September 21, 2022 - Grace and peace from our brother Jesus, Amen. Church began this morning with discussion on various committee reports and the budget. The plan is to have the reports and budget voted on before the yearly Church Conference. This is a Methodist thing, and we tend to be very methodical in getting our “i’s” dotted and our “t’s” crossed. That’s OK unless I fall behind. Starting from behind isn’t a surefire way to stay caught up. We talked briefly about Community Christian Services; this month we’re collecting mac-n-cheese, and in October, another kid favorite, PB+J!
After our short business meeting, Sue started us off with the Gathering Words based on Psalm 37: 1-9. The poet speaks of the love, faith, and transformation that can happen to us if we open our lives to the great possibility of God. We followed the Gathering Words with more words—affirming our faith in the God made known by Jesus. We always respond to the reading of the affirmation with the Glori Patri. Sue read the Gospel lesson. Until Friday my sermon was going to focus on Paul and the letter to his friend Timothy. The Gospel story was another puzzler this week, and I just didn’t feel like tackling it...but I did. Luke 16: 1-13 was explicated in Paxton on Sunday!
Our songs were beloved Methodist ones starting with “My Hope Is Built,” and right before the sermon, “This Is My Father’s World.” As a bonus, Sue played one verse of my favorite hymn, “Morning Has Broken,” from the facing page. The quote inside the bulletin was by William Arthur Ward who said, “Love is more than a noun—it is a verb; it is more than a feeling—it is caring, sharing, helping, sacrificing.” On the front, Og Mandino reminded us, “Look on the new day as another special gift from your Creator, another golden opportunity to complete what you were unable to finish yesterday.” On the Prayer List we remembered Joe’s birthday last week, Charlie who has had some good and some bad days lately, Elton’s progress, and Billie Joy Allen’s grief.
At Sunday School, Claudia read the Bible passage from Exodus 17. We heard that the people were on their long journey—a lifelong journey really. When water became scarcer, they began to remember the days of slavery when they at least had water. It does seem that often when times become desperate, God brings help.
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.
