News from Paxton Methodist, Sept. 28

September 28, 2020 - Grace and peace from our brother Jesus, Amen. Sunday was the twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. We got rain and the promise of fall-like temperatures this week. I went last Sunday to Dallas and visited with my daughter and son. Megan and her faithful dog Stella then returned the favor and spent a few days with us. Our two dogs really like Stella, and Stella enjoys running around our big fenced-in yard. Megan and Sue were able to visit family in Nacogdoches, including Grandma Dixie in assisted living. Megan and I went to Center’s Lily Farm to get plants for our gardens.

Schools continue to operate with a mixture of remote and in-person learning. We wish them a successful year and hopefully, a healthy one. Joaquin and the other Shelby County football teams won their high school games this week. It’s good to see some normalcy in this anything-but-normal time.

Paxton Methodist Church is meeting each Sunday wearing masks and practicing social distancing. Our music is just on piano and CD—no singing to spread germs. And, by the way, remember to get your flu shot this year! Especially with Covid still very much in our lives, you need to stay healthy every way you can.

All during the month of September we collected macaroni and cheese for Community Christian Services; we loaded them into my truck Sunday for me to deliver. Next month is that kids’ favorite, peanut butter and jelly. CCS is also starting on their annual Christmas for Kids. Our church received a letter from Joaquin First Baptist this week announcing their plans and asking for donations—checks and/or Angel Tree gifts.

My sermon preparation got off to a late start because I was in Dallas this week. On the way to Dallas and then Thursday going to a Shreveport doctor’s appointment, I listened to ten lectures on Early Christianity. Several of the lectures speculated what the very earliest Christians believed about Jesus—long before the four gospels were written and even before Paul’s letters around CE 50. While I was listening, I tried to put myself in the shoes (or sandals, I guess) of those first believers. That is not easy to do because our frame of reference is so different from people who lived two thousand years ago. But that became the focus of my sermon: How did early Christians view Jesus, God, the idea of a messiah, and so on? The scripture I used was Matthew 16: 13-20 when Jesus asks the disciples who people thought he was. Then he asked who the disciples thought he was; only Peter spoke, saying that he was the Messiah and the Son of the living God.

We had two special guests at Sunday School and church today. Fannie’s granddaughter, Carly and her son Brooks came. Brooks is 6 months old! For most of us, this was the first time we met Brooks. It was great to have them, and I know Fannie was thrilled. At church, Larry, Gene, Joy, and Theresa presented Fannie with a Blue Star Banner of three stars. The stars represent Fannie’s two grandsons, Will and Jake, and a great- granddaughter, Alexis, serving in the military. We at Paxton Methodist appreciate their service, and I know that Fannie is proud.

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, and Open Minds.” 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 your email address to the Paxton email address, and I will add you to the list. God’s Speed.

Randy & Sue Smith/Paxton United Methodist Church