Shelby County Today

March 29, 2021 - Grace and peace from our brother Jesus. Lent’s somber forty days come to an end with Palm/Passion Sunday. Sunday we witnessed through scripture the glorious entry of Jesus into the city—and then things fall apart on Thursday. What is referred to as Holy Week speaks of the many contradictions that accompany human life: During that one week, we witness the best and the worst of humanity.

We had a very nice week weatherwise—until Saturday evening. The Carthage area was hit hard by hail and winds, and our prayers go out to our neighbors. Earlier, we had just enough rain and some mild spring temperatures. Sue and I had Zach and his crew from Grand Finish clean and detail our car and truck. Our vehicles have been neglected during the lockdown, but Grand Finish got them looking showroom new. In fact, my brother-in-law asked if I got a new truck! My pandemic therapy got a real workout, as I weeded, trimmed, planted, and watered all week. My four-legged pals, Gunter and Sam, “helped” with the yard work and joined me in two walks a day.

On Saturday morning, Gunter, Sam, and I headed back to the park to get my 4,000 steps in. Downtown Joaquin was bustling. It really was. Our heroic Volunteer Firemen ran a Covid-19 vaccination site, and people were lining up. The firemen do so much more for our community than fight fires; they help people in any number of emergency situations. This morning they were once again being good guys, getting vaccine to our neighbors and friends.

I read all the scriptures for both Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday. Passion is used an old-fashioned way meaning suffering. Preachers much prefer speaking on the glories of the Palm Sunday arrival in Jerusalem to the suffering, torture, and death of Jesus mere days later. But both are inescapable parts of Christian theology. A week from today is Easter. The word Easter comes from the name of a pagan goddess, but we of the Christian faith see it as a day of hope, promise, renewal, and new life. Our beautiful natural world is also showing all kinds of renewal. In the words of Louis Armstrong, what a wonderful world!

Our Sunday School lesson was thought-provoking as usual. Ms. Fannie always does a superb job. Gene read the scripture, which had Jesus telling his disciples how they should pray: One should seek a secret place to talk with God. Jesus also gave them the Lord’s Prayer to be spoken communally, which most churches still do thousands of years later.

Since we resumed in-person worship, our music has been on CD. We can hum the song under our masks but no vigorous singing! The first song I chose for this morning’s worship service was the old Reformation hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.” I grew up in the Lutheran church, where this song by Martin Luther was the anthem of Lutheran congregations around the world—just like “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing” by Charles Wesley is the Methodist anthem. The second hymn was “My Hope Is Built,” sung by a Mennonite a cappella youth choir—to totally different music than we’re familiar with but quite beautiful.

All during March, Paxton Methodist has been collecting cans of chili for Community Christian Services. Next month will be toothpaste and toothbrushes. Many weeks Community Christian Services has two giveaway days, one local and one a program from the federal government that helps farmers as well as those who need food. During this time of pandemic, economic crisis, and high unemployment, the need is greater than ever.

Paxton Methodist is having in-person worship; we respect each other by wearing masks and keeping socially distant. Scientists and medical professionals, who know more than politicians about this subject, say that we can do three simple things to curtail the spread of Covid-19: wash our hands regularly, stay at least six feet apart—social distancing, and yes, wear a mask—or maybe two masks—mask-wearing is the patriotic thing to do. It is also the Christian thing to do, loving your neighbor as you love yourself. And get that vaccine! How has simple science—wearing a mask or getting a vaccine—become a political hot button issue? Let’s all use our common sense and defeat Covid-19 together!

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.

Randy & Sue Smith/Paxton United Methodist Church

March 22, 2021 - Even before there was a building with the name "Jackson Baptist Church" on it, some Jackson Community people were meeting to worship God in an old stone building, referred to as Jackson School. As well as being a school, it was used for church services, singings, and singing schools. After a period of years, the need for a church was apparent. There was a Jackson Cemetery in the area, and .9 acres was donated for a church building next to the Jackson Cemetery.

Jackson Missionary Baptist Church was organized and dedicated on March 27, 1921 with 26 members. The membership was formed by people from neighboring sister churches. The building was built of ship-lap lumber and painted white. The building faced the "old road" to Joaquin; and, it had two doors on the front and one on the back. Three rows of home-built pews filled the rectangle shaped building. This church building was built with money furnished by the community, labor by membership, a love for God, and a desire to serve and worship Him.

For almost 30 years, services were held in the original building. However, on February 20,1950, the church appointed a committee for construction of a new building. On February 26, 1950, the original building was torn down and a second, one-story brick building was built. Labor was provided mostly by church members themselves. Some worked all day on regular jobs and came directly from those jobs to work on the church building, and also worked on Saturdays. Church members helped by buying doors, pews, and windows in their families' names.

In 1963, a parsonage was built and afterwards a dedication was held.

Through the years the church family grew, and once again the church appointed a new construction committee in 2013 to seek out expansion possibilities. After much searching it was determined, and approved by the church membership, that the church should relocate by purchasing 9 acres of land, and a third building be built.

Once again, the third new building was built following the same pattern set by the church members who had come before them. Saturday workdays were held to clear the property and accomplish tasks as the building was being built. Money to build the building was furnished by church members and others in the community. Some made donations in memory of their family members for projects and items.

“Mid-Construction” worship services were held throughout the building process so that members could see the progress being made. The building includes a sanctuary for worship, fellowship hall, kitchen, and Sunday School/Awana Ministry rooms for classes. The stain glass windows from the previous church building were incorporated into the design, along with the previous pulpit and other church furniture. On May 10, 2020, church members met in the new sanctuary for a Mother's Day worship service, and it was clear to see that the time had come to begin meeting permanently in the new church building. As the effort to complete this building continues, the church family at Jackson celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the church and carries on the vision that began in 1921. God continues to bless the church membership as He saves souls, changes lives, and builds His Kingdom. 

To God be the glory!

Also, The Calvary Boys in Concert Saturday, March 27, 2021 at 7pm.

Jackson Baptist Church
11620 State Highway 7 E
Joaquin, Texas 75954

March 22, 2021 - Center Christian Academy located at 2398 US Hwy 87 North in Center will host an Eggstravganza for children and youth ages 1 to 10 on Saturday, April 3 from 10am until Noon. The Eggstravanganza will have an Egg Hunt beginning at 11am, prizes, snacks, a petting center and photo booth. Tickets are $10 each. Please call (936) 332-5531 for tickets. Please come and support our Senior Class and have TONS of Springtime fun! 

March 22, 2021 - Grace and peace from our brother Jesus. Sunday was the 5th Sunday of Lent. We are reaching the end of this Christian time of reflection, with next Sunday being Palm Sunday. Over half of each of the Gospels deals with that last week of Jesus’ life between Palm Sunday and Easter morning. Life, death, and new life is at the heart of Christianity, so it is Easter—not Christmas—that is the most important Christian celebration. But the events of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday make it the saddest time also.

Spring has sprung as of last Saturday! The weather has been dry, but a few days have been jacket-wearing time because of the north wind. My two best four-legged friends, Gunter and Sam, join me each morning for a two-mile hike at the park. Later in the day we take another walk around downtown Joaquin. Sam and Gunter are always ready to go. I have also enjoyed working in the garden. Amazingly, most of my perennial plants are coming back after February’s near-zero temperatures. This rebirth is awe-inspiring and makes me think of Easter.

Our daughter came in for a visit this weekend: It was so nice to visit with her and her little dog too—not Toto but Stella! We went Friday afternoon to Mimi’s Nursery on Highway 7 in Joaquin; Melissa has some really nice plants and hanging baskets at good prices. The next morning I went down to Haslam where the Bravos have plants set up, including a tree I bought that grows black apples with yellow meat! On our way to Nacogdoches on Saturday, we went to the Lily Farm on Highway 7, where Megan filled a wagon with plants to take back to Dallas. Gardening with flowers, vegetables, and trees is always my therapy, but especially during the pandemic quarantining, and it seems my daughter has inherited that love.

In Nacogdoches we visited Sue’s mother, along with our nephew. It’s good to see Dixie so lively and perky at 93! After picking up his daughter and his girlfriend, our nephew took us to meet his dad—my former roommate and brother-in-law Dave—for dinner (wood-baked pizza, yum) and live music at a Pineywoods outdoor venue.

Our Sunday School lesson emphasized that living a holy life requires spiritual, mental, and physical commitment. The text for the lesson was 1 Corinthians 6: 12-20. Paul really stressed that the community in Corinth was the living body of the Christ, and they should do nothing that would tarnish that perfect image.

My sermon focus was the Gospel, John 12: 20-28, but I started out talking about the Old Testament lesson from Jeremiah. Jeremiah was certainly one of the angriest prophets, and he characterized God as angry too. Today’s lesson, though, had a ring of hope as Jeremiah said God was going to make a new covenant, written directly on the human heart.

Since we resumed in-person worship, our music has been on CD. We can hum the song under our masks but no vigorous singing! The two songs we used during worship were from CDs, one a favorite and the other a new one for Paxton. “Hymn of Promise” was our first one, a song Brother Billy called The Methodist Anthem. Our Hymn of Joy was the “Prayer of St. Francis.” We have this famous prayer in the hymnal, but I don’t remember hearing it set to music before.

All during March, Paxton Methodist has been collecting cans of chili for Community Christian Services. Next month we will be collecting toothpaste and tooth- brushes. This week Community Christian Services had two giveaway days, one a program from the federal government that helps farmers as well as those who need food. During this time of pandemic, economic crisis, and high unemployment, the need is greater than ever.

Paxton Methodist is having in-person worship; we respect each other by wearing masks and keeping socially distant. Scientists and medical professionals, who know more than politicians about this subject, say that we can do three simple things to curtail the spread of Covid-19: wash our hands regularly, stay at least six feet apart—social distancing, and yes, wear a mask—or maybe two masks—mask-wearing is the patriotic thing to do. It is also the Christian thing to do, loving your neighbor as you love yourself. And get that vaccine!

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.