October 29, 2018 - Sunday was the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time. What a surprise I had when I got to Sunday School! When I first came in and saw the young man standing next to Fannie, I thought he was one of Fannie’s grandsons. But I soon realized he was former student and friend, Glenn McGee, in town for the memorial of his classmate, David Bigger. Sue and I taught Glenn and his sister Whitney, becoming close friends with his mother Carolyn and his stepfather Robert, who were our daughter’s godparents at her baptism. Seeing Glenn was a wonderful surprise. And it was so nice of him to join us for Sunday School and worship.
Our Sunday School continued the theme of creation and dealt with the strange way Isaac and Rebekah became a family. The idea of a pre-arranged wedding sounds strange to our Western ears but wasn’t unusual back then. The way this future bride was selected, however, was a little out of the ordinary.
We filled up the back seat of my truck with peanut butter and jelly and I will deliver it to Community Christian Services. In the month of November we will collect beans and rice. On Sunday, November 11th we will have a Gideon speaker come to update the church on the work of the Gideons. Sue announced the second (and last) flu shot clinic at Joaquin Senior Center from 10-11, Thursday, November 15.
The scripture I chose for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time was Hebrews 1: 1-4. Many Biblical scholars believe Apollos wrote this long sermon because the writing style is so different from the letters we know Paul wrote. Apollos was a Hellenized Jew from Alexandria, educated in Greek rhetoric. He was trying to re-introduce Jesus to second-generation believers having a crisis of faith.
Last week was our program at Lakeside Assisted Living. Minnie had played for the program at Holiday Nursing Home the week before, but Hilda did the honors this last week. Stellar and her mom joined the group, with Stellar singing and accompanying herself on guitar. Matt took the preacher duties—although from a standing position due to back problems—and Maggie assumed the emcee job. Gene and Nora both sang “old-time religion” songs and helped lead the other singing. Ollie, Fannie, and Sue read selections—Ollie’s about America, Fannie’s a Norman Rockwell dog story, and Sue’s a short list of “see you later, alligator” sayings. As usual, it was lovely to have Margie and Jo with us. In November our Lakeside program will be on the 5th Thursday, November 29, because of Thanksgiving.
“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 the list. God’s Speed.
