April 30, 2018 - Sunday was the Fifth Sunday of Easter. The Epistle Lesson was 1 John 4: 7-21. The emphasis was on the need to care for one another. John says we are to love others as God loves us. And that God is love. English is such a weird language. In the Unabridged Random House Dictionary the one word love has 24 definitions! The third definition says, “A feeling of brotherhood and good will toward other people.” This is what John and Jesus were talking about. Unfortunately, this kind of compassion is lost on way to many people who call themselves Christians.
Our Sunday school lesson ventured back into John’s Revelation; the scripture was Revelation 5: 6-14. The Christian theological idea of Jesus as a sacrificial lamb is seen clearly here as John’s vision of Heaven and the throne of God are described. There were many questions—I just had to shrug on some. But when I got home, I looked in Breaking the Code about Revelation and the Oxford Annotated Bible. I have a couple of answers for next Sunday.
We were the regular crowd this Sunday; it was good to see Joy back with us. Carolyn says Guy goes back to the doctor this week and that he is progressing nicely. Sue told about the 100th birthday party held at the Senior Center on Saturday for Mrs. Esther Small. Many happy returns! Next month we will be collecting cans of fruit for Community Christian Services. I will deliver the toothpaste and toothbrushes we collected in April. Next Sunday we will celebrate Holy Communion. Next Sunday at 2:00 the Tenaha Church of Christ will dedicate their new church. Congratulations on the end of their building project: I know they’re happy to be in the new structure.
Last week was our mission to Lakeside Assisted Living. I returned from several days in Dallas visiting our kids just as Sue was leaving, so I stayed home. But most of the other folks came to help present the program. Minnie was on the piano—Mrs. Hilda appreciates being able to sing instead. Fannie read some slogans and talked about Harry Truman. Nora sang two songs, including one that is a favorite of her church. Gene also sang a couple of songs, adding my favorite hymn, “Morning Has Broken.” Sue read a picture book called Dog Breath, featuring the smelly pup Hally Tosis. Maggie and Sue emceed as usual, incorporating the requests Mrs. Hilda had written down from the audience before the program. Mrs. Margie Dorner closed it out with a sweetly worded prayer.
"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. Godspeed.
