December 19, 2022 - Grace and peace from our brother Jesus, Amen. We at Paxton Methodist hope everyone has a joyful Christmas holiday. Paxton Methodist Church will have Christmas Eve Services on Saturday at 4:00 PM. There will be no services on Christmas Day. Christmas Eve will be the last time we will celebrate as part of the United Methodist Church. The members of Paxton voted to leave the United Methodist denomination and align with the Global Methodist Church. December 24 will also be my last official sermon and service as the pastor at Paxton Methodist Church. I am retiring from the ministry at the end of 2022. I will text the Eastern Conference of the Global Methodist Church to see how their search for a new Paxton pastor is progressing. The last time I texted, I was told there have been two meetings about getting a pastor and that they were aggressively working on it.
Last Thursday we had our annual Paxton Community Christmas program and meal. This was the first time we have held this festive evening since the beginning of the pandemic. We had 30 folks in attendance; the weather was cool but clear and not too cold. Gene replaced the ramp into the church, making it sturdy and slip resistant. It got used as people came and went Thursday night. The program included congregational singing, two reading selections, and special music from Nora Robinson and Wayne and Leona Wimberley. Wayne also led the singing, very helpful in this year of using CDs from the hymnal. Our food was mostly catered, featuring potato soup and chicken salad wraps, plus desserts and drinks from our congregation.
Sunday morning was cold! If the forecasts are right, there is a polar blast heading our way bringing temperatures in the teens. On Friday morning the “feel like” temp is supposed to get to -5 degrees! Oh no! Thank goodness Mrs. Fannie turns the heaters up the night before, and the church is always comfortable. Our Sunday school literature this week was based on the Matthew story of the wise men. The author said the purpose of this lesson was to learn how to proclaim Jesus as our King. I see our faith not as static but as something growing during our journey through life. Of course, the wise men had that bright star to guide them. We too can follow the path to Christ just as the three kings did so long ago.
Our worship began with listening to the Christmas hymn, “Angels We Have Heard on High.” Later we sang “O Little Town of Bethlehem” and “O Come, All Ye Faithful.” Our bulletin quote was a lyric excerpt from “Mary, Did You Know?” that Nora sang so beautifully at the Christmas program: “Mary, did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new? This child that you delivered will soon deliver you.” Sue led us in our Gathering Words and the Apostles’ Creed. She also shared some Advent moments and read the Gospel lesson from Luke 2. During our Christmas Eve Service, I will refer to Luke often but will use Matthew’s telling of the birth story as the Gospel lesson. Only Luke and Matthew have birth narratives in their Gospels, strangely enough. The title of my sermon was “An Amazing Story,” which the Christmas account certainly is.
December is the month that Paxton Methodist collects cans or boxes of soup for Community Christian Services. We so appreciate Community Christian Services allowing us, in a small way, to partner with them all year round, including helping with the Children’s Christmas. They do such necessary and generous work, and it’s a privilege to be a part of it.
I went for my final follow-up appointment after my hand surgery in November, and the doctor released me. My hands aren’t perfect but not bad for a 70-year-old dude! I will have one more article in a week or so before retiring. I have so enjoyed writing the articles and also sending out what is supposed to be a weekly newsletter. I have met through emails so many wonderful people, and I appreciate the news outlets letting me have space for my article.
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 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.
