May 4, 2022 - Sunday was the 3rd Sunday of Easter. We have had rain, wind, nice low humidity days and not-so-nice high humidity days. Typical spring in East Texas—with some wild weather thanks to climate change. In last week’s Sunday School lesson, the author spoke about our denomination United Methodist) and our stand to protect the planet from misuse by us humans. We are supposed to be the stewards of this beautiful earth, but we haven’t done a very good job.
I am late sitting down at my computer (I almost said typewriter—that dates me!) because I went to the hospital in Shreveport to have an injection in my spine. It was the third one, giving me some relief. Regardless, though, I am not ready to halt my pandemic therapy—gardening. I have 21 raised beds and containers; I really enjoy “playing in the dirt.” Gene and I were discussing how gardening isn’t a money-making proposition, but it is fun. On May 17th Joy and Gene will celebrate their anniversary. They will also be heading to Houston sometime in May to help their twins celebrate their 50th birthday.
Sunday was the first day of May: I can remember celebrating May Day, like field day, at my elementary school. Once, maybe in fourth grade, I was entered in the sack race. I was given a defective sack—it had no bottom. So I didn’t have to jump—just ran full out and won...or so I thought. I was disqualified because of my defective sack. Not my fault! Later that day I won the 50-yard dash and went home with one blue ribbon. During the 50s and 60s we were all fearful of communism. May Day sounded a little communist, so many schools in Texas changed the day to Americanization Day. We kids really didn’t care—a full day of recess was fine no matter what they called it. I remember that week of the Cuban Missile Crisis, going to the A&P, where a company was selling bomb shelters in the parking lot. They had several models you could choose from and tour. My brother and I were sold but couldn’t convince my dad that it would be a good investment.
Beginning a new month, we are collecting cans of fruit for Community Christian Services. I already delivered a couple of checks and the toothpaste and toothbrushes Paxton Methodists have been bringing to church all April long. Mrs. Ruby wanted me to thank the Paxton Methodists, and invited me to come back for lunch. I had a doctor’s appointment so I couldn’t stay.
Our Sunday School lesson was not an easy one to digest. This ancient law text from Leviticus made perfect sense to primitive agricultural people who lived in a tribal family system. Much of the text, however, fell on puzzled 21st Century ears. When the passage spoke of leaving some of the fields fallow we did understand that. The author tried to use the text to remind us of our role in creation and our function in preserving God’s Kingdom on Earth.
Our Church service began with words based on Psalm 30 as we gathered for worship, and our affirmation was The Apostles’ Creed. Sue read from the last chapter of the John Gospel; as I started my sermon, I read from the last chapter of the Mark Gospel. I wanted to stress how God more often than not meets us in the “ordinary” of life and not the extraordinary. In the Gospel, Jesus fixes breakfast for his disciples—can’t get much more ordinary than that! The writer of John says this was the third appearance of the resurrected Christ.
Our first song was “Savior, Like Shepherd Lead Us.” I felt it went along with Jesus asking Peter three times if Peter loved him, then telling the disciples to feed his sheep. The Hymn of Joy was “Blessed Assurance,” which heralded both the appearance of the resurrected Jesus in our Scripture and our commemoration of the Lord’s Supper. Because it was the first Sunday of the month we celebrated the Service of Communion and Remembrance.
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.
