July 11, 2022 - Grace and peace from our brother and our teacher, Jesus. Amen. I didn’t have an article or newsletter last week, as my little dog Sam and I went to see family in Dallas. I stayed with my daughter, and my son drove down from Denton. He took home a car full of stuff from his growing up. I don’t know how he did it, but he got all the bags, boxes, and tubs in his car. The three of us had a nice dinner together in between. I didn’t get to see my brother Kent and sister-in-law Mary: They both had mild cases of Covid, with Mary quarantined at home and my brother (a lung transplant patient) in the hospital. Both are better; Thursday Kent got to come home, where he will isolate for awhile longer. Cases of Covid are really starting to spike again. The best protection is to get vaccinated and wear a mask.
On July 3, we celebrated Independence Day by saying the Pledge of Allegiance and singing the National Anthem for the Gathering Words. Our hymns were “America” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” With Communion also that Sunday, our bulletin was full, leaving no room for quotes.
In July, we are collecting cans of spaghetti and ravioli for Community Christian Services. Last month I delivered paper towels and toilet paper to CCS. As always it was really nice seeing old friends about the work of helping others. The downtown Blessing Box has been full of cantaloupe and vegetables, along with the usual cans, jars, and boxes. Next to it, the little library on the square has had many customers taking and leaving books.
We had a very special guest at Sunday School and worship this morning: Gene and Joy’s niece Debbie visiting from Maryland. Our Sunday School lesson was about Philip and the Ethiopian from Acts 6: 26-39. Phillip is guided to the carriage carrying a well-to-do and important official. This man had been to Jerusalem, studying the Jewish scriptures. Philip explains scripture to him and then tells him the story of Jesus. The man is baptized right there by Philip and then, as suddenly he appeared, he was gone. Our author thinks that Philip being guided by the Spirit to the carriage was a “divine interruption.”
We began Sunday’s service with Gathering Words based on Psalm 82. We used once again the 21st Century Affirmation to declare our faith. The two songs were “O How I Love Jesus” and “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” both well-known to our congregation. Just based on the chosen hymns, you can probably get the idea of the theme for my sermon.
The scripture reading was Luke 10: 25-37, about the Good Samaritan, Jesus’ most famous parable. Every time I read this lesson I learn new things. We all know the story of the injured man on the road who was left for dead. Rather than help, two very privileged Jewish men, guardians of the law, walked on the other side of the road, ignoring the injured man. It was a Samaritan, of people hated by many Jewish folks, who stopped and showed compassion.
Jesus used a most controversial and unusual person for the hero—the person who demonstrates the essentials of our faith. We are to love God and our neighbors as ourselves. Jesus makes it very clear that we are all neighbors worthy to be treated with dignity and respect, as valuable a lesson today as it was back in the first century. No matter the time period, there are “Samaritans” in our lives; Jesus doesn’t give us a pass but expects kindness of us toward all.
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.
