December 11, 2017 - Sunday was the Second Sunday of Advent. It was a cold Sunday morning, but then again, it’s just about two weeks before Christmas. Winter has yet to make its official entry this year, but try telling that to the folks south of us who got a rare December snowfall! We are in a Christian year that stresses the Gospel of Mark. Even though Mark is the second Gospel in the Bible, we know it is the oldest—written about 30 years after the crucifixion of Jesus. According to the Mark Gospel, the Good News (the definition of “gospel”) begins with John the Baptizer urging people to turn their lives around. Sunday’s Gospel was Mark 1:1-8, where we are introduced to the wild John. In the Mark Gospel there are no birth stories—no Bethlehem or mangers or wise men or shepherds. John baptizing people into the “kingdom life” opens and is a central idea in the Christ story.
Our Sunday school lesson focused on how to discern—figure out—those who teach us to serve and those who seek power and indulgence. Our scripture was Acts 13:1-12; there, we see someone who proclaims to be a Jesus follower but is turning Jesus’ message into “crooked paths.”
We had a small group this morning but a really good Sunday school lesson and worship service. Joe and Hilda worked together to bring our music, which we all enjoyed. Sunday being the Second Sunday of Advent, Fanny lit the first two Advent candles while Sue read the Advent Lesson. The Second Sunday stresses peace, as the first proclaimed hope.
The folks at Paxton Methodist hosted their annual Paxton Community Christmas program and dinner last Tuesday. We had a full crowd, and Fannie put together a really nice program. There was an abundance of food, of course! The church looked beautiful, and the sanctuary was full of lively Christmas songs, aromas of good food, and the wonderful company of friends and neighbors. After I welcomed everyone, Sue started us out with a picture book called How Santa Got His Job, and Fannie read parts of the Christmas story in verse between each Christmas song. Friends of our church helped out with the program: the Wimberlys singing “Beautiful Star of Bethlehem,” Wayne leading the congregational singing, Gene Casto presenting a Calypso version of the Christmas news, and Nora Robinson doing her “Thank You for Giving to the Lord” (by request of our members who’ve heard her sing it at nursing home programs). It was a splendid night!
“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.
Randy & Sue Smith
Paxton Methodist Church
