March 14, 2016 - Sunday was the Fifth Sunday in Lent. Oftentimes during Lent Christians would give up something for forty days as a sacrifice and a way to prepare their minds and souls for the coming Easter. The two scriptures that served as the readings for this Sunday came from Luke. I am preaching a series on that last week of Jesus, and this Sunday the focus was on Tuesday. On Sunday Jesus rode into Jerusalem; on Monday Jesus cleared out the money lenders and others from the temple grounds. In Mark, the next day, Tuesday, was a very important day. We know it is Tuesday because Mark says, “In the morning…” To the surprise of the temple elite, Jesus and his disciples return to the Temple. The temple leaders send out people to follow Jesus and try to trip him up with theological questions.
As Tuesday comes to an end, Jesus is asked what the most important commandment is. Jesus recites the “Shema” which is one of two prayers that all Jewish children were taught and knew by heart. “We are to love our God with all our heart, soul, and mind.” To these important words Jesus adds that we are to love our neighbor. The Shema is to be prayed every morning and every evening; the Birkat Ha-Mazon is grace at meal time.
We had a small crowd at Paxton this morning. After such a rainy week, I’m sure looking forward to some sunshine this week. I hope everyone remembered to “spring forward” this weekend. It is only an hour lost, but I found myself yawning and sleepy all day. This month we are collecting chili for local food banks.
Easter is fast approaching, and everyone is invited to the Watson home for Sunrise Easter Service and breakfast afterward. Fannie says she isn’t worried about anything. I imagine that Fannie and her family are old pros when it comes to the sunrise service, since they have done it for 28 years! The sunrise service will start at 7:00 AM. My wife is not a morning person and has often wondered why it couldn’t be a sunset service. It just wouldn’t be the same!
Ms. Hilda, Fannie, and Sue reported that everything went well at the Green Acres ministry last week. Sue said they were very lively in their singing. This Tuesday at 2:00 will be our ministry at Holiday Nursing Center.
“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!
