March 11, 2019 - Love and peace from our brother Jesus. Sunday was the First Sunday in Lent. Last Wednesday was Ash Wednesday, which begins the forty-day period of Lenten devotion. Our Sunday school lesson was titled “A Costly Call.” Ms. Fannie explained it well, and the “hard sayings” of Jesus in Luke 14 were important for us to hear. Gene read the scripture from Mark 1 and Luke 14. In Mark we are told how Jesus called Simon and Andrew and then James and John to be his disciples. They immediately followed Jesus. In the Luke Gospel Jesus tells the high cost of discipleship, a list that makes us uncomfortable. Jesus tells the large crowd to be sure to weigh the heavy cost before becoming a follower of Jesus. Lent is a good time to think about that cost, trying more faithfully to follow in Jesus’ footsteps.
The Holy Gospel for this Sunday was Luke 4: 1-13. Luke takes Jesus from the baptismal waters to the wilderness of temptation. After the forty days of fasting and prayer, Jesus is ready to set his sights on Jerusalem and to proclaim to all who will listen that God’s Kingdom is right around the corner.
Daylight Savings Time took effect this weekend, and we lost an hour of sleep. I guess we will enjoy the extra of daylight at the end of the day—once we get over the “jet lag” of the hour change. This Thursday we have our ministry at Focused Care. All this month we will be collecting cans of chili for Community Christian Services.
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.
