June 20, 2016 - Sunday was the 5th Sunday after Pentecost. It is also the third Sunday in June so our nation celebrated Father’s Day. If you read Ephesians 6: 4 in The Message, it says “Fathers, don’t exasperate your children by coming down hard on them. Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master.” The role of the Father has gone through many changes in the last few generations. Most women work outside the home, and the care of hearth and home is shared in most families. The most important and difficult job fathers have is raising the kids. It is a two-person job and more—actually, it does take a whole village to raise a child.
Our attendance was small for both Sunday school and church. We a visitor this morning, and when I got to church I walked right past the visitor without saying hello. Gene, though, noticed the friendly visiting snake coming up the ramp toward the front door. Ay yi yi!
The scripture for Sunday school came from Zephaniah. The prophet, like all the Old Testament prophets, saw hope and reconciliation with God and with each other. The entire Old Testament is about covenant making and covenant breaking.
Sue and I missed last Sunday. We had gone north for the Rinas family reunion in Chicago. We had a good time visiting with cousins and their children, grandchildren, and yes, great-grandchildren. My mother died this past February, and only two of the ten siblings are left. Both Ray and Aggie came, and it was great to see them.
On Sunday I decided to go out of the way to visit Villisca, Iowa. It is the town where my father grew up and my Smith grandparents are buried. However, I am very challenged when it comes to maps and directions. Going to Villisca took over six hours! We stayed in Shenandoah near Villisca, which is the home of the Everly Brothers. The next morning we headed south toward home.
This coming week we have two ministries. On Tuesday, June 21st we are going to Holiday Nursing Center, and on Thursday, June 23rd will be our ministry at Lakeside Assisted Living.
“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!
Happenings at Paxton United Methodist Church, Jun 20th
