Happenings at Paxton Methodist Sept 3rd

September 3, 2018 - Sunday was the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time; as we ordinarily do, we gathered at Paxton United Methodist around 9:15 for Sunday School. We started a new quarter with new materials and a new author. The first unit deals with creation: What beautiful creation stories are found in the two chapters of Genesis! Here you find order created from chaos as well as the beginning of the earth and sky. Ms. Fannie kept us on task while we all contributed our ideas, wonder, and puzzlement about creation and that great mystery we call God. 

My computer also remains a great mystery to me, but luckily there are people who can make sense of technology. I took my ailing computer to David Worsham, who has always had great success in cleaning it up, ridding me of nasty viruses, and getting me up and running. Last week I didn’t send an article to the newspapers and online newspapers, and I didn’t write my weekly news article that I send to church members and friends. But now I am back online and writing this article Labor Day afternoon. Walking the dogs was a joy as the clouds were thick with a temperature in the 70s. We Texans have learned to appreciate any break in the heat and humidity during these sizzling summer days. 

We had three visitors Sunday that shot us into double digits—something we celebrate at little Paxton Methodist. We are small in number but big in heart. My son Jacob came to visit and attended church. It is always wonderful to see my kids. My daughter Megan is in New York City at the U.S. Open (tennis). She had a marvelous time, meeting some celebrities and seeing some really fine tennis.

It was great to have Teresa and Larry visiting Paxton Methodist. They are friends of Gene and Joy, and we sure hope they will come again. We celebrated Labor Day, the Rodney Dangerfield of American holidays because it doesn’t get much respect. There will be few fireworks and no pastel eggs to hunt. But this holiday, which is a little over a hundred years old, celebrates American workers and the importance of the Labor movement in our nation. 

The Old Testament Lesson for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time was from The Song of Songs, chapter 2: 8-13. The poetry of the Songs is about love—romantic love. The authors of the various books of the Bible often speak of love since God is love, and the ground being of all existence. The Epistle Lesson comes from James 1: 17-27. Tradition tells us this book was written by Jesus’ brother James, who became the leader of the Jerusalem church and was a fierce opponent of Paul. Yes, even then there were disagreements in the church.

We had two nursing home ministries week before last, but as I said earlier in this article, my computer wasn’t up to reporting. Minnie played for Holiday’s program, and Hilda for Lakeside. At both, Pastor Matt spoke of Biblical dreams. Nora read a going-to-school book in honor of kids and teachers, and she also sang. Fannie treated us to wit and wisdom, astounding us with some of her facts. Jo, Maggie, Gene, Ollie, Margie, and Sallie joined us, with Sallie and Gene doing specials. Gene sang “Morning Has Broken” as a birthday treat to me. Sue read different children’s poems at each place; she also followed Pastor Matt’s Biblical dreams with some more modern inspirations coming from dreams: the periodic table, the song “Yesterday,” and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, to name a few. I emceed both programs, giving my wife and Maggie a break from that job.

“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.