March 18, 2019 - Love and peace from our brother Jesus. Sunday was the Second Sunday in Lent. And the luck of the calendar (or of the Irish!) meant that Sunday was also St. Patrick’s Day. The patron saint of Ireland was actually from England, but like the bumperstickers say, he got there as fast as he could. After a rainy, stormy start of the week, the last few days have been cool but sunny. Mr. and Mrs. Bravo have set up their nursery down in Haslam, a sure sign that spring is almost here! Sue and I took our vehicles up to Brookshire’s since the Joaquin Methodist kids were having a car wash. It was great to see Nolan and Theresa as they were busily helping out. After I got my truck washed, I went to Exotic Plant Farm’s Haslam branch and bought a plum tree, rose bushes and some hosta. When I got home I ordered more plants from a catalog. I am going big this year with Texas-friendly perennials.
Last Thursday at 10:00, a group met at Focused Care for song, scripture, and stories. Fannie read about friendship and then asked residents to share something about a good friend. Nora and Jo joined together to sing a couple of songs and also led the residents in “Deep in the Heart of Texas.” Everyone joined in singing and clapping in honor of Texas Independence Day. Pastor Matt read from the Psalms, sharing a few words and a prayer. I told a little about St. Patrick. Minnie played the piano, and Hilda lent her good voice to our singing. I think she knows all the songs in Heavenly Highways! This week on Tuesday at 2:00, we will be heading to Holiday Nursing Center for our monthly program there.
Our Sunday school lesson was on Jesus’ parable of the Prodigal Son. This wonderful story speaks of forgiveness and God’s desire for our redemption. But it also points out how hard it is to forgive. It is truly a divine trait that we have to work on every single day! Our Christian faith must be a life-long journey toward God.
St. Patrick was captured and taken to Ireland as a slave at the age of 16. He was given barely enough food to stay alive. He later wrote that as a slave, he began to pray to the God he had so often ignored. When he finally escaped and returned home, he became a priest. His family was horrified when he asked to be sent back to Ireland as a missionary. My benediction was this Irish blessing: “May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sunshine lie warm upon your face. May the rains fall soft upon your fields. And, until we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow of his hand.”
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.
