Happenings at Paxton Methodist, Feb 3rd

February 3, 2020 - Grace and peace from our brother, Jesus, Amen. Sunday was the 4th Sunday after the Epiphany and the first Sunday in February. As numbers, Sunday’s date is 02-02-2020! During our worship service we celebrated Holy Communion. In February we will be collecting soap and shampoo for Community Christian Services. In January it was tuna; on Wednesday, I took all that we collected to Christian Services. I saw many friends volunteering at the food bank, and several people helped me unload my truck. On Monday, we will head to Focused Care at 10:00 for our ministry there. It has been typical East Texas winter weather with rain and cool temperatures. I would say that I am ready for spring, but it always seems that spring is missed and we head right into our hot summer weather.

The new theme for the next several Sunday School lessons is about holy places. The scripture that Gene read for the class this morning was Exodus 3: 1-12, the story of Moses and the burning bush. God speaks to Moses and tells him to take off his sandals because he is in a holy place. The Jews of Jesus’ time certainly thought of the Temple as being a sacred site, and we consider our churches the same. Fannie shared with us several wonderful stories of Paxton Methodist and some of the fine folks who touched so many lives. Toward the end of Sunday’s lesson the writer said, “We need the portable holy.” He meant that we can make any place holy by reaching toward God, who is present everywhere—and by being kind, just, and humble.

All the scriptures for the 4th Sunday after the Epiphany deal with the Kingdom and what is required to live in God’s eternal presence right now. Psalm 15 asks who will live in God’s tent, or with God on his holy mountain. The Old Testament Lesson for Sunday includes my favorite Bible verse—Micah 6:8. Micah is really put out with the rich and powerful who take advantage of the poor, feigning ignorance that their actions are the cause of so much pain and suffering. In Micah 6:8, God reminds us all what is required: to be kind, just, and humble. Jesus, when he delivers his Beatitudes sermon on the mount, strikes the same themes we hear from Micah. I included in my message a quote from the great Southern writer, William Faulkner: “Never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth and compassion against injustice and lying and greed. If people all over the world would do this it would change the earth.”

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.” 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.