives they touch, and who would be sorely missed had they never been.
All during the month of June, Paxton Methodist will be collecting paper towels and toilet paper for Community Christian Services. On Tuesday we head to Holiday Nursing Center for our monthly program there.
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.
