April 24, 2016 - Sunday was the 5th Sunday of Easter. The Holy Gospel for this Sunday was John 13: 31-35. Jesus is speaking to his followers for the last time. He gives them the “maundatum novum”—the new commandment--for the New Jerusalem. “Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another.” The New Testament reading was Revelation 21: 1-6, in which John describes the New Kingdom that Jesus ushers in. Once again God will dwell with his people. God will wipe away every tear. “Behold, I am making things new. It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega”—God is the beginning reality, and God is the final reality.
We had a wonderful Sunday school lesson from Luke about the Prodigal Son. I have a book about this parable and have been looking for it everywhere. When I read the Sunday school lesson Saturday, I knew I had to keep looking for it. At worship time we were in double digits! Yeah!
What a wonderful surprise it was to have Dianne and Keith from Los Angeles worshipping with us. Liz and Evie were also at church. Evie just turned one year old and is our youngest member; I used to be the youngest until they joined! Joe and Hilda had some help in the singing department with Keith and Liz, who have such nice singing voices. Hilda had a really nice visit last week with her sister from Atlanta.
The month of April is coming to an end. During this month Paxton Methodist has been collecting toothbrushes and toothpaste for Community Christian Services. Next month is cans of fruit. Next Sunday, the first day of May, we will celebrate Holy Communion as the church prepares for the end of the Easter Season and the beginning of Pentecost.
This Thursday is our monthly ministry at Lakeside Assisted Living in Center. Hilda told us that Joyce Hughes and Emily Taylor from Project String’s Super Group String Orchestra will be at Lakeside to perform. The program is at 2:00, and all are invited.
We heard from our good friend Lillie, who recently had a pacemaker put in. We hope she starts feeling better every day. We sure miss Lillie, Mike, and Liz and hope they can make a trip to Shelby County soon. Joy called Carolyn, who has been in the great state of Pennsylvania visiting family. We know she’s been a big help getting family members to doctor’s appointments and looking after them, but we really miss her at Paxton Methodist.
Sue and I made a trip to Dallas last week. Both our kids live there as do my brother Kent and his wife Mary. It was great seeing all of them. My brother Kent and wife Mary are now vacationing in Cuba! They both worked in Central America for many years so are fluent in Spanish. Going now means they can experience life in Cuba as it was in the 1950s (before the tourists take over).
For so many years my trips to Dallas were mainly to visit my parents—and then my mother. Sue and I went to the cemetery and put flowers at my parents’ graves. My mother’s marker from the Navy has come, and it looks really nice. Both my parents were Navy veterans of World War II.
“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 9:15 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!
