July 29, 2019 - Love and peace from our brother, Jesus. What an unusually mild week for July we enjoyed last week!
Unfortunately, like all good things, the nice temperatures and low humidity can’t last. I had a busy week last week. Monday I had a doctor’s appointment in Shreveport. On Tuesday, I went to Dallas to take our granddog back to our daughter. While in Dallas, I got to visit with my kids and my brother and sister-in-law. I also went to a bookstore and a plant nursery. Then on Thursday, I drove to Kilgore to meet Sue. We had tickets to the Texas Shakespeare Festival for two plays, Othello and a modern one, Anything Goes. We had dinner at Jack Ryan’s Steakhouse. When we got back to Joaquin Friday evening, it seemed I had been gone for a month. The only things missing from home, though, were our dog companions, who vacationed at All God’s Creatures while we were gone. I got busy getting my sermon and the bulletin ready for Sunday—and picked up the puppies on Saturday.
Our Sunday school lesson was another of Jesus’ hard sayings. Matthew 7 begins with “Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged.” The lesson deals with self-examination in the light of God’s truth and love. Jesus shows us how easily our judgment is impaired by deception when we focus on others’ shortcomings and fail to see our own. Ms. Fannie had us all wishing to be slower in our race to judge others!
The Gospel Lesson for this Sunday was Luke 11: 1-4, where we see the disciples asking Jesus to teach them how to pray—like he does. What is now called The Lord’s Prayer is found in this scripture and also in the Matthew Gospel. The personal, intimate way Jesus refers to God is what makes The Lord’s Prayer unique. He uses the Aramaic word “Abba,” the informal, personal form of father—more like papa or dad. Many theologians I have read say that until we can come to understand this love affair God has with us, we will not begin to understand the nature of God.
We had a short business meeting before our worship time. The church members voted to send $500 to the Tenaha Youth Center to help with their good work. We also approved scholarships for two people who want to continue their studies in nursing. It was wonderful to see Ms. Hilda. Last weekend she was at a school reunion, having a great time.
Last Thursday the loyal folks (except for Sue and I, who were in Kilgore) headed to Lakeside Assisted Living for our ministry there. This week we gathered all of July’s canned spaghetti and ravioli to donate to Community Christian Services. In August we will collect socks and underwear for students returning to school. Decades ago at the Joaquin Methodist Church, this was the first of the collections for Christian Services, beginning with Gayle’s suggestion of Undie Sunday. Later we added monthly donations for other needed supplies.
Our worship time is 10:00 AM; we would love to have you come to worship with us. I know how very busy everyone is: Our early meeting time enables you to move on to family get-togethers or jobs afterward. Not to mention naps, which my wife says are best on Sunday afternoon. 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.
